New Years Resolution put into Play!

I was really excited until a few people became haters and had to criticize me for applying for and getting food stamps this week.

Heres my story:

So yesterday I got my EBT card to receive food stamps.  I am not unemployed, but times are tough.  I applied because I wanted to get healthy in 2011, and simply couldn't see any other way to afford the healthier foods.  Fast food is cheap.  Hot dogs, and $1 pizzas are cheap.  Soda is cheap.  But NONE of it is healthy.  My first goal for 2011 is to get healthy.  2010 was a HORRIBLE year for my health.  I spent about 4 months of they year SICK (coughing, and flu, etc), and also had my very first Kidney Stone.  I knew they ran in the family, but didn't realize how bad it really is when you get one.  I tried to be healthier for a while, but it was just too expensive to keep it up.  Don't get me wrong.  I drink PLENTY of water now, where before I didn't...but eating the right foods proved to be really hard on my limited budget.

So on December 7th 2010 I broke down and applied for food stamps.  It takes up to 30 days to be approved, and the process is NOT an easy one.  Not only do you have to prove that you deserve them, but you have to prove income, expenses, how much you spend on rent, etc.  Money spent on luxuries is NOT taken into consideration.

Before you can even apply you must fill out a lengthy questionaire to determine if you are even a candidate.  It turns out that I was, and it was suggested that I might receive $100-130 a month in food stamps.  This would have been a major improvement in my life.  I won't deny it. 

On the 23rd of December I received a call from my case worker.  She was a very nice woman, though you could tell that she had WAY more cases than she could handle.  I answered all her questions, and sent her over my documents.  She called me back, and said that after all was said and done I actually qualified for $200 in food stamps!  I was taken aback, and asked her if I heard her correctly.  She said yes, and that it would be in my ebt account within 24 hours. 

I got my card on Friday the 31st.. Just in time for New Years!  I immediately went to the grocery store, and bought ALL healthy foods!  Salad, lemonade (for my kidneys...im supposed to have 1 glass a day), breakfast food, lunch meats, bread... I had never been so excited to grocery shop.  I got home and made the best salad I'd had in MONTHS besides Lynn's wonderful salad she makes for special gatherings!  I had a glass of wine ($4.47 a bottle at walmart, so all you haters can stuff it), and ate my healthy salad, and truly enjoyed my evening.  For the record, you CANNOT buy booze or cigarettes with food stamp money. 

So all the haters out there that criticize me for applying for and receiving food stamps here's my statement to you:

Yes. I visit Disneyland a couple times a month.  It costs $12 a MONTH for my annual pass.  I do NOT have cable television anymore.  I don't spend money on frivilous persuits anymore, like driving to Laguna to see the recently fallen snow.  I am STILL poor.  And not in that 'im waiting for my next paycheck poor'...in the 'I've been struggling to survive every month poor'.  Getting food stamps is something that TRULY MADE ME HAPPY.    I don't just get them forever.  I have to basically reapply every 3 months to continue receiving them.  If you need food stamps, I'll help you apply.  We have government programs like this to help struggling people, and have had them for 40+ years.  Please don't hate me because I am receiving a government subsidy now.  I am the same person I was before, I'm just gonna be a healthier one in 2011. 

I'm not gonna be that person who wastes their food stamp money on junkfood.