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Originally Posted by editec  Going to cheaper beer assumes that people spend a considerable amount on beer to begin with.
That may help some working poor teenagers and drunks, but I doubt it will help many familes already struggling to make ends meet.
A (rather large) victory garden that is fiscally meaningful requires that one cans or finds other ways to store a consideraable amount of homegrown food. Few people have the land or the skills, or even the money to set up such a system.
As to the various government programs you're speaking of?
Contrary to the belief that apparently many of you here have that welfare is out there and the living is easy, there really isn't all that much out there that I am aware of.
Here's what I think I know about those programs that working people are eligible for here in Maine..
1. Heating assistance gives people about 200 gallons of oil (My very modest cape uses about 700 gallons a year)
2. Food stamps pay $5 a day per person depending on you family income
3. I just looked up welfare in Maine to discover this: Welfare bennies are cut off for a family of 3 which makes more than $596 A MONTH.
That's it' folks. Those are the goverment welfare programs that exist that I know of to help the destitute or the working poor.
Anyone here imagine those bennies are really going to significantly offset the problems they're facing due to the spiking of food and energy?
So the only REAL solution to rising costs is increasing your income.
It is going to be interesting times this winter. I expect to see a significant migration from the Northest of people trying to escape the cold.
Empoverished snowbirds will coming your way this year, Dixie.
Much like the people who tried to escape the dustbowl of the 1930s I expect. |
Well 1/2 my income don't go for beer...
Most people have/spend amounts compared a beer habit on things like candy,pop,movie rentals..and buying fast food etc...
The funds will have to go to a bag of spuds..and pasta noodles etc.
That goes to your fast food junkies...but I'm being a little hard on them,because even going to the grocery store..aint cheep these days.
Where I live..we don't have HUGE groceries like Cub Foods..Rainbows..and Super One Foods etc..No Wall Marts etc...
So where I live..is considerably different from alot of you.It's rural America feeling this first...And we do have room for a small garden in the back etc..
Maybe instead of using beer..I could of used go generic on your soda pop,and goods from the grocery?...(smile)
As far as if one has a spot for a garden...Maybe it's time to learn.?
It's no rocket science that if a person has a 15 X 15 spot...that it could produce a shit load of tomatos..a few meals of green beans etc..Border it with onions etc.
If this is comming down to penny pinching..then every penny counts.
Your average home here where I live..uses 1100 gallons of heating oil a year...I have not checked what your average home here would be on assistance...but if it was 200 gallons..That would be a 1000.00 savings.That can make,or break a person...Especialy if a family is living pay-check..to pay check...Because I feel now the cost of living for a family..HAS INCREASED by 1000.00 this year?...Make sense?????...(smile)
I agree with relocating 100%...Geting a farm this spring...Chickens..acres to grow etc...Gona beg..borrow..and steal to make it possible..(figure of speech)..
It's out of our control....
To make more money will help...but that don't fit the senario of your average JOE in this country...
Cut backs is one..and making changes in one life to adapt to the times.
Good reply...just worried a bit for alot of folks.