Comments for Tight Fisted Miser http://tightfistedmiser.com Extreme Frugality and Personal Finance from a modest earner's perspective Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:31:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by Personal finance bloggers destroy Starbucks’ dream | shoyu http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17287 Personal finance bloggers destroy Starbucks’ dream | shoyu Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:17:23 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17287 [...] hope you’re proud of yourselves, you PF bloggers. The next thing you’ll probably do is move into a van. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shoyustuff.com%2F%3Fp%3D247'; addthis_title = [...] [...] hope you’re proud of yourselves, you PF bloggers. The next thing you’ll probably do is move into a van. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shoyustuff.com%2F%3Fp%3D247′; addthis_title = [...]

]]> Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by shoyu http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17274 shoyu Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:37:02 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17274 Even if you only last until winter, you'll always be able to tell people you once lived in a van. Even if you only last until winter, you’ll always be able to tell people you once lived in a van.

]]> Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by KRod http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17265 KRod Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:09:36 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17265 I always dreamed of doing this. Good luck. K I always dreamed of doing this. Good luck.

K

]]> Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by Pages tagged "camping" http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17264 Pages tagged "camping" Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:04:18 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17264 [...] bookmarks tagged camping Living in a Van Down by the River saved by 1 others     NeilCicierega bookmarked on 06/30/08 | [...] [...] bookmarks tagged camping Living in a Van Down by the River saved by 1 others     NeilCicierega bookmarked on 06/30/08 | [...]

]]> Comment on My Food Stamp Experience by B. http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/11/my-food-stamp-experience/#comment-17261 B. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:17:36 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=349#comment-17261 Hi, I read this article and felt I should throw in my two cents (EBT, FS). I'm currently an unemployed homeless man without kids, and, most importantly, on food stamps in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (Maryland). The day I applied for food stamps, I came in almost as soon as the office opened up at about 8:30am, and sat waiting until about 2pm. I could do that because of my situation, but I imagine there are people who wouldn't be able to; not all homeless are unemployed. My case manager was rude, jabbing me with insults the entire interview, morbidly obese to the point of physical ailment, and smelled of awful hygiene practices. I enrolled in a job training program, and was told I would be lucky if I heard anything in less than three months. Something happened to my case manager where my case got shifted over and expedited. After a month, I was given short of the full allotted amount ($150) for two months ($300). Food stamps, as shoyu pointed out, is a USDA subsidized program only for food; those restrictions apply to all states. It makes it tough when you lack access to a refrigerator or a stove/microwave/oven. As an added bonus, food stamps are tax exempt. Now for a little math: You have $150 to spread equally among 30 days, what is your daily budget? That's right; you have $5 a day. What factors might impact that budget? Recent flooding in the heartland and surges in gas prices (transportation costs). Nothing here costs less than $5.00, except for bottled water, and that s#!t ain't cheap. You could argue that "why not just drink tap?" Have you seen the area's water statistics? You can find gasoline, lead, and, of course, there was that WSSC water main break that had restaurants shut down and homes boiling water for three days. Now, you have $280 to spend on two people (one of them an infant) for 30 days; that's less than $10 per day. Add in that extra $65 she gets (I just read the CNN piece), and we're talking $345 -- $11.50 per day, assuming she don't use that $65 a month on other expenses. A single mother, who's still menstruating (as I'm sure you all know, you lose a lot of nutrients when you bleed), and a growing four month old. Of course, there's always the "alternative;" buy food at the dollar store. I'm limited to the (ready to open) canned food, and have you read the ingredients? It's as if a chemical plant was under pressure to get rid of its waste products and said "Hey! We can just toss in some food and call it a day!" I can deal with it, I can eat it if I have to, but you better believe that's not going near my kid. Besides, I haven't seen baby food or formula at the dollar store. Food banks supply you with three days of food, at most, and comprise primarily of desserts and expired foods (not all expired food is spoiled). Anyways, at the end of the month (I admit I haven't been frugal, nor particularly aiming for it) my two-months-worth of food stamps have nearly evaporated. Maybe I could do more with less if I had a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven/stove/microwave, and I can stretch out my benefits as is, thank God, but there are some people who simply aren't as fortunate, for whatever reason. While I agree that it's possible to live on less (Hell, I can live on a dollar a day), I don't think it's right that Living Almost Large knocks on the woman in the article because she either doesn't or simply can't, and while I'm happy that Tight Fisted Miser had a pleasant experience, I don't think it's indicative of others', by-and-large. At least not here. I hope this was helpful. Hi, I read this article and felt I should throw in my two cents (EBT, FS). I’m currently an unemployed homeless man without kids, and, most importantly, on food stamps in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (Maryland).
The day I applied for food stamps, I came in almost as soon as the office opened up at about 8:30am, and sat waiting until about 2pm. I could do that because of my situation, but I imagine there are people who wouldn’t be able to; not all homeless are unemployed.
My case manager was rude, jabbing me with insults the entire interview, morbidly obese to the point of physical ailment, and smelled of awful hygiene practices.
I enrolled in a job training program, and was told I would be lucky if I heard anything in less than three months. Something happened to my case manager where my case got shifted over and expedited. After a month, I was given short of the full allotted amount ($150) for two months ($300).
Food stamps, as shoyu pointed out, is a USDA subsidized program only for food; those restrictions apply to all states. It makes it tough when you lack access to a refrigerator or a stove/microwave/oven. As an added bonus, food stamps are tax exempt.
Now for a little math: You have $150 to spread equally among 30 days, what is your daily budget? That’s right; you have $5 a day.
What factors might impact that budget? Recent flooding in the heartland and surges in gas prices (transportation costs). Nothing here costs less than $5.00, except for bottled water, and that s#!t ain’t cheap. You could argue that “why not just drink tap?” Have you seen the area’s water statistics? You can find gasoline, lead, and, of course, there was that WSSC water main break that had restaurants shut down and homes boiling water for three days.
Now, you have $280 to spend on two people (one of them an infant) for 30 days; that’s less than $10 per day. Add in that extra $65 she gets (I just read the CNN piece), and we’re talking $345 — $11.50 per day, assuming she don’t use that $65 a month on other expenses. A single mother, who’s still menstruating (as I’m sure you all know, you lose a lot of nutrients when you bleed), and a growing four month old.
Of course, there’s always the “alternative;” buy food at the dollar store. I’m limited to the (ready to open) canned food, and have you read the ingredients? It’s as if a chemical plant was under pressure to get rid of its waste products and said “Hey! We can just toss in some food and call it a day!” I can deal with it, I can eat it if I have to, but you better believe that’s not going near my kid. Besides, I haven’t seen baby food or formula at the dollar store.
Food banks supply you with three days of food, at most, and comprise primarily of desserts and expired foods (not all expired food is spoiled).
Anyways, at the end of the month (I admit I haven’t been frugal, nor particularly aiming for it) my two-months-worth of food stamps have nearly evaporated. Maybe I could do more with less if I had a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven/stove/microwave, and I can stretch out my benefits as is, thank God, but there are some people who simply aren’t as fortunate, for whatever reason.
While I agree that it’s possible to live on less (Hell, I can live on a dollar a day), I don’t think it’s right that Living Almost Large knocks on the woman in the article because she either doesn’t or simply can’t, and while I’m happy that Tight Fisted Miser had a pleasant experience, I don’t think it’s indicative of others’, by-and-large. At least not here. I hope this was helpful.

