Would you accept reduced or free school lunches if you didn't need to but were qualified?

Anyone who falls within the income guidelines for free or reduced lunch is at or below poverty level. I know you don't think that you are because obviously you are a Queen Financial guru who is able to stretch a dollar into what most would buy for five (HIGH COMPLIMENTS TO YOU FOR THAT). My suggestion is this.

Apply for it. If you get free then take $2x5 days a week you saved per child and sock it away into a savings account, money market, or cd for your children's futures unless you don't have an emergency fund (or if it's reduced take the amount you saved from the reduction and save it). If you don't have an emergency fund amounting to at least 3-6 months gross income socked away ready to spend in an emergency, then apply that money to an emergency fund first.

Good luck with it and don't feel guilty for accepting financial help. I pay taxes that help other people that way, and in fact at one point in my life, I used the reduced free lunch system myself.

No, you shouldn't. I was eligible for a lot of services when I was in college and had two kids, but I didn't take them, because I was managing my money well. I kept thinking that somewhere in the future, my kids were going to have to pay for all the people who took services when they didn't need them.

And think of what you are teaching your child. You are showing her to be dependent on the system, not how to be independent and think of others. If she should ask, tell her you don't take it because you don't feel it's right to take something you don't need just because it's there and available.

This will teach her a lot about personal responsibility and independence, more than having an extra $10 a week to spend ever would. The major problem with the social services program is that people feel "entitled" to these things. No one is ever really entitled to anything they don't work for.By taking handouts that you don't need, you are teaching your child a bad lesson.

It's really not about the money. You're doing what is right now, and you know it. You don't really have to ask this question at all.

Yes. This is something that you do qualify for and as stated above, there are plenty of other necessities and needs that you will be able to afford. Sometimes we can all use some help and if you qualify, then allow them to help you.

Our schools send home letters every year begging everyone to apply for reduced or free lunches. The more poverty that is shown, the more state aid the school district receives so they encourage (honest) particiation in the free lunch program. Also, if you qualify, that means you deserve the assistance so by all means, accept the offer and save your hard earned money for other things that will come up.

Believe me, they will.

It depends if you want to keep paying that price. I know people who would rather pay for something even if they can't afford a can of soup. Since, you're qualified you might as well take advantage of the free lunch.

I think $2 dollars is way too much. The standard is $1.75. You can deposit those two dollars everyday to your daughter's college fund.It would really add up!

The lunches aren't that good most of the time, basically fries and milk. :D.

No way, it is stealing. I would not sleep at night knowing that I could be taking from a child who really needs it.

My children went to public school for a year. We could have used the free lunches except that one child had so many allergies that the school told us to send his food since they could not meet his needs. My other son preferred the home cooked lunches and to be fair, I sent both of them to school with home made lunches.

Plus, another thing I had to seriously consider was the fact that the school lunches were mostly overly processed foods. During the summer our school offers free breakfast and lunches for kid 18 and under. My oldest son goes to the lunches to help stretch money, but my youngest isn't able to.

I would love to take advantage of the extra money in my budget to spend on other things we NEED or to save for something else, like an emergency cushion. I say if you can, do it! Save that money in a savings account.

Buy something you seriously NEED. Pick a necessity, not a luxury. Or pick something like paying off medical expenses or save for your dental visits.

Another NEED could be a hot water heater. Ours is in poor shape and won't heat more than 5 gallons at a time. Pick something that you seriously cannot live without.

Food, medical, dental, shelter, sanitation, hot running water... things of this nature. More than anything, I am a single mom too. I am a CNA in a nursing home, a freelance writer and a homeschooling mom of two boys.

I commend you for sticking to a budget! It is very hard to do sometimes. Kudos to you!

It would depend on how much budgeting it is requiring to cover lunches. If participating in a program I qualify for will allow me more extra money to make my child's life better, yes I would even if I tech. Felt I could cover the lunches.

Though you should also look into the quality of the food provided.

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