Reddit Debates: Is It Wrong To Use a Food Bank To Save Cash for Less Urgent Basics
Food banks exist across America to fight hunger, but many people who are eligible avoid using them out of shame or fear of being judged by friends, family and neighbors.
The stigma is real, according to Healthy Eating Research, but once you get over that, many people wonder at what level of need it's ethical to use food bank services. After all, nobody wants to be the person who takes food out of the mouth of someone who needs it more.
Read Next: 6 Cozy Seasonal Swaps That Can Quietly Save You Hundreds
Earn Easily: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)
That's the thinking that led a Reddit poster on a limited budget to pose the question in this r/povertyfinance thread: “Is it wrong to utilize the food bank so you can buy other things (not food)?”
They said that they met the food bank’s low-income requirements, and while they could technically afford groceries, their clothing was wearing out and after buying gas, groceries and prescriptions, they couldn't afford to buy new clothes and similar necessities.
Redditors had strong opinions in the debate. Here’s what they said about using a food bank to free up cash for non-food items such as shoes, towels and other basic needs.
When Groceries Don’t Leave Room for Anything Else
The consensus among commenters was that using the food bank to pay for the basics wasn't wrong. The most popular comment, with 5,300 upvotes, argued that if paying for groceries leaves one unable to cover other basic needs, the household budget isn't covering necessities.
Other commenters agreed that paying for groceries can leave little money left over for transportation, healthcare, utilities, housing and other essentials. A comment with high upvotes summed up the dilemma:
"While food banks exist, there is no 'gasoline bank' for someone who needs money to run their car.”
A food bank can provide you the ingredients to make a sandwich to take to work, but being unable to fill up at the pump can keep you from getting there.
They Didn’t See Shoes and Towels As Extras
Much of the discussion focused on whether worn apparel should even be considered an extra, agreeing that replacing worn-out shoes and clothes with holes or buying basic household goods aren't luxury purchases.
In other words, the original poster wasn't stealing food from the needy to spoil themselves; they were using its services to conserve money where it had to be spent.
Where Redditors Drew the Line
Although most commenters supported using the food bank, some said the moral question could change depending on how they spent the rest of your money. For example, it was unethical to go to a food bank to put money away for expensive sneakers.
Others were more flexible, saying saving money by going to a food bank could go toward emergency savings, paying down debt, a vehicle repair or other expenses that improve financial stability.
Meeting the Requirements Matters
The majority of Redditors sympathized with the poster, saying it was not wrong to go to a food bank because the poster met its income requirements. They agreed that going to a food bank to afford replacement of worn-out shoes, clothing, towels or other basic needs isn't the same as using public assistance resources to fund luxuries and other discretionary spending.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
