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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: camellia0 on February 25, 2013, 02:30:54 pm
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I've read a couple of articles where officials have took the $5 a day challenge. This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4). Wow, that's nothing. Yeah, there are people who don't want to work and want "to live off the system" but there are people who losttheir job and honestly need to receive help until they get back on their feet. Has anyone tried this?
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I recently had to go onto the food stamp program. I am a widow and lost my job due to having to take care of my husband when he was dying with cancer. I have not been able to go back to work since his death. My life has been on an incredible downhill spiral since his death and I now live on just his social security income. I still have the same bills to pay as before his death and he was not heavily insured and most of that went to pay for his funeral expenses. I am over 60 y/o and have worked over 40 years. Without the food stamps, I was forced to go to a food bank for food and only then did I finally become eligible for food stamps. Most of the food at the food bank is out of date or is sugary treats or canned food that others have thrown out, no bread, mostly cereals, no milk. I know that there are some people who perhaps abuse the program, but I think for the most part they are truly needy and unable to keep up with feeding a family with the increasing price of food and gas and everything else. Many people I know of who lost their long-time job including their homes and retirement when Hostess went under. I know of one personally who was 6 months away from retirement and lost his home and his savings and retirement benefits. I get really disgusted when I hear people put down the food stamp program. Most of the time it is someone who has never had to go without for a day in their life.
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I don`t we can live $5 a day here, maybe in Philippines in the mountain province.
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I have read articles about living off that much a day but I have not tried it. I think you would not be eating the things that you should be eating and I would figure that you would have to be growing a lot of your own food.
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This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4).
Food Stamp allotment must greatly vary from state-to-state then because I know people in my area, when the kids no longer qualify for WIC and they are low income they are getting $200 per month, per head. (So a family of four gets $800 a month, I've heard them brag and yes...one family did show me their confimation paper when I doubted them for that amount).
If the low income/or living-off-the-system (and yes, MANY do brag here about living off the system and how they make their cash on the side) don't have to live on $5 a day, why would anyone else want to?? :dontknow:
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You'd also have to take in mind the cost of food for each particular area; milk could be $3.29 in one place & $3.99 in another. I think I'd be able to, though.
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That's basically one meal a day without a drink, (unless it's free water). I know I can't do it!
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The only way that I see myself living off $5 per day is staying in the house and if I have to go out it would be very relevant and preparing my stomach for not being hungry. But it is a way to accomplish anything if we put our minds to it and stay focus.
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I have been on food stamps before and it is extremely hard and no I didn't just use the food stamps I had to supplement them with what money we could come up with to supplement them because no one can exist on that amount.
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haha I have had to do that for a couple months when I stupidly decided to move out of my parent's house too early. I was living with a family friend so rent wasnt too bad but gas prices skyrocketed and milk costs went up. I was taking classes 30 and 45 minutes away. I was only working at one job and its only open twice a week. some days i would only have $2 to spend :/ no food stamps or support. just had to wait it out. needless to say i moved back in with my parents for a little while to get back on my feet. when i got paid though it was relieved a bit. i dont think $5 every day would be enough though. However Im sure there are efficient ways of living, even without any money at all..still not sure how they do it!!
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i am not sure if i could live on 5 dollars a day. I try and have a cheap lunch by bringing lunch for work each day. I buy lean pockets when on sale for 2.00 and pop when on sale adn bring them in.
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that would be very difficult without a garden! possible, but not something I want to do right now... :peace:
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I once in awhile skip a meal here and there, but this is primarily as I'm very busy and work through a meal. As to living off $5 I definitely cannot especially the area where I live, which is expensive. I saw a segment talking about trying to live on a similar amount and saw the difficulty.
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I BET IF I HAD TO I COULD LIVE OFF $5 A DAY
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I don't think I can survive on $5 a day. I may be able to buy some Ramen noodles and ground beef, but nothing else. I could last on more than $5 a day.
I see the food banks here and are thankful for them. I am just careful to watch the expiration date. :star:
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If I had to, I could live off $5.00 a day. It would be very tough and take many sacrifices.
