FoodStamps

Is the recent upsurge in college-educated individuals applying for food stamps a social trend, the way the recently popular Salon.com article, "Hipsters on Food Stamps" supposes? Or is it a reflection of economic distress and the depressing job market? And how easy is it to actually qualify for...

While most of us are preoccupied with gorging ourselves on turkey and stuffing, it can be easy to forget about the growing number of people who are struggling just to eat one meal a day. In fact, a recent government survey found that more than one in seven U.S. households are finding it difficult...

Costco has started to accept food stamps at its warehouse clubs nationwide, which could be great for poor people looking for deals on food, or the worst decision in the history of buying groceries. Anyone who has been to a Costco store knows the enticements of impulse buys that you'd normally walk...

Not every WalletPop suggestion on how to save money is meant to help you save for a Caribbean cruise; many are lifelines to those of us struggling to even pay the rent and put food on the table. If you're among the more than one in 10 willing workers still looking for a job, or trying to keep your...

More kids are expected to receive free or reduced lunches and breakfasts this school year due to high unemployment and job losses. At least 18.5 million low-income children are expected to receive free or reduced lunches through the National School Lunch Program during the upcoming school year,...

In a down economy, and we all know this is a down economy, discount retailers perform better than those catering to the middle or upper middle class. So when dollar stores and deep discounters are reporting strong sales, everyone else starts looking at the reasons why and the answer may surprise:...

The last time I applied for food stamps was 2004. I'd just been laid off and found I was pregnant with my second child, the same week (the pregnancy was planned, the layoff, a total surprise). My husband, ever the patriot and would-be-provider, signed up for the Army Reserves. His pay in basic...

New government figures show that 31.8 million Americans were receiving food stamps at the latest count, an increase of 700,000 in just one month. For the fiscal year ended September 30th, the program will cost at least $51 billion, an increase of more than 20%. The average benefit was $115 a month...

The inspiration for this post came from an article discussing the plight of those on food stamps, in light of the increased cost of groceries. The poster child for not making it on food stamps? A woman with a 4-month-old baby getting $280 a month in food stamps.I had to do a double take when I saw...

A piece in today's USA Today looks a lady who has a master's in psychology and then left the field to try her hand at real estate. Now she's on food stamps.In the midst of a sinking real estate market and stagnant economy, food and gas prices have soared. That combination has led to a surge in the...