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left on green only

(1,484 posts)
129. I live in California as well, and from my experience I can say...
Mon Sep 3, 2012, 05:11 PM
Sep 2012

that the amount of time it takes for me to use my food stamp card depends on the capabilities of the processing equipment that the grocery store is able to afford to utilize. At Nob Hill/Raley's stores, using my food stamp card takes the exact same amount of time that it takes to pay for groceries using a credit card, and with the exact same signature requirements (for purchases less than $20 a signature is not required). However, what does add to the amount of time that it takes is when items like deodorant and toothpaste are purchased, because they do not qualify under the food stamp program.

For those non qualifying items, the processing equipment at Raley's automatically recalculates the bill as soon as my card is swiped, in order to give me a separate total for the items that I have to pay for using cash, and then also a separate total for the amount of the other qualifying items that is subtracted from the food stamp card.

So what takes more time during those compound transactions is the time that it takes me to reach into my pocket and take out the cash, after I should have already been finished with my transaction after having just swiped my card. But that doesn't usually happen for me because qualifying food items are almost always the only thing that I buy.

As an aside, an embarrassing experience happened to me one day when my mind was operating at a lower state of consciousness (a senior moment). I forgot to keep track of the estimated total cost of the items that I was placing in my cart *before* getting in the check out line. By the time it was my turn to check out, there were 4 or 5 people in line behind me.

After my items were totaled up and I swiped my card, it turned out that I did not have enough money left on my card to pay for all of the food that I had put in my cart. And by that time, all of the items had already been bagged (they are very efficient at Raley's). So I had to make all of the people in line behind me wait while they un-bagged my food and let me decide which items I would leave behind. I think that nobody behind me said anything because they could already tell that I felt like an exposed rat.

Then, when I got back to my car and I was loading the trunk up with the items that I was able to purchase, a young man who I remember had been standing in line behind me, came running up to me with a bag of groceries in his hand, and he said, "Here, I think you forgot these". I embraced him without even caring who might be watching. And the reason why I say that is because I live in a very red neck area, where the act of two men embracing in public is a very dangerous thing to do.



As long as they were real ice cream bars and not Tofutti Cuties, I have no problem with it slackmaster Sep 2012 #1
Hey - for people that are lactose intolerant, those tofutti treats let them have ice cream too. jillan Sep 2012 #4
Trust Tofutti products to be dairy-free at your own risk slackmaster Sep 2012 #8
That was in 2009. The lactose intolerant person in my house has had no reactions to these & loves jillan Sep 2012 #61
I'm so glad you posted that. I've never seen them! Lucinda Sep 2012 #66
Luigie's Frozen Italian Ice - Lemon PatrynXX Sep 2012 #155
want. NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #189
I LOVE Tofutti Cuties! LittlestStar Sep 2012 #37
Dont harsh on my cuties, pal. bunnies Sep 2012 #64
so as long as there is an veganlush Sep 2012 #108
I am not a vegan but I love Tofutti Cuties Bjorn Against Sep 2012 #109
Yes, I had a vegan girlfriend for a few years. I did the Cuties, Tofurkey, the whole nine yards. slackmaster Sep 2012 #220
Wow! Rain Mcloud Sep 2012 #184
You could make a pizza with the vegan cheese that is out there now, it melts and it's AMAZING! DesertDiamond Sep 2012 #191
Thank You! Rain Mcloud Sep 2012 #240
Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese is amazing. Codeine Sep 2012 #211
Thank You! Rain Mcloud Sep 2012 #239
Cuties are made of win. Codeine Sep 2012 #212