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I think it would be extremely difficult if not impossible--especially to get any kind of healthy food. In our area, I see many who are severely underemployed--they work, but I don't know how they ever meet basic expenses.
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Oh no that would be hard in today's society
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I have not tried to leave on 5 dollars a day. I will have to look into this.
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It would be neat to try but I dont know if I could do it.
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I think $5.00 a day is possible under extreme conditions. There are people that survive with nothing...not that I would choose this way of life but I imagine it is possible. That's $35 per week. In the right climate with a tent one could make it as a work camper. Spend maybe $15 or so a month on hyigene stuff....put $5-10 way into savings and there is still a good $40 to use on groceries. Shop at stores like Aldi. Donate ones time to charity and I'm sure many potlucks will emerge to keep a belly full. Just gotta hope you never get sick cause the medication and hospital bills will bury you.
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I've read a couple of articles where officials have took the $5 a day challenge. This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4). Wow, that's nothing. Yeah, there are people who don't want to work and want "to live off the system" but there are people who losttheir job and honestly need to receive help until they get back on their feet. Has anyone tried this?
Of course I could and did when I was younger, it is easy when you have a support system. Five times seven or thirty-five dollars, is not very much in this day and time even with a support system. But several years ago I lived on much less than five dollars per day again because I had a support system of my own doing. That's basically one meal a day without a drink, (unless it's free water). I know I can't do it!
On five dollars I could you eat more than one meal a day if it was homemade. If it was from a fast food place or take out food, then it might cost more than five dollars. I don't drink sodas but I could get a can from the Shoprite for $0.21. My focus would be on vegetables, beans, oatmeal, yogurt and fruit.
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I don't think so, but I guess if I had to I could. With Food stamps I am sure I could, but I am bless to have a job so I need more than that just to get to work (gas for my car) and food I just eat at home and take my lunch. We do what we have to do in this life.
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:icon_rr: In this day and age, I believe it to be an impossibility without some other type of support system. Especially if you had a family. :BangHead: Perish the thought!!!
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5 dollars a day
day one
1 can of soup 1.25
1 box of crackers with a can of chix salad in the box 1.25
mcdonalds hamburger 1 dollar
fries 1dollar
4.50 dollars
day two
6 pack instant oatmeal 3 dollars
mcdonalds hamburger and fries 2 dollars
5 dollars
day 3
half gallon milk 2.50
one box of crackers and chix salad1.25
1 can of soup1.25
eat one pack of my oatmeal with some milk
5 dollars
day 4
loaf of bread2.50
eat one pack of oatmeal with milk
1 can of tomatoes soup1.25
1 carton of eggs1.50
5.25
day 5
two cans of veggies 2.00
2 packages of hot dogs 2.00
4 packages of ramen noodles1.00
day 6
box of saltines 2.50
2 cans of chicken and star soup 2.00
day 7
1 box of cereal 3.00
2 lbs of bananas 1.25
week 1 leftovers
1 cup of milk
8 eggs
8 slices of bread
14 hotdogs
1 can of soup
of course though this is just the prices in my area i know in other towns that a can of veggies are selling for 1.50 to 2.00 and im sure other costs are higher than mine
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5 dollars a day
day one
1 can of soup 1.25
1 box of crackers with a can of chix salad in the box 1.25
mcdonalds hamburger 1 dollar
fries 1dollar
4.50 dollars
day two
6 pack instant oatmeal 3 dollars
mcdonalds hamburger and fries 2 dollars
5 dollars
day 3
half gallon milk 2.50
one box of crackers and chix salad1.25
1 can of soup1.25
eat one pack of my oatmeal with some milk
5 dollars
day 4
loaf of bread2.50
eat one pack of oatmeal with milk
1 can of tomatoes soup1.25
1 carton of eggs1.50
5.25
day 5
two cans of veggies 2.00
2 packages of hot dogs 2.00
4 packages of ramen noodles1.00
day 6
box of saltines 2.50
2 cans of chicken and star soup 2.00
day 7
1 box of cereal 3.00
2 lbs of bananas 1.25
week 1 leftovers
1 cup of milk
8 eggs
8 slices of bread
14 hotdogs
1 can of soup
of course though this is just the prices in my area i know in other towns that a can of veggies are selling for 1.50 to 2.00 and im sure other costs are higher than mine
I would not eat some much fast food, especially hamburgers. But on Tuesdays and Wednesday, we can get hamburgers for $0.59 each. If I wanted hamburgers, larger than quarter pounders can be made for less than $0.45 lb. Chicken legs can be purchased for $0.49 per pound. And no instant oatmeal. Homemade soups, add vegetables and fruit would be a better diet. Since I live in the NYC area these prices may be high.
