Category: Debt/Credit Card
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Oh what a relief it was
"I bought a tank of propane for winter fuel oil and paid off small extaneous debt so I can focus more attention on the larger ones having a greater impact on the debt."
Gail, 48, manager
Bernardsville, NJ -
Way to entrust Joe Public with 152 billion dollars
"[hand against forehead, perplexed] But Mr. President, we gave you that money to improve domestic social programs, fix our broken healthcare system, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and lower the cost of gas. Are we to assume that you can't figure out a way to effectively use this cash so you are just giving it back to us? [$599 went to my graduate loans, $1 went in to my checking account] "
Alec, 26, agent
Astoria, NY -
Stimulate This
"I put almost all of our check to pay off credit. By the end of the year we'll be debt free. I would bitch about how my husband and I, being in poverty, only got $647, but I won't. Because I know this is only a 2008 tax refund advance based on 2007 (we owed last year). So at least we will still get a refund next year where some people won't because they got it all as a stimulus check. Same difference, but this helps us more now to look for a house to buy early next year. Our furry children will appreciate it. This may be a last ditch effort to make the presidency look good, but when people figure out it wasn't free money Bush will be gone. People spend this wisely, it is your well deserved money. Oh, and as for the $47, it went to dinner out because it's been a long time for that. So, thanks I guess."
Riane Conner, 23, Retail Hell
Fort Myers, FL -
Grandpa George's sending Hubby to Kuwait
"We got $600 from Grandpa George a few days after we learned that my husband is going to be deployed to Kuwait. Here's the breakdown: $200 cash (Senior Chief says he'll need it for baggage costs) $55 new athletic shoes for deployment $20 Pizza for our last night together for a long time The rest is going towards my student loans."
Michelle Cox, 19, Homemaker
Gulfport, Mississippi -
Dwindling Debt
"As soon as we receive our check, which should be here in the next few days, my husband and I are paying off our VERY LAST credit card!! Yay! We are still working on the mortgage, student loans, and truck payment, but hey, we ARE cutting down our debt!"
Jessica, 25, American Taekwondo Association HQ
Shannon Hills, AR -
Not enough...
"We spent most our check on bills that were months behind! And my husband and I actually got to have a date night...first one in almost 6 months! The rest went to our sons 2nd birthday and savings. But it won't stay there long...we need a bigger house! So the stimulus helped but not nearly enough...for the sinking ecomony!"
Crystle Bolick, 25, Stay at home mom
Carleton, Mi. -
Thanks for Nothing
"I paid bills because as a hard working "middle" poor class, I have nothing but bills. Thanks George for taking everything I make!"
Tracy F, 36
Gaylord, MI -
New Appliances
"I used my money to payoff a credit card that I was trying to pay off before the 0% interest went off. I had used it to buy appliances for my house. I really need new ones they were almost thirty years old. And being a single parent of two it was making it hard to pay it off. So, I was very happy to get the money."
Lindsey, 29
Fort Smith, AR -
No more student loans!
"I was able to combine this with my regular refund and pay off two student loans. I also took my rescue puppy (she's a 3 year old shelter mutt) to the groomer for a nice summer 'do. The last little bit went to the dentist. I was laid off for three weeks, so I would rather have worked, but oh well. You do what you do."
Angie, 36, art dept assistant/film/Universal Studios
Encino, CA -
Thanks for the free money
"I spent my $1500 on my credit card debt. It still has not been paid off but it put a dent into it. I hope to have it paid off sometime this year or next. "
Ray, 29, Military
Las Vegas, NV -
I smell good is Disneyland with less debt
"I did three things with my stimulus check. First of all, I finally bought the Betsey Johnson perfume I've been wanting for 6 months or so ($40), I bought my plane ticket to Anaheim so I could go to Disneyland ($160), and I used the rest ($400) to pay off the debt I owe to my parents for a trip to Europe I took last summer."
Jen, 27, High School teacher
Sacramento, CA -
Bills Bills Bills
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"We just made some payments on the credit card and regular bills. Would have loved to buy a 50", but necessities come first. It was gone before we knew it!"
Mama and Wife, 25, SAHM
San Antonio, TX -
Government Ruse, Stimulas check , Bah Humbug
" Thanks for the opportunity to express my experience. I have not received my check ,Nor will I . I got a letter form the IRS stating that it went to pay on a student loan I owed in 1991. The fact is ,I was exempted from paying the loan back in 2001 because of a disability that precluded me from returning to work. The amount they quoted ,that I am suposed to owe was three times what I orginially owed. I am a senior living on a super small income two times under the poverty line. What am I to do? "
Judy A, 65, Retired
Richland, Wa. -
Pay Down Debt
"We have two children and both work. We recieved our check in the amount of 1800.00, we bought nothing, we sent the payment directly to a long awaited payoff of a credit line.! Feels good to be done with that! =}"
Shannon Bromwell, 27, Government/Beauty Advisor
Swansea, MA -
Back to the government!
"I wish I could say that I bought our new rides with the stimulus check, but bought those right before. Our check was for $1500, had to pay quarterly taxes of $1480 + $8 for cashiers check..so of the $12 we had left, we rented 2 dvd's from the local video store. But at least I didn't have to save up the money for the quarterly taxes and i could pay off braces and Dell. "
Donna, 43, currently retired/future real estate agent
Ingleside, Tx -
Amex/Puerto Rico =)
"I spent my check on my American express bill and as well going away on vacation to Puerto Rico =)"
Jeannette, 22, Accounting
Corona, NY -
Paid the bills
"I bought a new digital camera because our other one was ancient, and the rest went to pay off some debt! My thought is, I already stimulated the economy with money I didn't have and it was time to pay it back!"
Rachel, 25, Homemaker
Virginia Beach, VA -
Not Enough Help
"In less than an hour on the phone I spent my check on bills. Just trying to get caught up so we can make it through these rough times, if only they would had sent $4000 more I would be caught up on our debt. We even managed to pay for our daughters’ graduation party. What they don’t tell you is if your child is 18 that child does not qualify, kind of a kick in the face I think. Still have debt, made no new purchases and will not for a long time. "
Jim, 39, Wood product Ind.
Newberry, MI -
Grocery Store Alternative
"With our Stimulus Check, my family paid off our credit card debt. There was a tiny bit left for seeds for the garden pictured here."
Laura, 52, Homemaker
Ceveland, Ohio -
Billls Bills Bills
"We deposited all our check in the bank and have slowly caught up some of the bills, but are a long way from done and have no more check left. It may have helped but it was a long way from getting our economic goals fixed. And to boot, we got our original refund direct deposit, and our stimulas chech ended up coming by check. They really screwed up on that one."
Dama Williams, 23, McDonalds
Grand Junction, Colorado
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