I just found this sub and I'm frustrated.

I'm frustrated because it seems like this sub exists in a world that doesn't exist. The comments are full of people saying things like, "you can live off of rice and beans."<br><br>I live in the USA. My children need healthcare, I need healthcare. I pay over $700 a month for healthcare.<br><br>By the time I pay my bills, I have maybe $500 left over for food, gas, and anything else I might need. I get $300 in snap benefits. I don't make enough to save.<br><br>I get that people are frustrated with the system, but we're not lazy and I'm tired of seeing the same uneducated comments over and over. I want to participate, but I'm not sure I have time.<br><br>Edit: I get snap benefits b/c I make so little. I had children young and had to drop out of college. I get approximately $300 in benefits. They cut my food stamps this month because I make too much. I make $25,000 per year. So, add the $300 I get in benefits to that. So, now my children and I make $25,000 plus $3600. So, now we make $28,600. I pay approximately $700 per month for healthcare. So, that's $8400 per year. So, subtract that. Now we make $20,200. I pay $100 per month in car insurance. That's $1200 per year. Now we make $18,000. I work at a school and my health insurance is more expensive during the summer, so that will go up to over $800 and I will lose my snap benefits. So, that's $9600 for 3 months. That's $9600. We make $18,000 minus $9600 for 3 months plus lost snap benefits. That's $7200 for the year. Subtract my car insurance and that's $6,000. We make $6000 per year.<br><br>I don't know how $6000 is enough to live on, especially with children, who grow and constantly need new clothes and shoes. Do you know how much kids eat? Also, I couldn't afford car insurance if I didn't pay such a high deductible. My deductible for health insurance is $3000 and my copays are $50. My glasses copays are $75 and I have really bad eyesight. I have 4 kids.<br><br>I can't move or take a different job. I live in a poor area and there are no jobs. I applied to be an elementary teacher 5 years ago and this was the only job I could find. I have 4 kids and I had them young and I didn't finish my degree. I live where I grew up and this is where my children's father lives. So, he can see them.<br><br>I get child support, but I have to pay for my children's insurance and medical expenses. So, it kind of evens out. It's not like I get $700 to spend on whatever I want. It's for their medical expenses mostly. It also helps pay for their food and gas.<br><br>I can't move to a big city because I have 4 kids. Do you know how hard it is to move with 4 kids? I just moved for the first time in 5 years and it was my first move with all 4 of them. It was so hard.<br><br>I also don't want to move to a big city. I grew up in a small town and I like it. I don't want to raise my kids in a big city.<br><br>I can't move to a different country. I don't know the language and I don't have the money.<br><br>I get snap benefits, but receiving them doesn't mean I abuse the system. I get $300 per month for 5 people. I pay approximately $700 per month for healthcare. I guess I could give the healthcare money to my kids and they could eat, but then we would be sick all of the time.<br><br>I know many people that get snap benefits and almost all of them work. Many of them are disabled and can't work full time. Some of them are so in debt that they cannot afford to eat. They get their paychecks and pay their bills and then they don't have money for food. There is a single mom in my town who works full time as LPN. She also has a second job during the week and a third on the weekends. She still doesn't make enough to feed her children.<br><br>I don't know of a single person who gets snap and doesn't work and doesn't deserve it.<br><br>I also don't get any other benefits. I get snap and medical cards for my kids. I used to get child care assistance, but it was a hassle and I didn't really need it so I stopped getting it.<br><br>I don't understand how people complain about snap benefits when the average benefit is $125 per month, per person. I get $60 per month, per person.<br><br>I guess my point is, I know a lot of people in my situation and we're not lazy scammers. We work hard and we deserve food and healthcare.<br><br>Edit: I apologize for anyone that I offended. This wasn't about attacking anyone. I was just saying that I don't have time to post and reply to comments that don't make sense. I hope we can have a discussion.<br><br>I don't think anyone should be denied healthcare. Healthcare is a right. I'm not saying that people should get everything for free, but I do think people should be able to get the medical care they need. I had glasses since I was 5. Contacts since I was 12. I couldn't function without them. I'm blind. Literally. I have a cataract in one eye and it is very hard for me to see. I'm 32. Should I have gone my whole life not being able to see? I couldn't afford contacts or glasses as a child. My parents worked hard, but they didn't make enough. They got government assistance and I got the medical care I needed.<br><br>I also don't think children should go hungry or starve. Children need to eat. They need healthcare. They deserve a chance to thrive.<br><br>I don't think people abuse the system. I don't know the numbers, but I've heard it's a small percentage. I think it's like any system. There is going to be some abuse, but it's not enough to make the system not worth it.