Rachelle Williams ofDo you often run out of food stamps doc

by Rachelle Williams of

Do you often run out of food stamps before the end of the month? Are you struggling to
keep your family fed each month? You can find the solution to these issues inside this
free eBook.
Please enjoy this eBook, and feel free to share it with anyone who might benefit from
the tips inside. Email this book or send them to the Food Stamp Guide at the address
below to download a free copy:
/>Table of Contents
About the Food Stamp Guide………………………………………………… Page 3
The End of the Month Food Stamp Dilemma………………………………… Page 4
Grocery Shopping on a Food Stamp Budget……………………………………Page 5
Using Coupons with Food Stamps……………………………………………… Page 7
Budget Friendly Holiday Shopping with Food Stamps………………………….Page 10
In Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….Page 12
About the Author……………………………………………………………………Page 13
About the Food Stamp Guide
The Food Stamp Guide is a blog that was started in 2009, at first, to help people learn
how to apply for and maintain food
stamps in each state.
The blog has since evolved into a
resource to help people who struggle with
all types of financial issues.
My name is Rachelle, and I am the owner
of the blog and the author of this eBook.
I grew up in a low-income household, and
I know what it is to struggle, so I want to
do what I can to help.
One thing that has always stood out in my mind was how my family always seemed to
run out of food towards the end of the month.
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches and Ramen Noodles were staples during the last

week of the month for us, and it was the same scene for almost everyone in my
neighborhood.
Food stamps have grown up, gotten a new name (SNAP Benefits - which nobody
actually uses), and they come in a digitized form on a fancy debit card (EBT card).
However, some of the issues have remained the same.
I wrote this free eBook, How to Stretch Your Monthly Food Stamp Benefits, because I
know that food insecurity in the last week of the month is still an issue for people who
receive food stamps.
The news reports show that food banks are seeing a huge surge in the amount of
people who come to them seeking food, especially during the end of the month. I
understand a big part of the reason for the issue, I know how to prevent it, and so I
created this eBook specifically to combat the issue.
I truly hope that you use these tips to help stretch your food stamp benefits, so you and
your family will always have enough food to eat.
The End of the Month Food Stamp Dilemma
When most people get their monthly food stamp benefits, they usually spend them all at
once and end up not having enough to last until the end of the month.
The problem is that people do not equate food stamps with real money.
The solution to running out of food by the end of the month is to think about your food
stamp deposit allotment as an actual money deposit. The next part of the solution is for
you to concentrate on saving as much as you can.
When you learn to stretch your monthly food stamp benefits, you will not have to worry
about what you will feed your family during the dreaded last week of the month.
Many people do not even realize that it is perfectly okay to have unused food stamps
each month. As long as you do not allow your SNAP benefits to stay unused on your
EBT card for more than a year, you should be fine.
The good news is saving money (food stamps) on food does not have to be a big
headache. If you start to implement small changes, you will immediately see positive
results.
You will eventually find that cutting back on food costs does not have to mean cutting

back on quantity or quality.
There are a few relatively easy tips and tricks that go along with thinking of your food
stamp benefits as money; keep reading to learn about these simple tricks.
Grocery Shopping on a Food Stamp Budget
If you receive food stamps and you constantly run out of food at the end of the month,
there are two things you need to know. First, you are not alone, and second, there is a
legitimate reason for your grocery dilemma (beyond not thinking of your food stamps as
real money).
The issue of not having enough money to meet your monthly grocery budget is not just
a problem unique to food stamp recipients.
There are plenty of people out there who cannot afford the cost of food, they run out of
food prematurely, and then they have to scrape by until their next payday.
The problem with food stamp allotments is the fact that once it is gone, it’s gone until
your next allotment.
People who spend cash money at the grocery store can usually dip into other bill money
to buy more food - this is not so easy for food stamp recipients.
Furthermore, there is a good reason why many people tend to run out of food before the
end of the month.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the cost of groceries has
increased, and it is expected to keep increasing.
Since there does not seem to be an end in sight to the high price of groceries, we need
to make changes in the way we shop for groceries so we can keep our families fed;
especially, those of us who receive food stamps.
The following list will give you some concrete ideas for how to go grocery shopping on a
food stamp budget:
 Always Shop with a Well-Planned Grocery List. If you stick to the items on
your list, you will be less apt to spend your food stamp dollars on impulse buys.
Also, you will find that you are spending less of your food stamps when you do
not have to make multiple grocery runs for forgotten items, this is why your list
needs to be well planned. Set aside time on the weekends to sit down and

