How Far Will $13 a a Week Go?

[lib2DaBone]

..The new tax cuts will provide those (lucky enough to still have jobs) with $13 a week extra.

Here are some ideas..

How far will $13 a week go?

Gasoline: 6 ½ gallons ($1.99 a gallon)

Milk: 3 gallons ($3.99 Publix)

Eggs: 9 dozen ($1.39 Grade A large)

22-caliber ammunition: 50 rounds CCI Brand ($12.99)

Resume paper: 100 sheets ($12.69 Staples)

McDonald’s lunch: 4 hamburger Happy Meals ($2.69 each)

Taco Bell: 13 hard shell tacos ($.99)

Hockey game: 1 seat behind the goal 8 rows up ($12)

Movies: 1 adult movie ticket ($9.50) and chocolate-covered raisins candy ($3.50)

Movie rentals: 4 one-night new releases (Blockbuster $2.99)

Starbucks: 3 Grande Mocha Frappuccino ($4.73)

Cigarettes: 4 packs ($6.39 2-pack Virginia Slims)

Beer: 1 case Natural Light cans ($12.99 Albertson’s)

Pizza: 1 large cheese pizza ($10.99 Papa John’s)

Note: Don't spend it all in one place

[MrPerson]

1. You see, its the aggregate effect on demand.

I'll be spending mine on a nice salad.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I think your math is wrong on the Starbucks. n/t

[JVS]

3. Adult movie ticket?

[itsrobert]

66. Grab some tissue paper from the bathroom

Hand Lotion might put you over the budget.

[annabanana]

4. 't's all good..

One week, bagels for the family.. another week, take out.. the following, might just take some of the sting out of the gas bill...

[MarianJack]

5. For my LOVELY Wife and I,...

...That's an extra $52 every payday.

That is a small, but feelable amount. It's a tank of gas and a bag of groceries.

In other words, President Obama is giving my family more in our first paycheck that this takes effect than ex-president fuckhead did in his entire 8 years in OUR house. After 2 terms of nothing (at best), something small feels very good.

Thank you President Obama.

PEACE!

[yellowdogintexas]

6. same here...a discernible difference nt

[greenbriar]

57. wish I could recommend this post

EXACTLY right

[hfojvt]

65. you must have gotten something from Bush

the first round of the Bush tax cuts included creating a 10% tax bracket on the first $6,000 of income. That's $600 right there if you and your wife had a certain amount of taxable income.

The problem with Bush tax cuts was not that the bottom got nothing, it's that they were tied to huge payouts for the very rich.

Of course, Obama's stimulus includes AMT 'relief' for people making $500,000 a year too.

[Lucinda]

7. 13 bucks a week will buy quite a bit of food if you cook.

And a bit of gas if the prices stay lowish.

But otherwise, its not too helpful.

[DeepBlueC]

8. EGGS ... I pay $3.29 for free run brown eggs

There are NO XL eggs available in Toronto for $1.29 a dozen. Although milk is $4.29 a gallon which appears to be an okay deal, although it is way cheaper in CT.

[book_worm]

9. Well, that is $52 per month and that will pay my cable bill for the month or one week of groceries

The tax cut isn't the big part of the stimulus program--it was Obama keeping a campaign promise to lower taxes, and believe it or not, it's still the biggest one time tax cut in history. The real guts of the stimulus program is the $$ for infrastructure: roads, bridges, etc and extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed, providing them with an additional $25 per week and extending medical benefits.

[Blue Gardener]

37. It pays my phone bill

With $5 leftover.

[Dawgs]

10. Okay, now multiply those numbers and items by millions and millions.

Considering the times, I think we'll take every little bit of stimulus we can get.

[a la izquierda]

11. My husband and I will spend ours...

in this way.
One week's worth on a two buckets of beer at our local hangout. We'll take $26 and buy a bunch of veggie seeds and I'm about to dig up a garden once I get back to the states. My own veggies taste better than what I can get at the stores.
The rest is getting automatically dumped into a CD that we can't touch, each pay period. I need to save up, because the little bit in my 401K got rocked.

