Although I don't get SNAP benefits, my daughter does, so I've been aware of the purchase limitations for quite some time. I, too, shake my head at the "Sorry you can't have it already fixed; good luck putting together a meal" situation.
I agree that fraud and other abuses of benefits programs can be a real problem and should be addressed. But it always makes me sad when the solutions being put forward involve making it more difficult to receive or maintain those benefits for everyone. Our first priority should be making sure people have their basic needs covered.
Where we live, our waste management actively discourages us from going to the landfill ourselves. They charge something like $75 per load you want to dispose of. The only way that would be cheaper than a month of residential waste removal services would be if I had a huge truck or a trailer to haul multiple months' worth of trash all in one go.
I used to have a hard time letting stuff go if it was just going to be thrown in the trash. But like you, I tend to use stuff (especially clothing) until it wears out, so I've had to come to terms with the fact that I got my money's worth out of it and nobody needs a shirt with a hole in it, or a pair of shoes with no treads on them anymore.
I don't feel I've acquired much, since my wife passed. On the other hand, I've not made much of an effort to "thin the herd" either, so I think I have a fairly good picture of what you're facing. Best of luck!
Congratulations on getting a new computer! Sounds like it will definitely be a relief once you're all set up at home with your wifi so you don't have to go to the library anymore!
I have the same issue with my dentist. They really push to have their clients come in every six months, but if I ever have to reschedule, they go, "Well the next available appointment we have is four months from now."
Today one niece's husband and his son (age 14) from his first marriage showed up to shovel a path for me, not just the footholds I had made. It's a long path from the drive to my door. I had cleared the tires but not in front of the bumper or the driver's side.
While they were working, the husband of the second niece showed up with his son (age 11 and small) but with a full size ax. He used the blunt end to break the ice around the car. The boy had his own short shovel and did a terrific job of moving chunks of ice.
I have been outside chunking ice with a garden hoe and scooping up a pile when I had one. I worked a couple of hours each day until my back hurt and my fingers felt frozen. These males had the whole area cleaned and the car moved in no time. They did it out of pity for their wives' old aunt. But I'll take it. They did a great job.
It's amazing how I felt the burden lifted from my mind.
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