]]> Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17260 Ashley @ Wide Open Wallet Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:03:40 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17260 Wow... I'm interested in finding out how it goes for you. Make sure you keep us updated. Could be a real adventure. Wow… I’m interested in finding out how it goes for you. Make sure you keep us updated. Could be a real adventure.

]]> Comment on Living in a Van Down by the River by Eric Lee http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/30/living-in-a-van-down-by-the-river/#comment-17259 Eric Lee Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:33:00 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=364#comment-17259 Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future. Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.

]]> Comment on Turning Off the Gas Again by Tight Fisted Miser » Blog Archive » Turning Off the Gas Didn’t Work http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/05/29/turning-off-the-gas-again/#comment-17201 Tight Fisted Miser » Blog Archive » Turning Off the Gas Didn’t Work Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:14:10 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=338#comment-17201 [...] year I was able to successfully turn off my gas and save some money during the summer. I tried to do that again this year but my landlord was [...] [...] year I was able to successfully turn off my gas and save some money during the summer. I tried to do that again this year but my landlord was [...]

]]> Comment on How I Couldn’t Find $10,000 Per Year If I Had To by Tight Fisted Miser » Blog Archive » Latest Carnival and Festival Picks http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/17/how-i-couldnt-find-10000-per-year-if-i-had-to/#comment-17196 Tight Fisted Miser » Blog Archive » Latest Carnival and Festival Picks Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:06:19 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=352#comment-17196 [...] The Festival of Frugality was hosted by Broke Grad Student.  It included my post How I Couldn’t Find $10,000 Per Year If I Had To. [...] [...] The Festival of Frugality was hosted by Broke Grad Student.  It included my post How I Couldn’t Find $10,000 Per Year If I Had To. [...]

]]> Comment on My Food Stamp Experience by Livingalmostlarge http://tightfistedmiser.com/2008/06/11/my-food-stamp-experience/#comment-17183 Livingalmostlarge Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:57:14 +0000 http://tightfistedmiser.com/?p=349#comment-17183 Guess it's not hard to live on $280 then if you lived on $160/month. Guess it’s not hard to live on $280 then if you lived on $160/month.

]]>