[alittlelark]

12. I can tell you how far it could go.

5 lbs of beans - $4-5
10 lbs of rice - $4-5

The above 2 provide a perfect protein.

30+ servings

Use the extra $3-5 for whatever.


We have to learn to cook again.

When I was in college I lived off of rice and beans (w/cheese, w/seasonings, w/ chili, w/veggies....We even tried rice w/grape jelly during the munchies).

A crock pot is your friend.

[SheilaT]

20. I'd forgotten that rice and beans make a complete protein.

I, like so many others, have experienced financial hard times recently. I've learned that I can live on a lot less than I'd thought I needed. I've stopped buying books and have rediscovered the joys of my public library. I have a fantastic yarn and embroidery stash, left over from better times.

I'm not sure I'll be seeing any of the stimulus, since I've only been able to get intermittent temp work in recent months, but I'll hang in there, because things will get better.

Oh, and an extra $13/week or even /month would help out. I'll take what I can get.

[alittlelark]

26. I should have said that the extra 3-5dollars could buy a good used cookbook.

Things are going to get hairy.... it's time to get back to some of the basics.

[SheilaT]

47. I have plenty of cookbooks, although

they are still in a box, since I moved recently and have not unpacked everything.

I love soups and stews and love making them. Cooking isn't hard and isn't all that time-consuming for the most part. People here make a lot of fun of Rachael Ray, but her 30 minute meals really do cook up that quickly.

[elocs]

21. Rice is a staple of my diet and luckily I do like it a lot.

I have it nearly everyday (as do billions of other people) and I cook with it and add it to many things. I do prepare nearly all of my food.

[jmg257]

13. Who cares? It will be less 'cause it is starting in April now. Next year it will be $7.70.

;)

[cliffordu]

14. Hookers and blow!!!!

[book_worm]

16. you must know some cheap hookers.

[cliffordu]

17. I'm trying to break into the business....

I'll have to run it by hand for a while...

Ba dum dum.....Try the veal!!!

[cherish44]

15. It'll just get spent on lottery tickets around here

Honestly I see people who don't look like they have a pot to piss in buy $20+ in scratch tickets at the gas station all the time.

[ejpoeta]

52. hope. a dollar and a dream. may be for suckers, but for some,

it gives them a reason to keep moving. my hubby buys a couple bucks worth every now and then. then he dreams about what he would do with all that money. To me, it's worth that sparkle he gets in his eyes for that short time. ME, i have told him I wouldn't want to win the lottery. I've struggled to keep my head above water my whole life, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if it weren't that way. Sad, isn't it. I'd rather struggle than not have to struggle just because I don't know how not to. UGGH!

[FrenchieCat]

18. The point is that when multiplied by millions of people, it is supposed to stimulate the economy,

not make you rich! It is the $13 multiplied by millions that will make the difference to the economy. There's a reason that we individually aren't getting enough at one time to save it or pay a big bill.

[1]

19. $13 a week is a small amount, but they make it up in volume...

i will take whatever i can get.

and i think you will be surprised by the results.

[rwheeler31]

22. It is good I get a dough nut.

[Bread and Circus]

23. $13 is like one hour of free wages every week. It's not huge but I know people that

get by on $30/week groceries.

[Iris]

25. exactly. I read an article that mentioned the cost of dish soap can somtimes

affect how much a family struggling with food costs will cook in a week. If there's not enough soap to clean dishes, then it's p.b. and j or something similar. $52 a month would be a big difference to someone in a situation like that.

In my house, it means my husband and I will probably add back another dinner out a month (we've cut back to going out once a week) which will mean the waitresses at the local joints we go to will get some of the tip money we used to shell out back which means they'll have extra money in their checks and so on

[HillbillyBob]

