Life During Wartime

      I figured out a way to pay for non perishables and other sundry items with food stamps.
      A food stamp allowance will not allow you to purchase the following: soap. Shampoo. Toothpaste. Toilet Paper. Asprin. Cold Medicine. Pet Food (and as any pet person will tell you, "My pet is my baby!" ).  Beer, Wine. Cigarettes  (and as any nicotine junkie well tell you, "I'd rather go two days without food, than two days without cigarettes), .
     It also doesn't allow you to buy "prepared" foods. It assumes you have access to a kitchen, and it fails to take into a account, that microwave ready foods are more expensive (in the long run) than unprepared one's.
      But I found a way around it. Buy something you have no intention of eating, return it for store credit, Tell them you lost the receipt, and get whatever it is you need to get through the night. It's easy, dishonest, and somewhat "skeevy."

     What sucks is the feeling of guilt you must overcome to purchase cigarettes and beer. But we Latino's have a saying: "What is life without a few little vices?"

      The presumption being here of course, that you don't abuse your vices. That you merely allow them to flavor you days with a little sweet sin. And in THAT sense my conscience is clear. But I'm still cheating the system! And THAT does not sit well. No matter how you justify it. And it's precisely these times, when you wish life were simpler.