ravan

PSA: An LJ blogger I follow recently posted an excellent guide on this subject that needs to be spread more widely:
Foodstamps 101

Even if you don't need it now, put it in your memories, you or someone you know may need it in the future.

There are more Americans living with food insecurity and hunger than in the past 50+ years. The local talk radio station just had a fundraiser day for food banks, the need is so great. This is a consequence of the Great Recession, and not likely to go away soon.

One of my more arrogant acquaintances deigned to make a post today about how people treat those they see as beneath them. It was very ironic, because she sees everyone as beneath her, except if she wants something from you, then she'll suck up.
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tl;dr bonus: Bird's Tip Calc

If you live in California, the sales tax is about 9% +/- 0.5% If you take the sales tax and double it, then round down to the nearest $0.5 for average service, up to the nearest $0.5 for good service, but only do a single multiple rounded up for mediocre service, you'll probably be about right or ahead of the curve.

Before someone gets in a randian libertarian rant about tips, realize that in California, people in tip making jobs are taxed on their estimated tips whether they actually earned them or not, plus their employers are allowed to pay them less salary because of it. Regardless of whether you approve of the practice, it has been going on since before I was born, and stiffing the nice person who brought you breakfast is not going to change it. It just hurts their feelings, their income, and their taxes - you essentially become an agent of government oppression. Tip your waiters - it lets you decide more directly what their pay will be.

Casseroles: at one point in time in the 80s I was known as the Casserole Queen, because that is what I made, and ate.

I was broke, you see, unemployed and only had $25 left in the month after my rent and utilities were paid out of what token that the state gave me for unemployment. Ramen didn't cut it.

So, the formula:
Starch - rice or noodles. Don't use "minute" rice - it's a waste of money! You can also use other grains, whatever you have on hand.
Protein - tuna, eggs, beans or real meat. I used cheap tuna, or dropped an egg into the boiling water.
Veggies - cheap frozen mixed veggies. Find the cheapest per ounce. A big bag can last weeks!
Sauce - the flavor lives here. Use things like cream of whatever soup, canned spaghetti sauce, or bouillion and spices.

I used corningware - heat the water on the stovetop, add ingredients, stir it up, stuff it into the oven, bake 'till done. You can also simmer it on the stove, too.

A regular 2 quart corningware pan full would feed me for 2 days.

To drink I drank (generic) coffee, iced tea or water.

It's low fat, no fast food, and cheap. I lost weight, but I didn't starve.

This is a rant, about food, diets, advertisements, stupidity and lies. Do not read if any of these are triggering.
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