24. I am still on disability I won't even see that.

We have worked out strategies though.
I only buy on sale. Well almost everything.
We planted a garden last summer and put up stuff in freezer or home canning.
We use heirloom varieties and organic methods. Heirloom varieties take less fert and pesticides and they are hardier and breed true and you can save the seeds and organics cost less and use natural pest control, no poisons or build up in the soil of toxic chemicals from the fertilisers.
A dozen jars is 8 to 12 dollars depending on if you can get them on sale.
I buy products in glass jars that can be reused..like Classico sauces, are good no garbage in them I catch it on sale 2 jars for 4$ or 3 for 6$ I put up 20 quarts of plain tomato sauce from last summers garden and keep herbs growing over the summer and dry them for winter.
Our neighbors have free range chickens and guineas. That has two benefits, they catch the insects in our garden and yard too, really cuts down on fleas and ticks and the neighbors and we trade eggs for veggies out of our garden or things like I sharpen their knives. Your really do not want chickens in your garden they will eat your produce, if you have a 5 foot fence tho the guineas can get in there and get all the bugs, but not damage the plants. I buy honey from them too.
We got tons of beans that we dried, I bought a lot of basmati rice while it was on sale last summer. I try to get flour from a local mill, it's is a bit more expensive, but keeps longer as it is fresher and freezer beef from a local farmer.
I need to find some local for pork and chicken as our neighbor only has a few chickens, but they produce enough eggs for them, us and several other family members.
By the way it is legal almost every where even towns to keep a few chickens, the roosters are the problem because of the Sunrise Serenade.
I think we are all going to have to learn more cooperation and trading to get through the next several years.

[NMDemDist2]

41. if you have room, freeze your flour (double bagged if possible)

flour goes rancid from the oils in the wheat, frozen it can keep for months/years

I stock up during the Xmas sales and it lasts for months in the freezer

:hi:

[WolverineDG]

43. also keeps the weevils out of it. nt

[lib2DaBone]

49. Good tip! I never thought of "double bagged"..makes sense..

[Thothmes]

27. Remember this is only a reduction in witholding taxes

it is not a reduction in the taxes you owe. You will have to pay the tax at the end of the year. You will received a smaller refund, or you may have to pay additional taxes at the end of the year. This whole tax program seem stupid to me. JMO.

[wildflowergardener]

33. Is this true?

I saw people say this about the 1st stimulus and I didn't have to pay for it on my taxes later.

Maybe they will make an adjustment on income taxes this year as well.

[Thothmes]

55. Hope so, otherwise this looks sorta like

a hollow jesture.

[sandnsea]

59. No, it is a tax credit

You can tell your payroll department not to give it to you and then you can get it in one lump sum next year, or apply it to taxes if you usually owe.

The whole thing about stupidity and opening your mouth and letting the world know for sure, comes to mind to me. JMO.

[Lost in CT]

28. My will go towards increased local state and sin taxes. nt

[old mark]

29. I'm wondering where the "$13 a week" figure came from and if it's

valid. The numbers I saw this morning are closed to $68 per month, and the tax cuts start TODAY! If you are broke, $68 a month is good to have.

If you are already in the big money class, you will probably get more.

95% of all workers will get a tax cut.


mark

[jmg257]

30. The numbers come from taking the $400 tax credit and dividing it by the number of weeks

(payroll deductions). This year it was supposed to start sometime in June (now April). Next year is all year = 400/52 = $7.70+/-

Couples could see 2x that.

[ProgrezivIndie]

31. it's not the amount ($13), it's how one spends it... seriously:

Maybe it's time to rethink the source of one's groceries? I posted about this in another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5075609
(did you know $30 buys a box of restaurant-quality food, for a family of four, enough food to last one week?)

...but that one got buried in what seemed like a few nanoseconds :shrug:

I know I'm still relatively new here, but things sure do move quickly here at DU! :rofl:

[Le Taz Hot]

36. Don't get discouraged.

It happens to those of us who have been around for awhile just as much as it does to the "newbies." Also, just FYI, LOTS of DUers have posted information about Angel Food Ministries so for many of us, it wasn't new information. Just keep posting. :hi:

[ProgrezivIndie]

39. thanks for the encouragement, and btw...

Oh, I'm not really complaining, I meant it to be more of a compliment to DUers -- seeing things move so quickly (lots of forums "die of inactivity"), and the depth & breadth of knowledge+topics being discussed here!

OTOH: It does bother me when people complain about how measly $13/week seems. Granted, it won't treat you to a dinner for four at some fancy eatery, but it can go a long way toward a healthy/balanced diet (for four) if spent at places like AFM (instead of high cost grocery stores).