carefully plan out your grocery list.
 Skip the Convenience Foods. Many of us fall victim to the pre-washed, pre-cut
bags of vegetables and fruits. The problem is we pay for the convenience of not
having to wash and cut up our foods. Leaving these grocery items behind will
net a huge savings in our monthly good budget.
 Skip the Brand Name Food Items & Opt for Generics. We all know that brand
name items cost more than generic brands for most grocery store items.
Somehow, we continually fall for the clever marketing schemes, and we grab the
brand names and never even consider the generic brands. If we want to stretch
our food stamp dollars, we really need to buckle down and choose generic
brands whenever they are available.
 Join Supermarket Discount Clubs, Cards, Programs, etc. Just about every
supermarket chain has some sort of discount program. When we join their clubs
or programs, and actually use the benefits, we will find huge savings at the cash
register, and these savings will really rack-up over a month’s time.
 Buy Locally Grown, In-Season, Produce. Locally grown produce is usually
fresher and less expensive than the stuff that has been shipped in to your state.
In addition, it is a good idea to learn how to shop for the produce that is in
season while you are currently shopping.
 Do Not Buy In Bulk Just for Savings. If you have a huge family, buying in bulk
is a smart idea. However, many of us fall victim to buying items in bulk simply
because they are on sale. If you know you are not going to use a lot of a
particular item, do not buy it just because there is a huge deal on the item.
 Never go Grocery Shopping on an Empty Stomach. This is the quintessential
grocery shopping no-no. If you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach you
are more likely to throw all kinds of foods into the grocery cart. Make sure that
you fill up before you take your trip to the grocery store so you will not be
tempted to buy unnecessary items.
 Comparison Shop at Different Grocery Store Chains. Many times the cost
difference at grocery store chains is enough to warrant shopping at more than

one store. Pull out the weekly grocery store circulators from your Sunday
newspaper, or your mailbox, and compare the sales at the local grocery store
chains in your area.
Using Coupons with Food Stamps
When I was doing the research to complete this mini
eBook, I was surprised to learn that many people do not
know that they can use coupons with food stamps.
This might be another reason why people run out of food stamps before the end of the
month.
If you are not already using coupons with your food stamps, you are throwing money
right out of the window.
You absolutely can use coupons with your food stamps, and you should use them every
time you go to the grocery store.
Remember, when we think about food stamps like money you will start to really
appreciate any amount of savings.
According to the Promotional Marketing Association Coupon Counsel, if you spend just
20 minutes each weak clipping coupons, you can save up to $1000 a year.
Now just imagine for one moment how $1,000 a year might affect your monthly food
stamps allotment. $1,000 a year equals about $83 a month and $83 might make the
difference between a week with Ramen Noodles, and a week with healthy nutritious
food for your family.
An another thing… have you actually ever taken a moment to sit down and watch those
shows about extreme couponing?
I know it sounds a little cheesy, but these people use the power of coupons to walk out
of the grocery store with two full shopping carts full of groceries that they have spent
only about $30 for…
I have seen some episodes where the grocery store actually owes the customer money
back. Granted, that is not going to happen with food stamps - because you cannot get
money back, but I’m sure you catch the message in what I’m saying here.
No matter how cheesy it sounds, extreme couponing can save you far more than

