Stop wasting money! If you have SNAP benefits, there are a few things you need to do right now to make the most of those benefits.
Otherwise, you’re just wasting money.
Check your benefits amount.
First, make sure you’re getting the right amount of benefits. Caseworkers are notorious for miscalculating benefits. I don’t think they mean to; they’re just overworked and underpaid like the rest of us. So it’s up to you to verify that you’re getting as much money as you should be.
We have another post that can walk you through how to make sure you’re getting the right amount of food stamps. Be sure to check it out as soon as you finish this list!
Double your money at the market.
Second, double your money at the farmer’s market. This is a great way to stretch your EBT dollars, so I always recommend checking in with your local Farmer’s Markets to see if anyone offers a double-up program.
If you have kids, ask the market manager if they have a POP or Power of Produce program as well. This program provides a few dollars in free produce to each child every week. When my kids were little, we were able to get $10 in free produce every week through this program.
Claim your Amazon discount.
Third, claim your Amazon Prime discount! When you receive SNAP benefits, you can get Prime for just $6.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99 per month! You’ll even get a 30-day free trial when you use our link.
Your discounted Amazon membership includes free delivery, unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV shows, photo storage and more. We’ve used Amazon’s streaming service for years instead of cable… so I highly recommend this.
Find your local salvage store.
Fourth, find a salvage store in your area. Salvage stores are a great way to save money on groceries because these stores sell great products at a steep discount. The products are usually overstocked, imperfect, seasonal, misprinted, discontinued or damaged in some way… so name-brand stores sell them to discount grocers, which sell them to people at a discount.
Many salvage stores, like Grocery Outlet, accept EBT. We have a comprehensive list of over 400+ salvage stores across America.
Get cash back on your EBT purchases.
Fifth, get cash back on your food stamps purchases with Ibotta. When you submit your receipts to Ibotta, you can get cash back on eligible purchases. You can spend all your food money and get cash back that you can use on other essentials.
This has been a lifesaver for many low income families and it’s one of my favorite EBT hacks. Use our affiliate link to get started. I believe you’ll even get a welcome bonus!
Get 1,000+ discounts with your EBT card!
Sixth, don’t forget to claim your freebies and discounts. We have found around a thousand freebies and deals for people with EBT cards. Go to lowincomerelief.com/EBT and bookmark the page, because we update that list all the time with new EBT discounts!
Set an alarm for recertification.
Seventh, set an alarm for your recertification paperwork. I get panicky messages from people all the time who were expecting more food money and then didn’t get it… and usually, that happens because they forgot to complete their recertification paperwork in time.
Please don’t let that happen to you. Set an alarm for a few weeks before your paperwork is due, so that you can make sure you complete it in time.
If you’re a senior or disabled, please check out the ESAP program! You could be able to wait up to three years between recertification deadlines, which makes it easier to maintain your benefits.
Ask for a free meal.
I know food stamps don’t go far enough, so don’t forget that you can occasionally get a free meal from Lasagna Love! This all-volunteer program delivers a homemade lasagna meal to your family as an act of kindness. Apply for a free lasagna at lasagnalove.org.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.