Time for hubby and I to choose...health care or food.

[Saphire]

We struggle every month to pay the bills and put food on the table for the 4 of us, and now, it's become a choice between keeping health insurance or eating. It's plain to see that we have to eat, and just have to hope that we or our children get sick. Ain't that a kick in the pants?

Our salaries have not gone up in the last few years, but all of our expenses have. I refuse to live on credit cards (we don't have any) and we have already moved to a less expensive home, share a motorcycle ride to and from work. We have had to move our children to a less desirable neighborhood and weaker school system.

We were once middle-class, but were fast falling to lower class.

Thank you, George B*sh.

PS...I hope my kids take a liking to cat food.

[newfie11]

1. Hell ,cat food is expensive too.

[Saphire]

2. LOL..I've been sitting here feeling awfully sorry for myself, and you

made me laugh. Thank you.

[Saphire]

3. sorry, dupe.

[marshall]

13. Try the free or reduced lunch programs at school

They include breakfast too, and the income requirement is less stringent than it is for food stamps and WIC.

And good planning on your part to have stocked up on staples like beans and rice. They will be much more nutritional than the frozen concoctions that cost so much, and with creative recipes you can make quite tasty meals.

I do think it's better to economize on food so that you can maintain health insurance.

[snappyturtle]

4. Sorry to hear this. We had the same decision to make several years

ago. I can't even remember the exact year because our lives are so focused on day to day, week to week and month to month. We've given up on Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries too. When I shop I don't buy what we're hungry for but for what is the cheapest or for what is on sale. I think the crux of the economic problems is jobs and the lack there of in some cases ....and their corresponding salaries. They just haven't kept up.

[Warpy]

5. Been there, done that

but instead of cat food, I did my reading and ended up on a very cheap diet of bulk whole grain, bulk beans and the cheapest root veggies and winter squashes. It was boring but nutritious and kept me from getting much sicker than I already was.

Cat food was never an option for me. It's loaded with fat and grains and stuff that the cat likes but which is not all that good for people. Fortunately for me, the cats liked the cheapest kibble out there and thrived on a steady diet of that and water.

The harder part was deciding which prescriptions to let go of. That made me quite a bit sicker but I stabilized after a while.


Good on you for avoiding the credit card scam. Believe it or not, that already puts you ahead of other people who fell into the trap.

[Saphire]

12. Yes, I have fought the credit card thing for a long time, and for good

or bad, we didn't fall into the home buying thing either. It made it much easier to pack up and move into cheaper housing.

Hubby and I are both looking for that 2nd job.

[Saturday]

6. I know living in certain areas makes you shop at certain stores.

I am so lucky to have a really large reasonably priced grocery store in my neighborhood. Is there any way you could lower food costs by shopping elsewhere? I know that's not always possible. Best of luck to you to weather this storm of hurricane george.

[malaise]

7. The time has come for American to buy health insurance in developing

countries. There are very good university hospitals in many developing countries and you can deal with medical problems overseas for 1/100th of the costs.

[tjwash]

8. You forgot the most important thing...

...sending 700 billion to bail out the very people who helped to put you in that situation to begin with.

[Ilsa]

9. HAve you checked into WIC?

Seriously, a family of four might qualify for some help with some food expenses. It may not be enough to feed the whole family, but it may be enough to keep the kids a little happier if they are young (under age five, I think).

Also, have you checked with your local food bank or pantry? Maybe they have some items that can help.

I'm clueless about suggestions for healthcare. As is Congress, apparently.

I wish I could help. You're in San Antonio? I don't know what is available there.

Yeah, Bush doesn't do much to help us put food on our families. Payrolls are stagnant at best.

[Saphire]

11. Nah, seems we make to much money to qualify...and the kids are teens.

Same ol' story. If I were to stop working, we'd qualify. Fortunatly, I stocked up on beans, rice and flour a while back. I've learned to make my own tortillas (they might be funny looking, but taste alright.)

[AndyA]

10. So those Bush tax cuts aren't working for you?

I wish Obama and Biden would scream constantly that the increase in energy costs, food costs, and everything else is THE SAME AS A TAX INCREASE.

If you don't have it in your pocket, what difference does it make who has it? You don't have it to spend. Tax increase vs. increased cost to live = no difference. The money isn't there.

I hope things get better for you and your family soon. It doesn't help, but remember you're not alone...lots of others know first hand how you feel.

[knitter4democracy]

14. What about your neighbors?

I read in Utne awhile back about neighbors and friends pooling food resources and doing weekly potlucks as a way to save money. I know our church does it on purpose at least once a month, and we put together plates for people to make sure everyone gets enough.

Aldi's a cheaper place to shop, too, if you have one nearby. God, I'm so sorry. No one should go hungry to get health care and vice versa.

[alfredo]

15. Either one of you a veteran? If so, one should get covered by VA.