To show the plight of the people, CNN reporter Sean Callebs is living off of food stamps for a month. Not actual food stamps, because he makes way too much money for that. "The most a single person can qualify for each month is $176. [Louisiana] couldn't give me the food stamp funds, that would be fraud, even
though I offered to reimburse the government. So, I invested $176 in a debit card."
Since he's doing this in the short month of February, that $176 has to last 28 days, which works out to just over six bucks a day. Already Callebs is learning valuable information. When he goes shopping with an actual food-stamp recipient he has to be "constantly reminded" not to buy name brands. He's surprised that "there isn't a lot of money for meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables."
He's documenting his experience on a blog, Living on Food Stamps.
Reading the first two entries, it sounded like a person vastly out of
touch with real America. Having been both dirt-poor and a college
student (and both), I will be very surprised if Callebs
makes an observation that 80 percent of the population doesn't already know.
Here are some hints for Callebs and any other yuppies wishing to keep costs down:
McDonald's used to keep cream packets for coffee on counters but they
changed that; if you can find a restaurant that has cream packets on
the counter take advantage.
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