$1,000 a year, so it might be worth your while to spend a little time checking out the
concept.
Even if you do not get into extreme couponing, I hope by now, you can see how clipping
coupons would significantly cut down on the amount of food stamps you spend each
month.
But…before you start getting clip happy, you have to
know that there is a trick to using coupons to your
advantage; so, pay close attention:
Manufacturers use coupons to get you to buy items
you would not normally buy and new items they are
trying to introduce to consumers. The trick to saving
money (food stamps) with coupons is to only use
coupons for items you would normally purchase.
It really is that simple, but there are a few more tips that I can give you so that you will
save as many of your “food stamp dollars” as you can with coupons:
 Set Up a Simple System. Pick one specific day of the week to sit down and
scour the Sunday newspaper coupons and choose only the items you would
normally buy. Obviously, Sunday is probably the most popular choice because
of the big coupon section in the Sunday newspaper, but you pick the day that is
best for you.
 Sort the Coupons. Once you have chosen and clipped your coupons, take the
time to organize them according to the aisle they would likely appear in your
grocery store(s).
 Join the Mailing Lists. Grab a paper and pad and jot down the items you buy
the most for your family. Then go to the Internet and locate the manufacturer’s
website for those items. Each manufacturer usually has a mailing list that you
can join that will allow them to send you coupons. Sometimes they are physical
mailing lists, and sometimes they are email lists (so you have to print out the
coupons), and sometimes the lists can be a combination of both. Either way, this
is an extra measure of savings for you because these particular types of coupons

are usually not the same ones you find in the Sunday paper.
 Double Your Savings with Store Promotions. Check the weekly flyers that
grocery stores constantly send to your mailbox. Most people toss them on the
trash on sight, but you could be tossing away a lot of savings. Scour the weekly
grocery store flyers and combine those savings with your coupons and you will
really start to see the true power of doubled savings. Likewise, you should do
the same thing with supermarket discount card programs (rewards club, shopper
cards, etc.).
 Pay Close Attention to Coupon Directions. Be sure to read the expiration
dates, rules, and regulations that go with each coupon. You do not want to end
up at the checkout with a lot of coupons that you cannot use for one reason or
another.
 Double Check those“Two- For-One” Deals. Sometimes when we see two-for-
one deals, we automatically assume that we will get half off if we only purchase
one item. A lot of the time, this is assumption is not true. You might have to pay
the regular full price for one half of a two-for-one deal, so you might actually save
more money if you go ahead and buy two items instead of one.
Clipping coupons might, at first, seem like more work than what it is worth, but when
you learn how to beat the manufacturers at their own game, you will see the savings
start to pile up.
I have heard that some people are actually embarrassed to “hold up the line” while
using coupons. To them I say, “Honey, please!” Who cares about what the next person
in line thinks about your coupon stash?
All that really matters is that you can really stretch your monthly food stamp benefits by
using coupons.
Keep that thought in your mind ahead of what others think and you will be much better
off for it, and you will find that you are not running out of food stamps before the end of
the month.
However, if it really bothers you that much, you could consider claiming a self check-out
stand where you will generally have a little more privacy with your transaction.

If you spread out all of your stuff, and appear to be taking your time, most impatient
people will avoid getting in line behind you like the plague.
Budget Friendly Holiday Shopping with Food
Stamps
For many of us, the holidays are a time when food is the focal point of the celebrations.
Think about it, what would Thanksgiving be without the turkey, dressing, and cranberry
sauce? How would we ever be able to celebrate Easter without a ham, or Christmas
without Christmas dinner?
Even the lesser holidays are centered around food as well: Memorial Day and Labor
Day cookouts, Fourth of July picnics, Halloween candy, etc. Also, do not forget about
birthdays, because birthday party celebrations always call for a cake, punch and
traditional party foods - these things all cost money, or in the case of many people, they
cost a lot of food stamps.
Have you ever been in a situation where the holidays or a birthday comes around, and
your family members think that you are supposed to contribute more food simply
because they know you get food stamps?
They somehow think that you should bring a lot of food because you receive food
stamps, so you do not have to spend “real money” to buy food”.
If this has ever happened to you before, you should make sure that it does not happen
again. It goes back to that concept I keep preaching about how you should start to think
of your food stamps as money.
Outside of the specific items you cannot buy with food stamps, they spend just like
money, so you should not let anybody coax you into thinking that you should part with
your food stamps any more easily than you should part with your money.
Check out the following list for some tips you can use if you want to save the next time a
holiday or birthday comes around and your family is looking at you to cater the function
with your monthly SNAP benefits:
 Just Say No. Just like our former First lady, Nancy Reagan, always used to say,
just say no. The next time your family members ask you to supply all or most of
the food for a holiday function or other get-together, tell them you cannot do it.

