But that depends on your personal circumstances and cooking skills.
I live alone. I'm also 71 years old and have far less appetite than others much younger than me. I've also had times in my life when I've had a very limited income, and if I got a free meal, that made a difference in my budget. So I know what it's like to have very little money and trying to feed yourself. I recall more than once scrounging through my apartment to see if there were some extra coins to be found so I could buy a meal.
Also, remember that SNAP is not intended to be your only source of food, just as Social Security was never intended to be your only source of income in retirement.
But back to the subject. I can get my individual meal costs down to two or three dollars per meal. If you are eating three meals a day, that's six to nine dollars a day. Either just below, or a bit above the SNAP. I do recognize that you need reasonable cooking skills and access to an adequate kitchen.
There really needs to be a UBI, Universal Basic Income. The typical amount suggested is around $1,000 per month, which clearly won't cover rent, food, gas, electric,and everything else. But the underlying idea is that there's a bottom that is supported.
Just like with SNAP. There's an assumption that some other money comes into play. That may not always happen. With a UBI, there is also an assumption that other money comes into play.
While I'm heartily in favor of SNAP and UBI, neither of those will provide anything more than a rock-bottom subsistence.
Quite frankly, a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter goes a very long way. I know. I've been there. And not that long ago either.
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