feeling iffy here

I had an internal debate about writing this post. On one hand, it may help others, but on the other hand it is exactly the kind of post that raises the ire of taxpaying citizens. "Get off your duff, stop mooching, and deal with life the way the rest of us do!"

What is this post?

This week, CVS is offering extra care bucks on several food items, including Cheerios, Nature's valley granola bars, Fiber One bars, and Cheez its. These food items can be bought with food stamps, and the resulting ECB's can be used like cash for nearly anything else in the store, like toilet paper, shampoo, make-up, magazines, Snuggies, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc.

Why worry? "Why should food stamps get you luxury items like brand name shampoo while I have to use Suave?" Yes, I've heard those sentiments. You know what? People will buy what they consider important, and the only spending you can control is your own. I will use those ECB's for Suave, Purex detergent, toilet paper, and the cheapest dish soap available. What others do with this info is up to them. I hope that they will use the ECB's to gain the greatest possible benefit.

You see, there was an article in the associated press recently about people who are getting by with only food stamps, and no cash income whatsoever. I'm one of them. I'd love to have a job, an income, and some independence, but my current situation and calling requires me to stay home with my kids. Every time I need to ask for anything from my parents or fiancee - gas money, pull-up money - I feel like Oliver Twist. It's humiliating, even though they understand the problem. I feel slightly better when I can buy groceries - not only can I pick and choose what I want, I am contributing to the household. Now if I can use ECB's to buy other needed household items, I'll not only be able to choose my favorites but I'll pull more of my weight along.

I just came back from CVS, and I bought all the food items that would garner ECB's. They were
2 pack of Chase and Sanbourne Coffee. $5.99, $1 ECB
2 pack of Cheez-Its. $5.99, $3 ECB
2 pack of Ritz. $6.00, $2 ECB
2 pack Nature's Valley Granola Bars. $6.99, $3 ECB
2 pack Fiber One bars. $6.99, $3 ECB
2 pack Special K cereal. $7.99, $2 ECB
2 pack Cheerios. $7.99, $4 ECB
total SNAP benefits spent - $47.94
ECB's - $18.00
Was this the best deal possible? It depends on your point of view. I could get a much better value for my food dollar by shopping at Aldi. However, now I have $18 that have been translated into money that I can use for toiletry items, overnight pull-ups for Daniel, laundry detergent, and "free after ECB" items.
In short, I have seed money for the CVS game. If I use them wisely with coupons, I may even be able to increase my ECBs AND walk home with toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.
Use this knowledge for good!