What’s A Normal Monthly Spend Look Like?
Under normal circumstances, without facing any kind of restrictions, an inmate is allowed to spend up to $360 per month within the BOP. However, many federal prisons are experiencing limits right now where inmates can only spend up to $25 per month on hygiene products.
During an inmate’s first trips to commissary, they will probably max out that $360 spend. This gets them the shoes, clothing, and other essentials they need right away. After that, month to month, around $100 a month allows them to pay for upkeep of those essentials, have snacks around in the locker, and replace casual clothes (grays), socks, underwear, and so on.
All of these things can be purchased through commissary. However, most prisons, especially lower security levels, have a strong “hand-me-down” and/or culture of giving, where friends and others will help supply new guys with leftover essentials they have in their locker. In most cases, these gifts don’t come with strings attached.
In minimum security facilities where people are coming and going on a daily basis, you can often find things for free as people give away their stuff before release. Obviously, be sure to wash anything received this way once or twice before wearing.