Category: Food & Drink
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"I bought a Dooney and Burke handbag that I had been wanting forever. It was on sale, so I got $100 off. The rest I spent on my boyfriend's birthday. I bought him shirts, underwear, jeans, and socks since he was laid off and can't afford to buy the necessities anymore. I should have paid bills and put some into savings, but that purse is so pretty."
Sandy, 23, HR Assistant/Software
Tucson, Arizona -
Some paella accompanied by a taste of Rioja wine
"I spent part of my stimulus check on a paella cooked with prawns, clams, lobster tail, chicken marinated in a citrus-y sauce, and chorizos de pollo and de puerco. Mmmm!!! To celebrate the paella we also drank a bottle of Eduardo Garrido Garcia wine from my great-uncle-in-law in La Rioja in Spain. (The stimulus check did not pay for the bottle!) The rest went into savings...or setting up my first year classroom...or rent...depends on what I feel like saying at the moment. "
L C
Bay Area, CA -
How I was stimulated
"Originally I thought I would save it for a rainy day. Then I thought I would add a lower cost guitar to my collection. I did buy one, but sold it to my friend at the same price I paid for it. I think the stimulus check really touched my heart and prompted me to start the 401K here at work and I am adding 6% a week to it. (100% company match, so why not?) I did go out and but a tire for the motorcycle, some work clothes and treated myself to a few nice dinners. Thank you U.S.A. I am proud to be an American"
Jay G, 47, Management / Electronics / Ft Worth
Hurst, TX -
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 -
Basic Necessities
"My husband was laid off of work for six months recently. I was very glad to be getting some much needed extra money to catch up on bills, put food on the table for my son and us, etc. "
Jennifer L, 32, HR admin/manufacturing/KCMO
Independence, MO -
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. -
Beer Pong Tournament
"I bought beer for my beer pong tournament. yeah bush!"
Matt, 24, Recruiter
Bel Air, Maryland -
Stimulus my arse!
"Most of it to gas/food, some for vacation, most in savings!"
David, 26
Greensboro, NC -
First Growth Bordeaux
"French wine! "
Chaz
Brooklyn, NY -
Endless Birthday
"I took my girlfriend out for a series of nice dinners to make up for the fact that I was broke on her actual birthday. I only got $300 as I didn't make enough money in '07 to qualify for anything else. In the last 18 years I've gone from a $100K + IT worker to a $12/hr electronics assembler. For me, that $300 bucks means a lot but my girlfriend means more. "
Ethan Aneshansley
Charleston, SC -
Sweeter after dark
"This is all our check would allow us to buy, Sonic may be sweeter after dark, the check wasn't."
JJ, 52, school teacher
Ft. Worth, Texas -
It's the little things that count...
"I spent my check on a few things. Got some groceries, started a small herb garden, got a much needed haircut, cleaning products, some treats for my dog, a video game for my boyfriend, took ourselves out to a nice dinner and bought some new clothes for work. Needless to say all of it is gone and I still have a list of things that I should have gotten. Oh well, figured I should treat myself (and my boyfriend) while I could. Are we gonna get these again next year?? "
Stephanie Pierce, 22, Custom Sales Representative
Smyrna, Georgia -
Lady Luck
"Going to blow it all on beer and dog racing."
George, 22
Boston, MA -
Because You Can't Eat Gold.
"There is now WAY this will be enough for a family of four, but its a start. I estimate about 700 'servings' from this, so its only a month. Please excuse the cameraphone..."
Mike Kage, 39, I.T. Crap
Kagetopia, NH -
Victory Garden Mentality
"I spent my check buying materials for a large home garden - including a Mantis tiller, seeds, small greenhouse, books on gardening and seed saving and hoes and rakes. Food is just getting too expensive, especially fresh fruit and veggies. This investment will keep us in food for a many years to come."
Irish M., 34, Administration
Barre, VT -
Ein Kaffee, bitte.
"Since I live in Germany, with my ~$600 rebate, after writing myself a check and converting to Euros, I bought myself a nice cup of coffee! Thanks, Uncle Sam.
ps - I put the remaining Euro into my German bank account. I will really use the $ to pay student loans. :)"
adam, 30, nuclear physics researcher
Karlsruhe-Durlach, Germany -
Gotta love the rebate check
"We got ours and used it for some bills, high cost of living stuff, replaced our broken DVD player and Xbox which the kids love to use, and had a really nice date night my wife and i out...I also purchased new bedding for my oldest daughter and more baseballs for my son...nothing too crazy but most went back into the economy..."
Rick, 37, Musician
Santa Ana, CA -
Spent at Random
"Lets see what i spent my money on was everyday thing like bowling, playing pool, alcohol, clothes, shoes and gas and anything else you can think of. Oh I also put some towards my bills, most of it. yeeh it felt good to have it. Too bad we dont have this every year. Thats my story!!! Peace , love and some chicken greeze yall!! "
Tara Schneider, 22, Files CLerk
Colorado Springs , Colorado -
Steak & Retirement
"I bought some steaks at a restaurant I like because I've usually got to watch my money as a college student (graduation is fast approaching). It benefited me, the restaurant, and my cat. I plowed the rest into my retirement account. Specifically into "AHR" (Anthracite Capital). The dividend yield is around 15% for this relatively solid company."
Steven, 23, Planetarium Operator / Academic Research
Portsmouth, Ohio -
Whiskey
"After the economic stimulus package was signed into law, I pledged to spend my stimulus money on one of the few well made American products left - Kentucky whiskey."
Andrew, 29, Application Developer
Saint Louis, MO
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