From Six Figures To Food Stamps

Three Months ago today my husband lost a very well paying job. A job that supported our family of 6 all on its own. It paid for our house, our cars; it paid for tuition at a classical homeschool academy for our girls, and it paid for me to homeschool my boys. It paid our bills, it paid for our needs and it paid for our wants.

Depsite such a large monthly income, I felt like things were tight. Now I laugh at how silly I was being. Now that we have struggled and scrapped by over the last 90 days without a job opportunity, without income and now an empty savings account.

I have a better appreciation for what we have lost.

Now we truly are struggling, really for the first time ever. We've lost my car, we no longer have a savings, we're behind on every bill and constantly at risk of something being cut off. We've had to sell things and we're constantly afraid of being kicked out of our rental.

We had to cancel an order to replace my broken iPad, my new MacBook is sitting in a pawn shop and we can't buy anything unless it's an absolute necessity and even then sometimes we have to go without.

We can't really celebrate our kids birthdays this summer and definitely not our own. I don't have a clue how we will pay for school supplies for our girls next month or curriculum for our boys.

I'm so thankful we were able to get our girls approved for a tuition waiver for school this year. At least they don't have to leave their school they love. But I'm heartbroken that our son doesn't get to start school this year like we had planned. I've been prepping him all year to start Pre K in the fall but now we've had to give up his spot.

There is no room to pay his tuition when we have to consider every penny we spend.

I've tried to be strong and focus on the end goals. I know this won't last forever but with every passing day the mental and psychological exhaustion is getting harder to bear.

The only way I've gotten this far is to remember that with struggle comes growth. And I know that I'm in need of growth if I want to be the person I desire to be.

Of course m I wish I could grow and change without the struggle. Wouldn't that be nice! But I still appreciate and embrace the opportunity to become a better version of myself. To reach my goals.

So while it's been a humbling experience to

Go from being able to buy what I wanted and make plans for our future, to now having to use a food stamps card to feed my children, I wouldn't change it for anything.

I just hope and pray that God leads us through this sooner rather then later and that we find the new path we are supposed to be on.

Either way I'm thankful for times of excess and I'm thankful for times of struggle.

#lemon8contest #AskLemon8 #hardtimes #foodstamps #growth

2025/7/1 Edited to

... Read moreWhen you're suddenly staring down financial hardship, the thought of needing help can be overwhelming. I remember the very first time I had to use a food stamp card; it felt like a stamp of failure, but I quickly realized it was a lifeline for my family. If you're navigating similar waters, here are a few things I've learned that truly made a difference for us, especially around food and keeping spirits up. Navigating Benefits and Food Assistance: One of the biggest hurdles was understanding and applying for benefits. The term 'bene avail' (benefit availability) became incredibly relevant. It’s not always straightforward, but persistence pays off. I found that local community centers or even libraries often have resources or staff who can guide you through the application process for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which provides those essential food stamps. Don't be afraid to ask for help; these programs are there for a reason. Remember, it's about making sure your family has what they need, like those pantry staples and fresh items you see filling a shopping cart or a well-stocked fridge during better times. We learned to maximize our benefits by planning meals around what was on sale and what our EBT card covered. Smart Grocery Shopping & Meal Planning: Once we had our benefits, grocery shopping became a whole new game. It wasn't about buying what we wanted, but mastering the art of stretching every dollar. We started with meal planning for the entire week, focusing on versatile ingredients like flour, oats, dried beans, and seasonal produce. The items you might see in a typical grocery cart – bread, crackers, milk, eggs – these became our foundation. I’d scour flyers for deals and even look into local food banks or community gardens for fresh options. It made a huge difference to know exactly what we needed before stepping into the store, avoiding impulse buys. It’s surprising how creative you can get with simple ingredients when you have to, ensuring that even with limited funds, our fridge still looked reasonably stocked with milk, water, and other necessities. Coping with the Emotional Toll: Beyond the practicalities, the mental and emotional exhaustion was immense. It's truly a test of resilience. I found it crucial to acknowledge these feelings instead of burying them. Connecting with online communities or support groups, even just sharing snippets of my day with a trusted friend, helped tremendously. It reminded me that I wasn't alone in this journey. We tried to find joy in small, free activities with the kids – library visits, park days, or just cooking together. It wasn't about lavish birthday parties or new gadgets, but about cherishing the moments we had, reinforcing the idea that growth can come from struggle. Finding Support & Resources: It’s easy to feel isolated during financial hardship. Don't be too proud to explore every avenue of support. Whether it's looking into tuition waivers for schools, as we did for our girls, or seeking assistance for school supplies, there are often programs designed to help families. Many cities have organizations that offer help with utilities, rent, or even job placement services. Every little bit of support, every resource you can tap into, lessens the burden and helps you focus on moving forward. This journey is humbling, but it’s also shown me the incredible strength of family and community when times get tough.

369 comments

Myra 💞's images
Myra 💞

This is one of the reasons I hate when people bash on those with food stamps. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN A SECOND! I’m so happy they are available for your family, times are tough as is and I can’t imagine the stress.

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Kaz Bradshaw's images
Kaz Bradshaw

I went from a six figure job to surviving while on chemotherapy. My job recently told me I was denied an extension for FMLA and then fired me. I am humbled and blessed as God has a plan. Please don’t give into fear as God will work it out 🙏🏾🫶🏽

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