Super Speedy Quick Takes
By Milehimama on Sep 17, 2009 in Food Stamp Challenge, Mama Says Randomness
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1.
Super speedy because I want to watch Hoarders before returning the DVR and cancelling our cable subscription tomorrow.
Nice read on hoarding vs. frugality.
So if I use a decorated sour cream container as a bank for my child instead of buying a piggy bank, that’s being frugal. If I’m only trying to stay prepared to do such things at a later date, which may or may not ever come, that’s hoarding, and it’s being wasteful of things other than money.
Read the whole thing.
2.
Why am I cancelling cable? Husband got laid off and so far, the prospects look grim.
3.
I am very impatient with bureaucratic hoops. I did manage to become a legal Texan yesterday, though. I’ll get my new license in the mail eventually.
Why, yes, I did move here 16 months ago. I am a champion procrastinator.
4.
In an ironic twist on my Food Stamp Challenge, I am actually applying for food stamps. More on that some other time when it becomes funny, not totally annoying. So far I’ve filled out ELEVEN pages (in dark ink) of information on every household member; I still need to make about 15 or 20 copies and obtain a note from a neighbor that we actually live in the house whose address I am putting down (this, in addition to a copy of ALL of my utility bills that I also must enclose.) (Also, copies of social security cards, baptism certificates, and detailed list of all student’s academic venues, including expected graduation dates, are required. I may have messed the math up when estimating the graduation date of my 5 year old.)
They even want to know the dates of military service for my husband’s deceased father. Why? I do not know. I guesstimated with “1950′s”. I know he was definitely out of service by 1963, and joined after 1949.
Yeah, I did just blog that I’m going to be that lady in line ahead of you, being judged by everyone around as to whether her food purchases stack up to preconceived notions of what poor people should eat. It’s totally real here.
But, it is wonderful to live in a country where society has decided that letting children starve is unacceptable. How good God is in the different and interesting ways He provides!
Feel free to flame me for my socialist ways in the comments, but don’t forget that I am the Supreme Dictator of Comment Moderation, and I may take my annoyance at bureaucracy out on you. Or, probably, just delete it.
5.
The Food Stamp people have strict rules about actually speaking to a human being, so once I gather the reams of data, I have to mail or drop it off and hope for the best. They’ll be in touch – eventually – if I messed something up or am missing something. Then I’ll gather that stuff, mail it in, and round and round we go.
6.
I’m really, really glad that our pantry is packed. I can’t imagine how much time it must take someone who is not very literate or who speaks another language or who can’t see to do all this stinkin’ paperwork.
7.
On a more positive note, I have an article up about workboxes with resources and links! I really wanted to review the actual workbox e-book, but that purchase is on permanent hold for now. Do you have it? Have you read it?
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mary alice (1)
Trista (1)
I’m so sorry to hear that your husband is out of work. That can make life very stressful.
It’s lucky that you’ve been proving to yourself that you can stretch a dollar because you will now have faith in yourself that you can do it when it is essential.
I’ll keep you all in my prayers.
Christine M | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
I WANT my tax dollars to help families like yours in a tough spot. It could just as easily be me some day.
Prayers…
Bridget | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
You will be in my prayers.
Sheila | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
Ugh! Paperwork! As a military wife I’ve filled out more than I care to remember, but food stamp paperwork takes the cake. I filled it out once, before we had children (many years ago). There were pages and pages of it. In the end they said we couldn’t get food stamps because we had a car. That never made sense to me…
I did end up getting WIC, though, which was better than nothing (was pregnant at the time). Far less paperwork, too.
Still praying for the job situation.
anymommy | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
It is families like yours that food stamps and other social services were created to help. Those who abuse the services give it all a bad name; but I will gladly pay taxes in order to help those who need it. If I had a job and actually was paying taxes, that is.
You have a family, a working family that lost its work. Help is there for you and I commend you for taking advantage of it.
Tia | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
Love your blog.
Had a free night to blog hop and enjoyed yours. Hope you will stop by new Christmas blog …There is a great giveaway that I will draw for on Oct 1st and all you need to do to enter is comment. Hope you have a great weekend.
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
Teresa | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
What a bummer about the job. I agree that the food stamp program was set up for people in these situations – I’d be doing the exact same thing. We never know the future and any of us might need help at any time. And this is also encouragement to the rest of us to keep food in our pantry. Very wise.
Houstonmom | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
I hope that you can get the food stamps, as others have said, they are for families like yours, who need them in emergency situations. I know you will be able to make them work for you!
Hope your husband gets work soon!
Sandwichmom | Sep 19, 2009 | Reply
Prayers offered up for employment soon.
I know what you mean about the stamps! I’m beginning to experience the strain of ridiculous health care costs….$900 out of pocket so far for one trip to the ER(never again, if I can help it), and another trip for an endoscopy. Medicare-like coverage for everyone is looking kind of good right now.
Alexandra | Sep 19, 2009 | Reply
I’ve been on Medicare, briefly, thankfully about 10 years ago.
You do NOT want Medicare if you can help it.
Milehimama | Sep 19, 2009 | Reply
Actually, since you are clearly not yet in your mid-sixties, you would have been covered by MedicAID.
And, as another piece of information, MedicAID programs vary state by state in regards to what is covered, amount of bureaucracy, ease of use, etc.
You might also find that this paperwork will also confirm your eligibility for a CHIPS program and WIC. Not being from Texas, I don’t know, but it might be worth your while to find out.
Midwest Mom | Sep 21, 2009 | Reply
Oh, MidwestMom, you’re right. *I* was on Medicaid in 1998.
My MIL was on Medicare and it pretty much killed her (they couldn’t decide if she had lung cancer or a lung fungus – for THREE YEARS. Then she died of pneumonia on the day she was supposed to be released from the hospital after a stint in ICU.)
OTOH, Medicare helps a lot of seniors, too. That was just my personal experience with it.
The VA, THAT’S another story.
Milehimama | Sep 21, 2009 | Reply
Although I very often FEEL like I’m in my mid-sixties, LOL!
Milehimama | Sep 21, 2009 | Reply
Just a hint in case things dont pick up for you out in Texas. Things at Hanford in the Tri-Cities WA are booming. We are hiring huge numbers of people. Heck there are even people that I went to school with in Colorado that have moved up here to work at Hanford. I am sure you would rather stay put but I wanted to throw that out just in case.
Marcee | Sep 23, 2009 | Reply