Let them know that you only have enough food stamps to feed your family on a
monthly basis, and you cannot afford to spend them on too many unnecessary
items. Contribute whatever you can, and call it a day.
 Budget Well. If you use some of the tips you pick up from this eBook, you
should be able to save enough of your food stamps to have a little extra for
holidays and birthdays.
 Potluck It. Go heavy on the potluck idea and make sure everyone brings at
least one dish or contributes enough food items to make a decent holiday meal.
 Plan a Menu With On-Hand Items. Get together with your extended family, and
plan an inexpensive holiday meal. Often, a well-planned menu can cut down on
some of the unnecessary holiday meal items we tend to buy. For instance, just
about every family will bake a pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and/or Easter dinner. Two of the necessary ingredients for both pies
are nutmeg and vanilla extract, but most of us only buy these items a couple
times a year. Pure Vanilla Extract has an indefinite shelf life and actually tastes
better as it ages, and if you buy nutmeg in whole form, the ungrated seeds can
last for up to a year - just grate the seeds as you use them.
 Establish a Spending Limit. Sit down with your extended family and create a
doable spending limit that everyone can agree on. Think about all of the leftover
holiday food items, and you will realize that you do not have to spend a lot of
money to have a nice holiday or special occasion meal.
 Wait Until the Last Minute to Shop for Food. Some people like to plan ahead
and get their holiday food item shopping done ahead of time. If you plan to save
as many of your food stamps as you can, do not go this route. According to the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), grocery stores heavily mark
down the cost of whole, frozen turkeys the closer it gets to the “turkey holidays.”
The same is true for most other traditional holiday food items, so wait until as
long as you possibly can to shop for your holiday meal items.
Remember, you do not have to spend gobs of money or food stamps to enjoy a nice
holiday or birthday dinner.

Besides, special occasions are supposed to be about spending time with loved ones,
make sure you do not overspend so that you can actually enjoy your special days
without having to worry about your finances.
Yes - I said “finances,” because food stamps are a big part of the family finances in
many households.

In Conclusion
Well, I have taken up enough of your time for one sitting. Even though I have tried to
keep this eBook as light-hearted as possible, not having enough food to eat is a hard
issue to deal with.
Because we live in the United States, there are food assistance programs to help us if
need it. We have the resources; we just need to learn how to use them better.
When you learn how to stretch your monthly food stamps benefits, you can make sure
you and your family are well fed throughout the entire month, and you will not have to
worry about the last week in the month, or make monthly visits to the local food pantry.
Remember, always think about spending your food stamps as though you were
spending dollar bills, and you will soon see how easy it is to start saving your “money”
every time you take a trip to the grocery store.
I know it’s a little difficult to do because we use EBT cards now instead of actual food
coupons. But, if it helps any, you can think of swiping your EBT card as though you
were swiping a debit card attached to your bank account.
If you would like to get more food stamps saving tips, learn how to apply for food
stamps in your state, keep up with the news regarding food stamps, and/or learn about
other low-income help options (low income housing, tax credit apartments, Section 8/
Housing Choice Voucher, WIC, food pantries, local financial assistance, etc.), be sure
to visit The Food Stamp Guide.
About The Author
Hello, my name is Rachelle, and I am the owner and
author of The Food Stamp Guide blog.
Yep, that is me to the left with the big forehead.