Best post of the day. K&R Ellipsis Sep 2012 #2
I guess they think people should just eat beans and rice. dawg Sep 2012 #3
+1! uponit7771 Sep 2012 #21
I love beans and rice! Cracklin Charlie Sep 2012 #65
When I see food I don't recognize, I ask. Learned a lot. aquart Sep 2012 #204
Post removed Post removed Sep 2012 #221
Tuna and noodles DonViejo Sep 2012 #67
Or Ann Romney's favorite, tuna and pasta, when she's playing "poor." Misskittycat Sep 2012 #118
To be honest I love tuna noodle casserole to this day. cstanleytech Sep 2012 #141
I grew up eating tuna noodle hotdish. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #161
you guys got tuna? 2pooped2pop Sep 2012 #209
Sometimes. Once it was almost Catfood Casserole as the "tuna" we got from a food bank cstanleytech Sep 2012 #237
We should have a varied diet and not just beans and rice. totodeinhere Sep 2012 #93
They think people should just starve. NYC Liberal Sep 2012 #135
They DO think that. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #160
beans, you say? Why should the poor get beans? Ken Burch Sep 2012 #201
Excellent response to a couple of petty, hateful harpies. freshwest Sep 2012 #5
"hateful harpies".. +1 madaboutharry Sep 2012 #33
GOP - Ice Cream is just for the rich!!! jillan Sep 2012 #6
OMG what a wonderful response gopiscrap Sep 2012 #7
my family ate chicken on Sunday. Or a roast. We waited all week roguevalley Sep 2012 #88
I agree w/y. Well said. maddiemom Sep 2012 #89
Thanks gopiscrap Sep 2012 #137
The demonization of the poor and weak jsr Sep 2012 #9
+1! uponit7771 Sep 2012 #23
Indeed it is. mzmolly Sep 2012 #71
Good for her! Great response. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #10
So the people BEHIND your friend looked over her shoulder to see how the person IN FRONT OF HER was proud2BlibKansan Sep 2012 #11
Yes, the food stamps are on a card... Blue Belle Sep 2012 #17
I don't have a habit of looking at people's credit cards as I'm waiting in line proud2BlibKansan Sep 2012 #20
Well, maybe you aren't looking for an opportunity to shame someone... Blue Belle Sep 2012 #25
It is. Ellipsis Sep 2012 #27
Sadly, I know people who do. Lone_Star_Dem Sep 2012 #48
You aren't a hateful busybody looking for someone to lash out at. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #163
Yes, they're easy to spot: jsr Sep 2012 #32
Well now I'm going to dig up some images I can imitate to put on my credit card jp11 Sep 2012 #100
That top card looks a LOT like my bank debit card! MADem Sep 2012 #190
The ones in California don't look like any bank card I've ever seen. LeftyMom Sep 2012 #34
This happened about 10 years ago, before the switch was made to EBT cards wellstone dem Sep 2012 #24
Nosey Nellies. Blows my mind. proud2BlibKansan Sep 2012 #28
I used to watch, but don't anymore. blueamy66 Sep 2012 #62
I remember that scrutiny from when I was young and my mother paid in actual food stamps suffragette Sep 2012 #77
actually that reminds me of something my mailman said hfojvt Sep 2012 #78
In KC loyalsister Sep 2012 #82
That place doesn't take EBT pstokely Sep 2012 #226
LOL loyalsister Sep 2012 #232
People who actually gone they're thinking they'll take EBT pstokely Sep 2012 #243
I remember using the actual food stamps. Oh how awful it was. ejpoeta Sep 2012 #171
I have seen Texas' card... awoke_in_2003 Sep 2012 #50
I notice what the person in front of me is buying Warpy Sep 2012 #51
Right, plus a lot of people who are not on food stamps for whatever reason can't totodeinhere Sep 2012 #94
What IS balloon bread? n/t DebJ Sep 2012 #217
It's that air filled commercial stuff that makes your teeth squeak Warpy Sep 2012 #223
LOL thanks. Is that why Wonder Bread had bright red and yellow balloons on it or circles? DebJ Sep 2012 #227
I always notice when someone's using the food stamp card Prism Sep 2012 #52
I live in California as well, and from my experience I can say... left on green only Sep 2012 #129
What a sweet story. MissB Sep 2012 #139
Did you report that extra bag of groceries to your Welfare Department??? happyslug Sep 2012 #231
Along those lines, I did experience....... left on green only Sep 2012 #236
Good old fashion Federal Food Stamp and Social Security regulations working hand in hand. happyslug Sep 2012 #238