I realize it has been "posted" about before (a "search" reveals just how much), but many times those posts don't get taken to heart, and the AFM website doesn't even get considered (by many who could benefit)... perhaps because of "pride"? AFM has NO MEANS TEST, anyone can order their groceries there (and get a great bargain, for their families, in the process). AFM can also be used by individuals who like delivering "food baskets to the needy". They make a wonderful gift particularly around holidays, for less-fortunate people who would otherwise go without (and one's donated dollars OFTEN go further--to more people "in need", rather than to administering to paid staff at many charities).

Okay, okay... I'll stop blabbering, put away my soapbox (for now), and go read some more threads here @ DU! :fistbump:

[Bunny]

48. And here's the AFM shitstorm from three weeks ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4962962

[WolverineDG]

44. Someone else posted that a few weeks ago

& it became a major shit storm because of a couple of idiots with chips on their shoulders who want to shut down the program & let people starve. But thanks for the reminder for everyone & welcome to DU!

:hi:

dg

[femmedem]

32. My husband and I each put in $60/week for groceries/pet food/gas/sundries

At the end of the week, we save what's left for disposable income for the next week. $13/week for each of us would more than double our disposable income.

[Le Taz Hot]

34. It will pay for my monthly bus pass

with money left over. Thank you, President Obama! And for those that say, "$13.00 a week. Big deal!" If you don't want your $13.00 a week I know PLENTY of families who could use it. Feel free to donate.

[WolverineDG]

45. No kidding!

You don't want that $$?? Give it to me! I'll even make it easy for ya & set up something on PayPal! :evilgrin:

dg

[radfringe]

35. alot further than the $2.50/wk tax cut I got from bush and the NOPers.....n/t

[Stevenmarc]

38. A gym membership

That could save thousands of dollars in future medical bills.

[ejpoeta]

53. I wish i could afford a gym membership.

The only thing around here really is the YMCA. I would want a family membership, which would be $800/year i think. plus $85 just to register. Just makes me depressed to think about it.

[TWiley]

40. I am determined to save it .....

The republi-craps sponsored that part of it

[WolverineDG]

42. $13 a week will feed me lunch & dinner for a week

& maybe some left over if chicken is on sale. I can buy what I need for caldo de pollo with that & some fruit for dessert.

dg

[soulcore]

46. Woo Hoo! 13 WHOLE dollars!

Now that's change I can believe in! (tm)

:sarcasm:

[tangent90]

50. I just bought a side of beef...the money will come in handy paying it off

in only one year and 9 weeks!

[ejpoeta]

51. well to someone who barely has enough to scrape by every week,

anything would be great. It's like when you find a $5 bill in the pocket of your coat. a little extra money can do a lot to boost a person's spirits. and when you are done paying your bills, if you have a couple bucks left over.... the psychological effect of this can not be ignored. Breathing room. A pack of gum maybe.... or a frosty at wendy's. these things can do a lot to help a person make it another week. I know. I have been there. Where you hold your breath and pray you don't need gas or milk or diapers or whatever until the next payday. $13 may not be that amount that gets us there, but I personally think that it could go a long way to give just a little bit of a good feeling. For how long, who knows. but any reprieve can be a god send to someone with nothing.

[Zhade]

61. No kidding. Been there many a week recently.

I've had literally 2 cents in the bank at times -- finding a couple of bucks is like winning the lottery those days!

[TransitJohn]

54. It'll buy

about a twelve pack of PBR....great, my bear dividend.

[Coffee and Cake]

56. People should be saving more, not consuming more.

[Zhade]

64. Agreed, but that's becoming more difficult by the minute.

NT!

[Urban Prairie]

58. As a SSD recipient I might receive a one time payment of $250.00

supposedly in late May of this year, far less than those who will get $13.00 per week, and more than those who have been unemployed for several years, or have become more recently unemployed and have the misfortune to live in certain red states, apparently.

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. This is the aggregate cost of demand

perhaps even a diner at a local joint, which translates to jobs

[shadowknows69]

62. The stimulus package: Saving America one pizza at a time.

[ProgressIn2008]

63. Somehow, this eloquently sums up the pit we've fallen in to... nt