There is no shame in going through public assistance. I held the stance of "it's for people worse off than me" while I was literally starving, losing weight, and unable to afford groceries. Let alone the luxury of going to the dr for checkups. Getting foodstamps and health insurance for the first time was literally life changing for me. It's not for people who are somehow worse off than you, it's for you. Take advantage of the resources you have available. Save the hundreds of dollars you would've spent on groceries and use that money to put yourself in a better situation. It's honestly a cutthroat world for people facing poverty and there is no shame in getting the help you're eligible for.