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There's no way. In order to live a healthy and happy lifestyle I would need more money than that. Also I workout a lot so I need to eat a lot of food to help my body recover from all the calories I lose.
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It is my belief that any one could do it if they had to.
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If I have to live on a tight budget, yes I can live on a $5/day which I have done before when I first moved out on my own. However, I have never lived on food stamps.
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You would be surprised how far you can stretch it when you have to. A loaf of bread and a package of cheese can make grilled cheese sandwiches that can last most all week. I know that is not the most desirable thing, but it is sufficient to live. Ramen goes a long way also. A case of Ramen noodles is only $3.00 and you can add it to almost anything to stretch it. We put a little hamburger meet, a can of corn, some water chestnuts and a scrambled egg and have a casserole that the whole family loves. Also the frozen salsbury steak chopped up on ramen is really good.
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You would be surprised how far you can stretch it when you have to. A loaf of bread and a package of cheese can make grilled cheese sandwiches that can last most all week. I know that is not the most desirable thing, but it is sufficient to live. Ramen goes a long way also. A case of Ramen noodles is only $3.00 and you can add it to almost anything to stretch it. We put a little hamburger meet, a can of corn, some water chestnuts and a scrambled egg and have a casserole that the whole family loves. Also the frozen salsbury steak chopped up on ramen is really good.
Use only part to the seasoning pack, I add powdered or fresh ginger and powdered or fresh garlic. Add vegetables to made the noddles healthier. I made my own, flat noodles and wonton skins and tried making my own ramen noodles. But I found more income and did not become and expert at making noodles.
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I know how hard it can be to on a very small income. I was a single mother of two boys that worked at a casino in Connecticut. I became very ill and almost died. Needless to say I lost my job. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had been in a severe car accident back in 1982 which gave me a ruling of $250 a month. I was trying to apply for Social Security Disability and got turned down repeatedly. So I had to live on that $250 for 4 years. So I figure that to be about $9.00 a day with two children. I didn't even get food stamps. So I know it is hard out there. I am today in the same boat as my mother died and I lost the home we lived in as she had a reverse mortgage on the home. I had to move with only my Social Security and the $250 to try and make a rent that is $1015 a month. So I now need to try and get help again from the state. I feel that I have given over the years to many and now I need the help. It is hard to ask but the world deems it necessary at times. Not all who are on aid from the state are freeloaders. I hope that others that need the help ask and not let other peoples opinions dictate their decision.
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I recently had to go onto the food stamp program. I am a widow and lost my job due to having to take care of my husband when he was dying with cancer. I have not been able to go back to work since his death. My life has been on an incredible downhill spiral since his death and I now live on just his social security income. I still have the same bills to pay as before his death and he was not heavily insured and most of that went to pay for his funeral expenses. I am over 60 y/o and have worked over 40 years. Without the food stamps, I was forced to go to a food bank for food and only then did I finally become eligible for food stamps. Most of the food at the food bank is out of date or is sugary treats or canned food that others have thrown out, no bread, mostly cereals, no milk. I know that there are some people who perhaps abuse the program, but I think for the most part they are truly needy and unable to keep up with feeding a family with the increasing price of food and gas and everything else. Many people I know of who lost their long-time job including their homes and retirement when Hostess went under. I know of one personally who was 6 months away from retirement and lost his home and his savings and retirement benefits. I get really disgusted when I hear people put down the food stamp program. Most of the time it is someone who has never had to go without for a day in their life.
