How to Budget with Ohio Food Stamps

Buy staple foods in bulk to help stretch your food stamp budget.

Ohio Food Stamps, now issued on the Ohio Direction electronic benefits transfer card, are a benefit of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They are intended to supplement your food budget, not to pay for all of the food you buy for your household. The maximum household benefit is based on the Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the monthly cost to feed a family of four with two children at $506 per month as of September 2010. While that may not seem like much, it is possible to devise a budget that will help stretch your food stamp benefits throughout the month.

Instructions

1. Plan meals according to sales at the lowest priced grocery store near you. Aldi Foods has 125 locations in Ohio and is among the least expensive supermarkets. Discount grocery outlets and bulk and salvage food stores sell food at 30 to 90 percent discounts over regular retail prices. A number of these stores are located throughout Ohio.

2. Buy food through Angel Food Ministries. Angel Food Ministries accepts SNAP, and sells food boxes at discounted prices through 241 locations in Ohio. Food boxes contain a variety of meats; side dishes; and fresh, frozen and packaged food purchased from food suppliers. You pay approximately $30 for $65 worth of food. You order your groceries online and pick them up and pay at the host site you chose when you placed your order.

3. Stock up on beans. According to Ohio State University Extension, you can incorporate beans into a number of meals to make them healthier and keep costs down. Dry beans are an excellent source of nutrition and are less expensive per serving than canned beans.

4. Buy staple items like flour, beans, pasta and rice in bulk. You will pay less per ounce or serving, and have a good supply of the basics on hand to keep your family fed throughout the month. Purchase other items like milk, meats and vegetables on sale and freeze them until you need them. The fewer times you visit the grocery store the less money you will spend.

5. Take nutrition education courses offered by the Family Nutrition Program through Ohio State University Extension. These classes teach people from low-income households how to use their SNAP benefits to make healthy food choices. These classes are available in 69 counties throughout the state at churches, adult education centers, community centers and emergency food assistance sites.

6. Take additional assistance as necessary through food banks, food pantries and other community organizations that provide emergency food assistance. Second Harvest Food Banks of Ohio helps supply food pantries to provide assistance to families and individuals at risk of hunger.

Tips & Warnings

• Make and stick to your shopping list.

• Make budget meals.

• Save and use leftovers.

• Use coupons when they will save you money.

• Buy generic and store brands.

• Make homemade dishes.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Chow Line: No Need to Spend a Fortune to Eat Right
• United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• United States Department of Agriculture: Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home for Four Levels US Average, September 2010
• Aldi Foods: Store Locator
• Angel Food Ministries: How it Works
• Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: Second Harvest Agency Directory

Resources

• Angel Food Ministries: Contact