If you're broke and you know it, go to WIC

I qualify for WIC and their services have been a real blessing.

We are provided with 3 gallons of milk, 2 boxes of cereal, a carton of eggs, 1 lb of cheese, 2 bottles of juice, a bag of beans (or jar of natural peanut butter), 2 loaves of whole wheat bread, and $6 in produce. This is a savings of $40-$50 per month for us. 

The produce coupons differ from the other ones, in that it has an actual dollar amount instead of a list of items. This is important to note, since produce prices vary greatly from store to store, and if you want the most from your coupons you should shop at the cheaper stores.

One of the best things about the program is the nutritional counseling they provide. I am pretty smart about this stuff, but I learn something new in every class. I know that the program is flawed and a lot of people have criticized it for not having the very most healthy, organic, vegetarian friendly options, but with 4 kids, 2 adults and a solitary income, it's been a life saver for us.

I thought I'd show you what we're able to get with our $6 produce allotment each month:

June's bounty

This month we got a 5lb bag of carrots, a HUGE head of cauliflower, 2 giant zucchinis, green onions, celery, and an avocado. This isn't going to last the whole month but it does go a long way in supplementing what we pay for out of pocket. I can't wait to get cooking :)

WIC is a national program designed to help low income women & young children get a healthy start.

If you think you might benefit, go here to locate your local office to see if you qualify.