My neighbor's husband lost his job last year and has a significant change in his salary with his new job. We have been friends for years, and we help them out when we can with extra food that we buy (they are only getting 120.00 a month in food stamps and no other assistance). Their kids come to our house alot when the parents have to work late, both of them are trying to find a better paying job but that is almost impossible. Is this kind of situation going on just in Louisiana or all over the country?
2006-07-31 02:20:33 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
it's impossible. It happened to me for the past 2 years. I was the only one making an income and it was between $18000-$19000 a year. There are three of us living off one income. The total I brought home a month to spend was a little over $1200. Rent was $550, electric was on average $200 (don't know why it was so high), gas for the car was about $200 a month, food was about $400, just this stuff is already over my income. This doesn't include the other things we needed like diapers, wipes, toilet paper, towels, shampoo & conditioner, etc. I was on WIC, got about $90 in food stamps a month for a short while, and had my daughter on medicaid. That was all we qualified for. Then my husband got a job that was supposed to be full time and they only worked him part time so all of that money went to a babysitter and we lost our food stamps. We were evicted from two apartments, & didn't have a phone for almost 1 year. After the second eviction we moved in with a relative in a different state and are still with them. I'm having trouble finding a job because I have no college education and crappy credit. Our car broke down and have no money to repair it or money to get a new one. Those two years have made such a mess out of my life. I hope your neighbors can fix the situation soon because it only gets worse and the government doesn't give much assistance, you have to be living on the streets before they will help.
2006-07-31 02:47:04 · answer #1 · answered by belle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is all over the USA. Gas prices don't help and me and my family lives on less than 24,000 a year have been for over 20 years we don't get food stamps they say we make to much but then again maybe we do. But good jobs are not easy to come by in these hard times.
2006-07-31 02:29:23 · answer #2 · answered by Lt.Capt.Code4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's going on all over the country. My family is currently facing the same problem, we can't afford to get groceries or pay the mortage, it's been really hard for us and it's been going on for over three years now.
But for 6 people to live off of 18,000 is basically physically impossible. Because there's mortage, electricity, water.. and alot of other things that have to be paid with that 18,000 dollars.
I hope things get better for your neighbors.
2006-07-31 02:24:38 · answer #3 · answered by usagimoon2007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say that maybe they should look for jobs elsewhere and relocate if they arent getting by. 50 weeks *40 hours = 2000 hours * 6=12000*2=24000 combined income???
they both must make minimum wage then i would suggest they get 2nd jobs that give tips like bartending, waitressing etc. for extra cash and income.
with their 120 a month they should shop smart and buy bulk and cheap canned foods, ramen noodles, generic bread and cereal etc.
2006-07-31 02:47:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can plant a garden.
They can avoid buying processed food; instant potatoes, cookies, etc.
"Buy gently used clothing at thrift shops and garage sales.
2006-07-31 02:35:27 · answer #5 · answered by cowgirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