Category: Electronics
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Thanks for (officially) nothing George W. Bush
"I bought a white 3G iPhone BEFORE I found out that although the government sent me a letter saying I could expect my $600 soon- I'm not getting a check after all. Turns out my parent's accountant claimed me as a dependent even though I filed my own tax return and don't depend on them financially. Also, I'm 25. Now I have a $300 bill to pay for the phone. The other $300 I was going to use (like many others on here) to help pay off my medical debt. I'm uninsured, struggling financially through graduate school, and can't wait until things get better. The good news is the iPhone is amazing! "
Marta Hernandez, 25, Journalist
New York, NY -
Vacuum tube headphone amp
"I squandered my check on a headphone amplifier from Woo Audio. It has vacuum tubes! It's made in America, so I can feel patriotic when I use it to listen to my Swedish-made CD of pop songs from Thailand through my German-made headphones."
Doug, 53
Omaha, NE -
New IPod!
"Last month, I filled my 30GB iPod and broke my headphones in the same afternoon. I was depressed, knowing I couldn't afford (A) a bigger iPod or (B) new headphones to actually listen to my iPod. BUT, when my economic stimulus check came, I raced over to the Apple Store and bought a brand new 80GB. I gave my mom my old 30GB. In the end, we both win. :-)"
Brooke, 20, Student/Advertising
Chicago, Illinois -
I'm just gonna try my luck
"I spent half of it on lottery tickets and spent the rest on buying an internet for my grandson to do better in school. I reckon I should get a lot from those lottery tickets since I usually just buy 5 each week and I have won a couple of times anyway."
Leonard LaGuardia, 58, Former Marine Cornel (retired)
New York, NY -
The Stars Aligned
"I bought a pair of turntables! It's something I've always wanted but could never justify spending the money on, but the stars really aligned for this purchase. I found out a friend of a friend was selling his and I got them for only $250! I spent the other $50 on various nefarious activities."
Lindsey, 20
Asheville, NC -
The Little Things
"Why waste it, especially when I like most of the world, has leveraged their current situation with debt. As a young, fabulous and broke according to Suze Orman, I spent it on a payment to a CC bill; changing my car title to the state of Texas; bills since they're relatively low in El Paso versus Scottsdale, AZ; rental car to see my dad while in San Fran; and postage for my book-swapping club.
This way I have a little of the responsible and a little of the things that keep me sane...but really are discretionary. "Sophie, 27, Deliciously unemployed and living off my husband
El Paso, Texas -
New Speakers!
"I bought a new set of home theater speakers because my Wife wanted to get rid of my giant speakers. Fortunately, they sound fantastic!"
Bob, 57, Accountant
Elk Grove, IL -
Life's little surprises
"...the week the check came in my just-out-of-warranty laptop died. Making this purchase necessary."
David, 38, sales
Tampa, FL -
I spent mine going to Wal-Mart.
"A Cool-Looking DVD Player-With HDMI: $39.99
An HDMI Cable to go with my new DVD Player $29.99
A New FM transmitter to go with my I-Pod: $48.99
A Pair of Cool shoes for the summer: $24.99
My Brand-New Bike: $99.99
My Brand New Computer Stand: $79.99
Leaving My Favorite Store and made off like Santa Claus: Priceless"Troy G., 41
Houston, TX -
Never Give A Gadget Geek Money
"I have always wanted, So when i got in my bank, I went shopping. So i bought my wii plus a iPod touch."
Joseph Soucie, 24, Retail
Champaign, IL -
George Bush bought me Prada & iPhone
"I had been wanting a new pair of sunglasses for a while now, as my previous pair of Prada were a little scratched. I walked into Sunglass Hut the other day and fell in love with these $330 pair. My other $300 will be spent on the iPhone 3G."
Nick Starr, 27, IT / AV
San Francisco, Ca -
Photoshop Lust
"I've lusted after Photoshop for far too long. and when i heard about the stimulus check, i treated myself to the basic version. the rest is going toward bills & our small business start-up."
Barbara, 35, shipping manager for retail website
Wildwood Crest, NJ -
Backing up my Mac just took a huge step backward
"I spent a third of my check to get a Apple Time Capsule so I can backup all my data from my MacBook without having to remember to do it. If I lose any of my data, I can just go back in time to retrieve what I lost. The rest I put into my savings."
Sam, 25
Madison, Wisconsin -
Less Debt, New iPhone!!!
"First 350 went to paying off all my credit card debt. The rest will be going toward my new 16 gig iphone!!!! (Can't wait till July 11th). "
Greg H, 34, IT
Elk Grove, CA -
Bought a Flip Ultra Video Camcorder for myself for my 26th Birthday!
"When I had got my Stimulus, it was around my Birthday...so what I did was bought myself a Flip Ultra Video camcorder (PINK! My favorite color), paid off a portion of my credit cards and put the rest in Savings! :) "
Jackie , 26, Billing Agent, Shipping Company
Salt Lake City , Utah -
The technology family
"My Mom (middle) and my Aunt both got new laptops with their stimulus checks from the IRS, and I was showing them some of the "ins & outs" of Windows Vista. Here we sit at the kitchen table of my Mom's house in Downers Grove, Illinois. Mother's Day, May 11th, 2008."
Mickey B., 26, Sales manager
North Aurora, ILL -
This is what we did with $774
"Even though I work as a tax preparer during the season, my husband and I were both skeptical of this whole "free money" idea. we did not make plans for the money before we had it, but waited and to see what we would like to have had when we did. we both were paid from our jobs the same week so we had quite a surplus of extra money. (for our standards anyhow) we ended up purchasing a 19" lcd computer monitor, added some much needed items to our wardrobes, finally had a stereo installed in our car, and went out a night and seen some djs. our check didnt get us too far but we were able to get a few things a little earlier we had been saving to get. what little was left went towards gas and groceries for a few days."
Ann H., 24, damgoode pies-great pizza try some in lr
Little Rock, AR -
Americans spending
"We bought a large TV before even getting the check. By the time the check arrived I had to replace my timing belt and brake pads and my girlfriend had to remove a fallen tree in her front yard to the tune of $700. We spent the money before we had it like good ole Americanos and then charged up the credit card on house and car maintenance to keep up with stimulying the economy. "
Frederick, 30, Business development/ computer memory wholeseller/ US Technology
Miami Beach, FL -
Isn't She Lovely?
"I purchased a Nikon D40 DSLR that I've been lusting over for almost two years. It's finally mine! Now I just need to figure out how to use this fancy piece of equipment..."
Inga, 34, Accounting
Phoenix, AZ -
Money that keeps giving back!
"I bought a Nikon D-40X SLR Digital camera that I've been needing for years to build my photography profile. I also funded a day off from work to put in my resume for a new job, changed banks, and got a loan to consolidate my debt and pay off my car. Now I'm making lower payments with much less debt, I got the new job, and I just bought plane tickets to Phoenix for vacation this September. All of this possible by giving back my 10% back to God! "
Ru, 27, healthcare
Jacksonville, FL
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