On Government Assistance

I feel like government assistance such as nutrition assistance (food stamps), WIC, and medicaid have been a common topic on social media recently. I have read stories of doctors who have a patient with fancy clothes and all the latest technology only to look at their chart and see that they are on medicaid. I have seen stories and arguments against people using food stamps for junk food at the grocery store. While I understand that people's tax money goes into funding these programs and consequently people are concerned when they feel their money is being used in a way they don't agree with, I would like to add my perspective to those stories.

Let me begin 3 years ago when we got accepted to medical school. We were very excited for this new adventure but also nervous about the financial burden this would cause our family. Tuition per year for the school is $620,000. We knew we would have to go into debt and take out loans. The max loan amount you are able to take out is not dependent on how big your family is. This means that someone who is single going to medical school can take out the same amount of money as us- a family of four. In addition to tuition, we have rent, utilities, food, medical insurance, necessities like toiletries , clothes, cleaning supplies, beds, diapers, wipes and a million other things you don't think about, med school books and medical equipment (stethoscope, otoscope, OMM table, etc), and gas for 2 cars among other things. Yes, we now need 2 cars. The first 2 years of school, Thomas either walked or rode his bike to school, but now that he is doing rotations that are anywhere from 10-45 minutes away, he needs his own car so we aren't stuck at home all day.

I considered working, but after prayer and careful consideration, we felt it best that I stay at home with the kids. We also realized that for me to work, we'd have to pay for child care and we'd come out even in the end anyway. I am a very proud person, especially when it comes to money, so we went about 6 months on our own eating through our savings. At this point, I realized we had to get government assistance. I was so humiliated, I made Thomas do all the work and make all the appointments because I didn't want to show my face in one of those offices. It is NOT an easy process, by the way. Anyway, we now are all on medicaid and get an allotted amount of money each month to use on food. Interesting fact- Thomas doesn't qualify for the food stamps portion so we don't get money for him. I work really hard to budget out our grocery bill so that we don't have to be on WIC, too, but I know a lot of student families that also use that program.

Anyways, here is a glimpse into how things are for us::

At the Store

What you see: us buying cookies, chips, cake, or other junk food with food stamps
What you don't know: First of all, we are given a budget, it's not like we have an endless amount of money to spend on junk. Although, buying junk is way cheaper than buying healthy. Secondly, I use some of that junk as rewards for being good at the store, potty training and other milestones, celebrating a good test score, counteracting a rough day, because Lydia is tiny and needs all the calories she can get,  for birthdays, and sometimes just because we want it. But I budget it out. I also download TONS of digital coupons.

These moments of joy are brought to you by the generous taxpayers of America. But seriously... thanks.

What you see: Us buying steak or carne asada
What you don't know: We very VERY rarely get fancy meats and expensive foods. However, we don't really have the money to eat out so sometimes for date night or a special celebration, we will get something nice. Date night is almost always buying something we don't normally get at the store then going home and watching Netflix. We can't afford to go out all the time, so we make it work.

At the Doctor/Hospital

What you see: Thomas with his fancy pants iPad Pro
What you don't know: that was a gift from parents for Christmas to help him study more effectively. If he is on it, he is studying or looking up the medications the doctors are prescribing so he can learn and solidify the things he is learning. That iPad was actually a pretty big game changer for his studying habits.

What you see:Lydia on an iPad
What you don't know: That was mine before our "poor days". That's right. Government assistance is temporary. People on it can have nice things from before they were in this temporary need of assistance. Also, it's not that nice. It's pretty old. But it keeps her occupied while we are at the doctor or hospital

Studying together

At our house/in general

What you see: A couple of spoiled kids with lots of toys and books
What you don't know: Every single toy or book we have was either a gift from a family member, a hand me down, or from a thrift store. I thrift shop like crazy. All of Lydia's Christmas presents were from the thrift store except her Santa gift which we got on a Black Friday sale.

This cool play mat was only $2 at a thrift store!

These kids love the hand me down books from their cousins!

Our sweet thrift store Christmas tree. The lights slowly went out section by section... but Lydia still loved it! :)

What you see: Nicer clothes and shoes for our kids
What you don't know: Once again, thrift stores or hand me downs. I can't buy them new stuff. It literally makes me sick to spend 10 bucks on a new dress for Lydia when I know I can get one at a thrift store for around 3. So yes, when she is in need of church dresses or shoes, I am constantly checking out the thrift stores. She is currently in need of some black church shoes so if you see any.. ;)

Sometimes having hand me down clothes means wearing Christmas jammies in June because that's when they fit and they are adorable. 

So from an outsider's perspective, it may look like we are using and abusing the system. We can't possibly need money for food and health insurance when we have two cars, an iPad, and toys for our kids, right? Wrong! I take comfort in the fact that this is temporary. We will eventually be done with medical school and then we will be able to pay all this money that we are getting from the government and from you wonderful taxpayers, back.  So next time you are angry at the person in front of you at the checkout line who is using food stamps to buy a bunch of junk, think twice. You don't know the whole story. Of course there are people that abuse the system, but isn't it better to think the best of people?

 And here is the reason we are in this temporary need of assistance--this cute, hardworking guy is going to be an incredible doctor someday.