But, that’s ok because my heart is even bigger, and I
have a strong passion for helping people who are
struggling.
As I stated in the “About The Food Stamp Guide”
section of this eBook, I grew up in a low-income
household, and I know all about the struggle.
I also struggled in my adult life for a long time as well. I was always a smart girl, but I
never seemed to be able to dig myself out of the low-income lifestyle.
I always maintained lower wage call center jobs at around $12.50 to $14.00 an hour.
Not only did I absolutely hate my job(s), it was still a struggle for me to keep my bills
paid, and my children fed and clothed.
To make matters worse, I never had enough money left over to save for my future. For
me, nothing was more depressing than the thought of eventually being old and still not
having enough money to live comfortably, without having to worry about money.
Then something happened - I discovered how to make money on the Internet and
everything changed. After that, I began to pay down my debt, and I began saving for
my future.
When I first started, I made ok money by writing articles on content sites like eHow,
Yahoo Contributor’s Network (YCN - formerly Associated Content), Infobarrel, and
Hubpages.
In early 2011, something called the Google Panda or Google Farmer update came
along and article-writing earnings took a nosedive, but the market is slowly returning.
Then I moved up to affiliate marketing, and authoring blogs and websites. Currently, I
make money online by creating niche sites with Site Build It (SBI) and then flipping
them for decent lump sums of money.
If you would like to learn how to make money on the Internet, please be sure to check
out my articles at Infobarrel. The article writing sites are all free to join, and if you are
looking to make a little cash as soon as possible, I would suggest Yahoo Contributor’s
Network (YCN) as a starting point.
Unless you absolutely, positively LOVE to write, you will not make a lot of money on

YCN, but you will immediately see how it is truly possible to make money on the
Internet without having to spend one single dime.
Once you start learning about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and all that goes with
it, you will start to make decent money at online. Then you will want to move on up like
George and Weezy to even more money with your own website or blog.
As far as The Food Stamp Guide blog goes, I make very little money with it (approx.
$120 per month), but I do not author that blog to make money. My main intent with the
Food Stamp Guide is truly to help people with low-income.
I make the bulk of my money from flipping SBI sites. Now, you do not have to “flip” sites
to make money with SBI like I do - that is just my personal choice because I have a
serious case of Adult ADHD, and I do not focus very well on one subject for a long time.
I do not share my website info because there are unscrupulous people who would love
to steal the content from my niche sites and piggyback off my income. But, I digress.
If you have a lot of knowledge about a particular subject, or if you have a hobby that you
love, you can be an infopreneur, and turn your knowledge into a profitable website.
If you have something to sell, that might make you even more money, but you do not
have to sell anything at all to make money on the Internet. I hate selling, and I refuse to
do it, but I still make money online.
SBI will costs you $29 a month or $299 a year, and when you are ready to move on up
to making good money with a profitable niche site, absolutely nothing else compares.
I know that you are struggling now, so I strongly suggest that you start out making a
little spending money with article-writing sites for free. Again, I will be more than glad to
help you with endeavor if you are ready to start making money online today.
First, read my primer called, How I Learned How to Make Money on the Internet.
Then, shoot me an email when you are ready, and I will send you a series of free
training documents that I created to get you started making money as soon as possible.
I encourage you to think about your personal financial situation. If you do not make
enough money to live comfortably - and without the aid of any type of government
assistance, you should start planting the seeds to change your future today.
For me, I am debt-free today and I do not worry about money. There is plenty of money

to be made on the Internet. I did not believe it until I started making money myself - if
you give it an honest try, you will probably discover the same exact thing.
Connect With
Please Remember to Visit The Food Stamp Guide
Blog Whenever You Run Into Financial Difficulties,
& You Need a Little Help to Pull You Through
*This eBook is provided as a free resource. You are free to share it as long as you do
not charge anything for it or make any changes to it.
The Food Stamp Guide