First, off I am sorry for your lost. I truly hope things get better. It sucks that you are promised so much and then the unexpected happens and you do not know where to begin. Where you are in your life you should be enjoying retirement, but instead you are suffering. I hope everything works out for you. The food stamps are there to help individuals who need it. That is why we pay taxes, right.
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I've read a couple of articles where officials have took the $5 a day challenge. This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4). Wow, that's nothing. Yeah, there are people who don't want to work and want "to live off the system" but there are people who losttheir job and honestly need to receive help until they get back on their feet. Has anyone tried this?
I think it is more of survive instead of living. No, one can actually live on $5 dollar a week. The way gas is going up and does the food prices.
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heck no even if I packed a lunch for my work and made just dinner at night by the time I bought stuff to eat for 5 days and divided it by 2 meals and 5 days I would no doubt starve on the weekends
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Since almost all of the meals i cook are home made, i have learned to cook good but cheaply.I don't buy processed foods, ( not really good for you) Also a pound of ground will make at least a couple of meals or more and then you have your veges. Also a good green salad at least 4 times a week. Depending on what i cook. I also cook meals for my dad and take too him. He doesn't eat a lot so it has t be small meals that i can freeze and he can heat up. My food bill is about too.oo a month.
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I think it is possibly, but would require a lot of sacrifices that I, and others probably, would not want to give up. Honestly though, if that's all the government is giving to people to live on, it needs to be increased. I understand that some people try to take advantage of the system so they don't need to work, but others are actually trying to use it the right way and they need the help.
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I'm pretty sure I could but would have to spend more than $5 to do preparations first.
Buy a monthly metrocard instead of a daily one.
Go grocery shopping and cook food to take with me so that I don't have to buy food.
Then sure I could live on $5 a day.
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Maybe if I did not need to drive anywhere. Food is pretty expensive in Colorado and especially during the winter, it is not like you can grow your own. I bet I'd struggle with $10 a day.
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I cannot try. Is this for food only? Because gas price here already 4.79 already?... Cannot at this economy. Maybe if I walk all the time and don't need to go any where. Maybe I'll try.
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I do not think I could live off of $5.00 a day.
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I've read a couple of articles where officials have took the $5 a day challenge. This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4). Wow, that's nothing. Yeah, there are people who don't want to work and want "to live off the system" but there are people who losttheir job and honestly need to receive help until they get back on their feet. Has anyone tried this?
Assuming you are saying the entire family of 4 receives a total allotment of $5.00 a day for food only (averaging $150.00 a month)--I'd say it is doable if one is diligent to shop and buy only what is on sale, use coupons and be willing and able to shop at multiple stores that offer the best prices. It takes a lot of time, organizing, planning and cooking practically everything from scratch. Also, having some creative skills in the kitchen help when you may have to eat chicken or beans for a month straight. lol. We have never been on food stamps but things have been so tight the past few years that my husband and I turned this into a team effort to make sure our family of 5 has been well fed with healthy foods and not junk.
It would be interesting if these officials are also trying to feed their own families of 4 with the $5.00 a day challenge and how long would they be willing or able to do it for before cracking? It's one thing to do it for a day, a week or a month but to do it for the long haul is another story.
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Is that just spending money or food? I could obviously not pay my bills with that, but I could easily live on food and entertainment on $5 a day. You don't use the $5 a day. You shop sales and use coupons and plan for the month (or 2 weeks or whatever). Peanut Butter and Jelly, grilled cheese and cereal are cheap!
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I believe I could eat on $5 a day if I had to but it would be difficult. I think the people in my area get much more than that in food stamps as I have followed them thru the check-out and they have much more expensive food than I ever buy.