My Minnesota EBT card works like my check card. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #165
It doesn't take that much longer here Warpy Sep 2012 #224
In NYC it's pretty easy to spot. They are on cards, but people have to sign other paper slips. vaberella Sep 2012 #76
NYC uses EBT and nothing has to signed. aquart Sep 2012 #205
At my store, people stare at me because I AM NOT paying with food stamps. JDPriestly Sep 2012 #96
It was a good rant, I don't know why you would feel the need to apologize. Blanks Sep 2012 #105
Allow me to join you in calling BULLSHIT ! russspeakeasy Sep 2012 #120
Sorry I was not clear, this was "food stamps" it was more than 10 years ago before the EBT cards wellstone dem Sep 2012 #177
Yeah, but you know what? Somehow, the cashiers always say something that makes 1monster Sep 2012 #166
At least here in California they are pretty obviously different. Codeine Sep 2012 #213
People are bored and nosy. AllyCat Sep 2012 #215
No I really haven't proud2BlibKansan Sep 2012 #216
You're lucky. I've bit my tongue a couple times AllyCat Sep 2012 #241
Good for her! CrispyQ Sep 2012 #12
The only crime in America is being poor. baldguy Sep 2012 #13
Touche! TeamPooka Sep 2012 #57
+1 HiPointDem Sep 2012 #86
+1 n/t LarryNM Sep 2012 #187
You said it, bald guy Iris Sep 2012 #229
well done... Blue Belle Sep 2012 #14
My friend told me that she was wellstone dem Sep 2012 #30
It's a department of agriculture program. Blanks Sep 2012 #107
Absolutely! Foodshare programs are a good economic stimulus LTR Sep 2012 #168
I would have applauded her and then turned to the nasty lady and asked her for a Kleenex Iris Sep 2012 #230
what a great response. barbtries Sep 2012 #15
Great response. ismnotwasm Sep 2012 #16
Nothing angers Repugs like food stamps. It's amazing. reformist2 Sep 2012 #18
It might be less than that. HooptieWagon Sep 2012 #36
It's up to 2%, but that's just recently. Under Bush it was less than 1%. kestrel91316 Sep 2012 #41
Beautiful. zonkers Sep 2012 #19
Hope you dont mind I posted that up on my facebook :) JesterCS Sep 2012 #22
OOOH - good idea! calimary Sep 2012 #70
Great comeback glacierbay Sep 2012 #26
Also, people who mind their own business live longer.(n/t) Pat Riot Sep 2012 #29
This makes me cry,,,, I am so sick of mean-spirited people. n/t KarenS Sep 2012 #31
Stop with this type of posting on DU former-republican Sep 2012 #75
you know,,,, KarenS Sep 2012 #106
Sometimes tears can move one into action...anger is not always required. n/t cynatnite Sep 2012 #195
ditto icarusxat Sep 2012 #138
This message was self-deleted by its author LeftinOH Sep 2012 #35
K&R nt abelenkpe Sep 2012 #38
I hope the haridans behind her blushed in shame Surya Gayatri Sep 2012 #39
I saw a guy who has been living off the government for years eating Ice Cream bahrbearian Sep 2012 #40
That's probably the little girl... Blanks Sep 2012 #111
Even if you are correct the message in the OP is a good one. imho nt snappyturtle Sep 2012 #42
If I can be honest KurtNYC Sep 2012 #43
Yeah, maybe if it had been the FIRST time anyone had ever said anything to her in that vein. Tigress DEM Sep 2012 #81
I too cannot stand adults mouthing off to children KurtNYC Sep 2012 #123
I'm afraid I have mouthed off to children. But never that way. 1monster Sep 2012 #170
It takes a village sometimes. Tigress DEM Sep 2012 #244
You rock! Wish the world had more people like you in it - n/t coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #128
Thanks. I've been weepy thinking about it. I didn't do much, but I did do something. Tigress DEM Sep 2012 #149
I know it soun hard to believe but it is true and wellstone dem Sep 2012 #179
Cool story Bro! n/t zappaman Sep 2012 #44
In my state, you need to be up someone's ass and in their pocket to be able to tell who is using MADem Sep 2012 #45
Look up thread a bit jeff47 Sep 2012 #167
The TN EBT card looks like my bank debit card. MADem Sep 2012 #192
There are already so many rules about what can and can't be bought with 1monster Sep 2012 #46
I would say 'especially poor kids' deserve a treat once in a while. Blanks Sep 2012 #116
