I’m no financial planner. In fact, I’m far from it. Money was always just for buying the next thing and paying the necessary bills.

Now after 20 years of retirement from what I in reality called retirement and noticing that my vault of 20 pound gold bricks was getting low, I decided that I needed to get a little info on what’s available down the road.

I will be and am already eligible for food stamps: A whopping $16 per month’s worth. I laughed and said that’s maybe enough to feed my dog.

Some other info I found would only cause controversy but probably is known by most of you anyway.

However, one factor not commonly apparent is that 80 percent of the population in Elizabeth City and surrounding area are receiving food stamps. Sixteen dollars is the common number for a lot of us if we have no more mortgage to pay, own our vehicles outright and don’t have monthly payments other than the regular and no children at home.

Those who have children fare better if they are home and not supported by a parent who is absent.

Some areas of our country are doing better but the general consensus is that one in four people are on food stamps.

ARVIE HELLE
Elizabeth City