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No I don't think I could, not unless I had too. But that would be a difficult situation to be in to live off that much a day
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I am very frugal and do cook for my family everyday. It would be damn near impossible to eat healthy on only $5 a day here. Proccessed foods are always the cheapest and those are the least healthy. Fresh fruits and vegtables are very expensive unless you live in a big agricultural area. Visiting the imperial valley I almost fell over when i saw potatoes 50 cents for 10 lbs. Here unless they are on sale its easy for potatoes to be $4 for 5 lbs. Someone mentioned going to numerous stores, if you only have $5 a day for food where would you get gas money to run all over the city or town to shop? Coupons too are great but generally work for processed foods and not fresh meat, dairy or fruits or veggies.
What about people who live in areas with very limited shopping choices? Last i read the 1 grocery store in the lower 9th still hadnt reopened in NO.
i know there are people who game the system. Im more concerned with people like those that have posted in this thread who are elderly or have had a death or illness or job loss put them in dire straits. I feel they are absolutely entitled to the help.
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if i didnt have any debt it could be done but not with the debt I have now
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well if i had to im sure i could,,would be nicer if i had more though :bunny:
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As frugally as I live, I could easily live on 5.00 a day. I could probably even save some of the money. You would be suprised how much you dont really need to spend money for.
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If it was a end of the world situation or some kind of crisis then I would have to make due. But that's only if it was just me using that $5, and not trying to feed my whole family.
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If ur just talking about food then i l could easly
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Maybe several decades ago living off $5 a day would be easily done, but it's pretty much impossible to do these days. Unless you didn't have bills to pay or anything else that demanded your money. For the first two years of high school for me, I had to live off $5 a week as far as lunch went. We didn't have much of anything to eat at home either, so in a way I have done it but in a way I didn't. Trying to get lunch at school when I could only spend $1 each day if I didn't want to have skip any days was extremely difficult, so I can't imagine having bills and other necessary expenses while only having $5 to spend per day.
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If $5 a day, only included food for a person, then yes, I can live on $5 a day. But, if rent, and other expenses are included, then no, I wont be able to do that.
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WIND A LEAF OF BREAD COST ABOUT 2 BUCK AND A POUND OF BOLONEY COST AROUND 4 BUCK YOU PROBABLE COULD BUT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF GARBAGE GOING IN SIDE YOUR STOMACH
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If I walked wherever I needed to go and had leftovers and could have my own food then ofcourse lol.
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i was trying to show that it is possible to do but that building a variety would take a little bit of time i was not promoting it as a lifestyle
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Wow that would be awful. You can't buy any food with that!
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I've read a couple of articles where officials have took the $5 a day challenge. This is the allotted amount for people who receive food stamps (a family of 4). Wow, that's nothing. Yeah, there are people who don't want to work and want "to live off the system" but there are people who losttheir job and honestly need to receive help until they get back on their feet. Has anyone tried this?
I don't know what state you live in, it must vary by state, because in NY state all the welfare people spend way more than that per day. And they get mostly non-food, like soda, candy, chips etc. All of which should not be eligible for food stamps.
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I currently do this, living on $5 subway footlongs lol. Pretty much just split the sandwich in to two or three parts for my meals.
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If you're talking 5 dollars a day for just food then sure. But for a roof and everything else people need no.
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It is difficult but can be done. Takes careful planning and looking at needs rather than wants.
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Unless you have a garden, there's no way a person can eat on $5 per day and stay healthy.
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It's tough but it can be done!!
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Yes I can
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No, even if you were debt free, $5 may be able to pay for food, but it couldn't pay for housing...
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It'd be doable for one, maybe two people, but don't expect your eats to be very nutritious. :confused1:
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Youn don't have to live off that amount, ie pay rent utilities, etc. just eat. It can be done, just not elegantly.
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I am currently getting help with food stamps. It is very tough and we eat alot of mac-n-cheese...not my favorite but I will eat it until I can find a job that can support me and my son. :-
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It can be easily done if you're just talking about food. That's $150 a month to spend on groceries so you can actually eat healthy filling meals with that
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Yes, If you grow all your own vegetables, fruits and can items in a great supply. Also you must live in a state where you have the property to grow a large garden. If you live in the city, then no.
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I don't think I could live off $5/day. Maybe if I really had to, I would. Of course I would try to make stuff we already have in the freezer. Then start buying oatmeal, ramen, and lots of bread.