Today I asked a friend Victoria, who is a single mother of three, to share what she buys on SNAP. Victoria's husband passed away in a military training accident and she receives some money every month as a death benefit. This reduces her SNAP benefits. She attends college full time and works as a waitress 30-50 hours per week. Her children are aged 8-13 and the 13 year old watches them after school. They attend summer school so that they can continue to receive lunch each day through the free lunch program.
Victoria's priority is to buy foods that the 13 year old can prepare independently as she frequently works swing shift and can't be home to make dinner. The children go to a before school daycare program and must bring a packed breakfast (milk is provided) to school each day. Victoria has no car so she buys small amounts of food at one time and then carries them home on the bus. Her strategies are to shop at ALDIs (where food is less expensive) and to use coupons.
Victoria's youngest has a milk allergy, her oldest just decided to become a vegetarian, and their school bans peanuts, all of which complicate her shopping.
| Week 1 |
|
| applesauce |
$ 1.99 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| lettuce |
$ 0.79 |
| chicken |
$ 6.79 |
| bagged potatoes |
$ 5.99 |
| canned fruit |
$ 2.19 |
| bananas |
$ 3.51 |
| spaghetti |
$ 5.00 |
| canned juice |
$ 1.99 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| canned tuna |
$ 2.99 |
| dried garbanzo beans |
$ 2.35 |
| grape jelly |
$ 1.99 |
| pretzel buns |
$ 1.99 |
| cashew butter |
$ 5.89 |
| tomato sauce |
$ 3.69 |
| oatmeal packets |
$ 4.79 |
| corn flakes |
$ 1.79 |
| margarine |
$ 3.25 |
| canned yams |
$ 2.50 |
| bagged salad |
$ 2.29 |
| bratwurst |
$ 2.69 |
| sandwich bread |
$ 0.99 |
| hotdog buns |
$ 1.00 |
| mayo |
$ 2.29 |
| baked beans |
$ 1.00 |
| canned corn |
$ 1.00 |
| frozen peas |
$ 1.00 |
| frozen mixed veggies |
$ 1.00 |
| milk |
$ 3.69 |
| soymilk |
$ 1.99 |
| yogurt - strawberry |
$ 6.99 |
| oranges |
$ 7.77 |
| carrots |
$ 2.19 |
| tortellini |
$ 1.29 |
| canned tomatoes |
$ 1.00 |
| soup bones |
$ 3.46 |
| turnips |
$ 1.04 |
| onions |
$ 2.79 |
| carrots |
$ 0.99 |
| lentils |
$ 2.19 |
| tofu |
$ 3.49 |
|
|
|
$ 113.60 |
| Week 2 |
|
| Tortillas |
$ 2.99 |
| jam |
$ 1.99 |
| tomato sauce |
$ 5.59 |
| salad dressing |
$ 1.29 |
| black beans canned |
$ 1.00 |
| chicken thighs |
$ 5.89 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| almond milk |
$ 2.89 |
| soy milk |
$ 3.69 |
| margarine |
$ 1.00 |
| prune juice |
$ 3.79 |
| bagged potatoes |
$ 5.99 |
| boca burgers |
$ 2.89 |
| bananas |
$ 4.24 |
| Cherrios |
$ 2.79 |
| ground turkey tube |
$ 2.99 |
| fish sticks |
$ 6.89 |
| bacon bits |
$ 1.00 |
| bread |
$ 0.79 |
| milk |
$ 2.19 |
| corn on the cob |
$ 2.50 |
| yogurt |
$ 6.99 |
| canned beans |
$ 6.00 |
| frozen berries |
$ 3.49 |
| lettuce |
$ 1.29 |
| spaghetti |
$ 3.00 |
| apples |
$ 4.29 |
| milk |
$ 3.69 |
| string cheese |
$ 3.69 |
| Parmesan cheese |
$ 2.99 |
| tuna |
$ 4.00 |
| sausages |
$ 3.29 |
| soy milk |
$ 1.99 |
| frozen buffalo wings |
$ 4.99 |
| hot dogs |
$ 2.29 |
| tuna |
$ 1.00 |
| fish sticks |
$ 6.89 |
|
|
|
$ 123.26 |
| Week 3 |
|
| Breakfast oat cookies |
$ 3.99 |
| bread |
$ 1.29 |
| ground beef tube |
$ 3.99 |
| ranch flavored rice cakes |
$ 1.99 |
| frozen spinach |
$ 1.68 |
| Special K cereal |
$ 2.89 |
| jelly |
$ 1.99 |
| mac and cheese |
$ 6.00 |
| soy milk |
$ 2.50 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| milk |
$ 3.19 |
| pickles |
$ 1.99 |
| pork parts discounted |
$ 4.22 |
| celery |
$ 1.47 |
| yogurt |
$ 6.99 |
| lettuce |
$ 0.89 |
| string cheese |
$ 3.50 |
| frozen pizza |
$ 3.49 |
| bananas |
$ 3.36 |
| almond milk |
$ 2.89 |
| canned beans |
$ 5.00 |
| grapes |
$ 3.39 |
| lentils |
$ 2.89 |
| cheese tortellini |
$ 1.29 |
| tomato sauce |
$ 5.59 |
| carrots |
$ 2.19 |
| juice |
$ 1.99 |
| almond butter |
$ 5.79 |
| chicken hotdogs |
$ 1.99 |
| bagged potatoes |
$ 5.99 |
| milk |
$ 3.19 |
| lettuce |
$ 0.79 |
| dressing |
$ 1.79 |
|
|
|
$ 101.18 |
| Week 4 |
|
| canned beans |
$ 6.00 |
| milk |
$ 3.19 |
| soy milk |
$ 2.50 |
| apples |
$ 2.29 |
| bread |
$ 1.29 |
| cashew butter |
$ 5.89 |
| jam |
$ 1.40 |
| spaghetti sauce |
$ 5.00 |
| noodles |
$ 5.00 |
| milk |
$ 3.19 |
| cheerios |
$ 4.79 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| canned peas |
$ 1.00 |
| canned corn |
$ 1.00 |
| canned mixed veggies |
$ 1.00 |
| oranges |
$ 4.49 |
| instant noddles |
$ 5.00 |
| soy milk |
$ 2.50 |
| bread |
$ 0.99 |
| beans and wieners |
$ 0.79 |
|
|
|
$ 58.30 |
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