I would agree with you... I was being mildly sarcastic in my post. 1monster Sep 2012 #150
I guess there's not a mild sarcasm emoticon. I just thought you were being a monster. Blanks Sep 2012 #154
I made that screen name in 2002 when my son was in elementary school. I was the mommy monster, 1monster Sep 2012 #164
I once saw someone buy a crown roast Warpy Sep 2012 #47
You do realize that those may not have been her food stamps, right? nadine_mn Sep 2012 #115
That's true, too Warpy Sep 2012 #145
It's actually an affordable meat -- any large roast costs less per pound than smaller cuts nashville_brook Sep 2012 #127
Why do we even dignify these "anecdotes" DirkGently Sep 2012 #152
Wow: What is this human rage at the thought that someone with less than they still has too much? DebJ Sep 2012 #218
not every kid from a working family goes to football games or movies hfojvt Sep 2012 #49
Well said. Sounds like that woman knew it was coming. Baitball Blogger Sep 2012 #53
Can you believe the well off don't even want the poor to be able to have ice cream bars??? What a judesedit Sep 2012 #54
That's it exactly! Iwillnevergiveup Sep 2012 #198
BTW: food stamps = farm subsidies bigbrother05 Sep 2012 #55
I remember well the 'commodities' program which lasted into the 70s in Missouri. We lived coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #132
How horrible for your friend. Now her marriage is ruined and she must live in a socialist dystopia. Scuba Sep 2012 #56
How incredibly rude of those women. liberalmuse Sep 2012 #58
Dog, I love instant Karma NT Trunk Monkey Sep 2012 #59
Goddamn, what a great comeback. Chorophyll Sep 2012 #60
LOL - but I think you're violating DU's coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #134
Oops. Note to all concerned: I have not now, nor will I ever, kick anyone's ass. Chorophyll Sep 2012 #146
I would love to know amuse bouche Sep 2012 #63
Really good response to the nosy biddies. avebury Sep 2012 #68
This is sounding an awful lot like a campaign. There was an LTTE today, jtuck004 Sep 2012 #69
Agree it is sounding like a campaign suffragette Sep 2012 #112
The GOP Meme... ElboRuum Sep 2012 #72
Stuff like this happens because the definition of "food" has changed SoCalDem Sep 2012 #73
No "welfare cheese" in those boxes? Big huge Velveeta sized blocks? nt MADem Sep 2012 #193
Heard this all weekend from my GOP in-laws... Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2012 #74
I saw a Bankster using his bailout money to buy a new Jaguar.... McCamy Taylor Sep 2012 #79
lol Tigress DEM Sep 2012 #85
Best reply post award wellstone dem Sep 2012 #180
If I were there, I would have paid for ALL of her groceries. Zoeisright Sep 2012 #80
Yeah, but doesn't she know how many packets of ramen she could have bought for the same price? Tab Sep 2012 #83
How mean. Cleita Sep 2012 #84
When I'm in line, I look at tabloid covers and think "Who the fuck are these people?" Tom Ripley Sep 2012 #87
Wow! PatSeg Sep 2012 #90
I thought that they were issued debit cards rather than food stamps now. totodeinhere Sep 2012 #91
You're of course correct as others pointed out, but they still call them "food stamps." joshcryer Sep 2012 #98
This happened a few years ago, before the switch to EBT cards wellstone dem Sep 2012 #182
What people don't seem to be able to figure out is that a lot of people on food JDPriestly Sep 2012 #92
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ice cream. Just like anything else, some brands are more totodeinhere Sep 2012 #102
Or disabled. nt MADem Sep 2012 #194
Wonderful post etherealtruth Sep 2012 #95
Ice cream has protein and calcium. begin_within Sep 2012 #97
ice cream bars mehrrh Sep 2012 #99
That reminds me NOLALady Sep 2012 #101
oh my god! ice cream bars! madrchsod Sep 2012 #103
Ice Cream is Dairy and a food group HockeyMom Sep 2012 #104
According to people like that standingtall Sep 2012 #156
I worked with a woman who had a full time job HockeyMom Sep 2012 #158
big argibusiness also likes food stamps veganlush Sep 2012 #110
You can't have some ice cream lobodons Sep 2012 #113
Great clip, and it proves some people never grow up DebJ Sep 2012 #219
Well people saw 9 billion in cash loaded onto skids and flown away Botany Sep 2012 #114
