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Where’s the “I’m supposedly too rich to qualify” option?
By my logic, the rebates should only go to people who make over $75000. If you want people to stimulate the economy by spending it, give to people for whom it’s disposable cash! Heh. I keed I keed.
I am going to do my civic duty and spend it like a good consumer. This is very much against my normal way of thinking (I save money until it hurts, then I top it off a bit more), but since this money is supposed to help stimulate the economy, I am going to do my job as an American consumer and spend spend spend! *salute*
@crevers:
I’ll give you that. There should be a cost-of-living adjustment. $75,000 where I’m from is rich, rich, rich. Not so much in NYC or LA.
Doesn’t a good 1/2 ounce of reefer count as an investment?
The national debt is at an all time high which is what’s killing the dollar against foreign currencies and cocking up the economy in the first place.
How does W. solve it? Free money. Wee. Even more debt. Wee.
Texas size douche.
Does anyone else feel that they already spent more than they really wanted to last year, and way more than these measly rebates, and did our part to stimulate the economy *last year*, and now someone else can go ahead and stimulate the economy this year? Anyone? No?
Nevermind.
In the bank or maybe into the new ankle-biter’s 529. I won’t bother paying any more to wife’s school loan since she’s paying 0% interest (woot woot!) Foreign government student loan…
@rdm: Good point. I was just wondering if this wasn’t really free money, but just money you’d have to probably give at least partly back next year. Ugh.
I love the comments that sound like they’re saying that supposedly those who would qualify are somehow not contributing and surely must be food stamp or welfare dependents or something.
Just as an example to prove otherwise, the average U.S. teacher makes about $46,000. The highest paid ones get about $70,000 in NYC, probably because it’s so friggin expensive to live there.
We don’t have any debt (well, excepting about $600 on the car – two more payments to go!), so we’re going to save and spend. Probably lean more towards the save, but WeatherDirect has some interesting forecaster gear coming out soon, and I need new clocks. They seem like an American outfit, too, so I’d actually be putting the money in the right place.
@stinerman: This isn’t supposed to be a welfare program. This is economic stimulus via tax rebate. Handing it to everyone is what makes sense.
Yes, I understand the reasoning that poor people will spend it faster. Guess what? That’s not a good thing. They need to learn to save even when it’s hard, not just keep getting more money from the government to spend.
@synergy: Not exactly. Even with a payrate that high (which usually means your like ON your deathbed and still teaching…. well ok not that old but still beyond retirement age) You still could not afford a decent apartment in the better burrows of NYC unless they are rent controlled.
In comparison my parents make 60k each at top guide in NJ, and can afford to have two houses now. NYC is so expensive that even government officials making 80-90k are having a hard time staying in the city.
…in the bank.
Stimulate MY economy is what I say…
Where the hell is the “Government’s a bunch of shitheads and I ain’t getting a rebate” choice?
Me and my partners are using the money to start a brewery. We’re scaling up production!
Out of the kitchen and into the… uh backyard I guess.
Jesus, I’m poor and I feel like the only person in the world that ever has to pay more taxes….every year. And yes I’m doing everything right.
Jerks.
I probably chose the wrong answer, but it will probably be to pay down debt on depreciating assets, e.g., car and appliance.
My first thought was put it in the bank, but then figured it would be a good opportunity to split it between my car loan and interest-free appliance loan balance.
I’m sure the “smart” answer is to invest it, but that seems kind of dicey right now. I’m already investing the most that I’m comfortable with.
In case you are wondering, it is an appliance I purchased with 3-years “same as cash”. I’m on schedule to pay it off in 2 years. And I’m on schedule to pay my 5-year car loan in 2.5 years.
I thought the plan was everyone getting a rebate, whether you paid taxes or not?
I’m offended that people who didn’t pay taxes will get a rebate and that people who paid too much taxes (aka the evil “rich”) don’t get a rebate. Granted $600 to an evil “rich” person is pocket change, but I don’t think they will (literally) flush it down the toilet.
Paying off my phone bill. WTF does owning a telephone line cost me $20 a month?!
@mercurypdx: exactly. Not that we’ll get that much in interest but at least it will be there!
I’m going to use it as spending money while in England and France. I’m going to stimulate their economies.
Should have an option for “Donate to a politician running against the Republicans”.
Cracks me up. Most according to these poll results, are using to pay debts. They are giving us a lil back to pay a lil debt, when they have taken so very much from us.
It’ll go into the bank. At least for a little while, anyway, while I sit and stare at our bills and figure out how best to distribute it. The money will definitely come in handy because we’re going on a family vacation in the middle of May.
Any SF Bay Area readers want to talk with Chronicle reporter on how recession fears and/or housing slump is affecting their spending patterns? Contact Sam Zuckerman at szuckerman@sfchronicle.com
Since I’ll be past the purchase of my new car at that point, it’ll go in the bank until I need it for books and/or tuition, if necessary. I didn’t see any option that I thought that fit in though, I don’t consider my education a depreciating asset.
I wish we weren’t getting one at all if it’s like last time and we have to PAY IT BACK. I have enough debt, thank you.
The marriage tax hits again. If my wife and I were both single, she would get the refund and I wouldn’t. But because we like to set a good example to our kid and don’t live in sin, neither of us get it.
Don’t even get me started on student loan deductions or child tax credits.
Paying off ccs… but I can’t file yet, i’m still waiting on my w2. *sigh*
I didn’t qualify for the past rebates because I was filing as a dependent to my dad, but I think I’ll qualify for this one because I’ve been independent for two years. Where’s the category for “Spending it on something I was planning on buying anyways?” I’ve been saving up to build a new computer, so I guess I’ll have to figure in an additional $600 in extra features! Hellooo Quad-Core!
I’ll frame mine. It’s the only right thing to do, as this “money” is created out of thin air. Well, all “Federal Reserve Notes” are, of course, which is hard to avoid, but this is a point where I can take a stand again the federal government creating however-many-billions-of-dollars for these particular shenanigans. Plus, it’s a big “fuck you” to those people, from Dubya on down, who want us to spend it.