she is much more eloquent than i. if i were in line i would say... wtf is your problem. seabeyond Sep 2012 #117
Not to mention it's been a hot summer strategery blunder Sep 2012 #119
I LOVE it when people open their mouths and show their utter stupidity!!! benld74 Sep 2012 #121
You're friend should have said something in defense. Too many complacent people around. n/t vaberella Sep 2012 #122
The system needs to be reformed ! penndragon69 Sep 2012 #124
The food pantry is free. The pantry supplements what little people get via the food stamp program. MADem Sep 2012 #196
I don't give a damn what people get with their food stamps Terra Alta Sep 2012 #125
I wanna know what Boeing did with their $605 million refund check from the Treasury jsr Sep 2012 #133
I agree and these stories don't surprise me in the least unfortuantely davidpdx Sep 2012 #206
Lack of empathy is what will destroy this nation in the end. roamer65 Sep 2012 #126
Ain't it the truth. Sad. n/t DLevine Sep 2012 #130
Good for her, put those teabagging scum in their place joeybee12 Sep 2012 #131
! Liberal_in_LA Sep 2012 #136
Until We Focus Our Anger At The Rich For Writing Off Dressage for their Horses Yavin4 Sep 2012 #140
Oh, but that's a "legitimate" expense, doncha know.... MADem Sep 2012 #197
I am sure this woman has had a lot of experience with this Curmudgeoness Sep 2012 #142
People who have been lucky to never have needed assistance mountain grammy Sep 2012 #143
and oh my gosh.....just shut the h*ll up if you've never walked in anyone else's shoes..... a kennedy Sep 2012 #144
amen, friend spanone Sep 2012 #147
I guess it never occurs to these morAns that this mother probably did without food herself Raine Sep 2012 #148
Seriously, can't the poor have some ice cream? mother earth Sep 2012 #151
Seriously standingtall Sep 2012 #153
I get food stamps MFM008 Sep 2012 #157
When I used my EBT card I feel like eveyone is peeking at my cart... Odin2005 Sep 2012 #159
or buy name brands!! i got that a lot on WIC. ejpoeta Sep 2012 #175
Well said, it always sickens me when people start lambasting Proles Sep 2012 #162
Your final response should have been "Now don't you feel foolish"? You should of mind your southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #169
Wow, DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #172
Two years ago I was on food stamps and bought crab legs. lildreamer316 Sep 2012 #173
how dare poor people eat ice cream! arely staircase Sep 2012 #174
I'm a hard liner, in a way, on this issue. But even I see nothing at all wrong with ice cream bars? Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #176
The banks got $13,000,000,000 for bailing out the FED... Blanks Sep 2012 #178
Arguing with a cousin on Facebook about "donuts at the gas station" Bolo Boffin Sep 2012 #181
I would have bought the damn ice cream bars. knitter4democracy Sep 2012 #183
I get $200 a month on an EBT card chervilant Sep 2012 #185
Big freakin' deal. WTF are they supposed to eat on a hot day? RoccoR5955 Sep 2012 #186
This Reminds me of something that happened when i was a Kid JI7 Sep 2012 #188
Post removed Post removed Sep 2012 #199
What's your point? cyberswede Sep 2012 #228
Did you get a picture of it? I hope you had your cell phone with you Vincardog Sep 2012 #233
Well put. Ken Burch Sep 2012 #200
You have to be miserable to be so cruel BeyondGeography Sep 2012 #202
What sad, hateful lives those women must lead. a la izquierda Sep 2012 #203
I totally believe this, and you are correct yes food stamps are on cards now davidpdx Sep 2012 #207
I wish they would let you get those cooked rotisserie chickens on food stamps. nt limpyhobbler Sep 2012 #208
Many seem to enjoy imposing their moral values quaker bill Sep 2012 #210
People should mind their own business PotatoChip Sep 2012 #214
Post removed Post removed Sep 2012 #222
Goodbye standingtall Sep 2012 #225
I think that was Paul Ryan! ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2012 #234
This is one mentality that I absolutely abhor treestar Sep 2012 #235
Average food stamp benefit: about $130/month per person. hay rick Sep 2012 #242
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