Category: Rent/Mortgage
-
Stimulus my Arss
"Homes foreclosures, gas prices, unemployment rate & utilities rising; our check was spent on gas, food, mortgage & utilities. Anything else was not an option. Baby Bush is only trying to disguise the fact that he's screw up and a terrorist at heart. "
Cali, 39, Logistics
Austin, TX -
Nothing Special
"I paid my rent. Boring, yes, but I probably would have had a lot of explaining to do to my landlord had I not gotten this check when I did. It definitely got me out of a very sticky situation."
Deb, 26, Dog Groomer
Pepperell, MA -
Following My Dream
"I haven't gotten my stimulus yet. But I did just quit my job to pursue my dream of becoming a photographer! Yikes! Such a scary thing to do these days. So as soon as that check rolls in it will for sure go to necessities, like food, gas and if there is any left over rent! "
Angie B, 30, Unemployed
Los Angeles, CA -
A better place for my family!
"We are going to be using our money to move into a better neighborhood. We don't quite have all that we need so we are robbing peter to pay paul in order for us to move. The stimulus money will sure help but as we all know, everything is so expesive right now so it is going to take everything that we have to get our family into a better situation. "
Desiree Starbuck, 30, Assistant Manager of Arby's
Rockford, Michigan -
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 -
its all good...
"Well, almost all of it went to rent, and if it wasn't that, all the other bills would be next!! But, the carnival was in town so I did use the little bit left to take my 1 year old daughter, Sylvia, for her first ride, games (won a goldfish), and some cotton candy! I'd say that was worth more than what I paid!!"
cole, 24, artist/crafter
Waynesboro, PA -
Now you see it, now you don't.
"I paid my late rent. I blame George Bush for getting us all into this economic mess in the first place~I firmly believe that if it weren't for the war in Iraq and having to borrow all this money from China and Japan we would not find ourselves in the deficit we are in today. This "stimulus check" is a JOKE. I work full time for a large corporation and should NOT be in the hole! Its only going to get worse! THANKS MR PRESIDENT for NOTHING! "
Alicia Ferrari, 25, Administrative assistant
Harrisburg, PA -
Our Stimulus
"With the union being slow and not working right now I will be spending mine on needed items like $4.00 a gallon gas. My daughters will go in her savings and hopefully gain some interest."
Brad, 30, Painter
West Allis, WI -
Close To My Due Date
"I used the money to get our bills paid for another month. Im pregnant and I was laid off from my job about the same time my husband was laid off as well. Now im about 3 weeks from my due date and wish I was getting another check. No one will hire me because Im so close to my due date and my husband keeps getting rejected. :("
Johna, 21, unemployed (Laid off)
Longmont, CO -
Still broke but at least employed
"I paid bills. Both my fiance and I were laid off on the same day last November, so we had to pay bills. We still have not caught up and I had to move cross country to get a job because of the poor job market in NJ! He finally got a freelance gig in May and I got my job in June. When we get enough money saved (after catching up), he'll be moving out to be with me. It has to get better. Other people, though, have it much worse with no jobs, so I won't complain. I just hope we don't lose our home."
Christine Johansson, 53, Paralegal
Albuquerque, New Mexico -
A little broker now
"Single grandmother who has cust of grandbaby and 15 yr old i caught up what i could on my rent, paid what bills that i could, lights water gas(house)no car, then i had to decide on my meds or diapers and food for my grandson. i bought what i could in those and was broke i still owe rent 300 on house gas and cant even buy a cake for his 1st bd cant get food stamps. im still trying to get unemployment due to the fact i had to quit my truck driving job to take care of my grandson it is very hard and getting harder and will until our gov realizes WE need more progress on this they dont need to be fat while we are starving"
elizabeth jerrell, 43, unemployed truck driver
pinr bluff, ar -
My Stimulus Went To GAS & BILLS.. THANKS ALOT.
"I paid my BILLS and bought GAS for my car with my stimulus check... Thanks a billion...NOT. Maybe next time I'll have enough left over for something FUN, considering the USA is at a war we have no business being in, and we could have just spent the war funding elsewhere. Like somewhere that it actually has a PURPOSE. F*** off George Bush. -Rob"
Rob, 21, Unemployed, because nobody is hiring.
Chester, SC -
Government = Crooks
"I applied the $196.00 I got towards the mortgage late fees so we could buy food this month. NO jobs in my area; nothing that pays more than $9.00 per hour here in Northwest CT... so much for a masters degree. Useless. "
Harrison, 38, Health Care
Torrington, CT -
Stimulus leaves some understimulated!
"Ok...so the only thing my economic stimulus package stimulated was my mortgage and my car note. They are $1100 between them and they were both a month behind. Although I would have loved to do something wild and crazy like---buy a gas card--- I am stuck "understimulated" by my stimulus. (But the phone doesnt ring near as much with stupid collectors!)"
April, 27
Nash, Texas -
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 -
I got to pay for this
"Paid $1000 towards rent and took these babies to the lake. "
Mo, 37, Customer Service
Avondale, Arizona -
trying to make a living
"I spent my stimulus check on paying for my mortgage and behind 3 month. I was laid off and I am a single mother with 3 children trying to make a living."
Carmen Ramos, none
New Britain, Ct. -
"I lost my job a month before I (finally) got my check. About a week later I brought home these two little guys because I needed something positive in my life. The check itself is still laying on my desk because I'm trying to decide what bill I can afford to pay this month: my car insurance, my car payment, or my rent. I'd rather trade the $300 check for a better economy so I can find a job."
Tarianna, 20, Unemployed
Upstate, NY -
Easy come, easy go
"I like satirist Will Durst's line about spending the stimulus on either a tank of gas or bag of rice. I considered the myriad of options excitedly - then, a few weeks before I received it, my landlord sent me a notice that my rent was increasing by $55 a month. Therein goes my "windfall" - and a little bit more. Easy come, easy go?"
Mal Schoen, 53, Administrative Asst - Stanford University
Menlo Park, CA -
Bring On The Recession!
"My husband and I put our money in savings so that one day (if prices keep dropping) we can afford to buy a home in Los Angeles and throw an awesome house warming party like this! Bring on the recession!"
Erin & Adam, 27, ART
Los Angeles, CA
The Book
We are now selecting stories. To be considered, be sure to upload an original image with your story. You will be contacted later this summer if your submission is chosen.
Post a Blog Entry
This is a collaborative project. All of the blog entries are submitted by visitors to the site. We'd love for you to contribute — just upload a photo and share your story.
The Stimulus
In January, Congress approved $152 billion in economic stimulus checks for millions of American households, intended to boost the economy and avert a recession. Just how this money will be spent remains to be seen. We hope this website helps shed some light on where the stimulus money is going.
Featured Article
Categories
- Apparel (43)
- Books (7)
- Debt/Credit Card (106)
- Education (44)
- Electronics (58)
- Entertainment (45)
- Entrepreneurship (16)
- Food & Drink (32)
- Gifts & Donations (45)
- Groceries (41)
- Health & Medical (49)
- Home & Garden (88)
- Insurance (11)
- Invest/Savings (73)
- Kids & Toys (41)
- Movies & Music (9)
- Pets (58)
- Recreation & Events (57)
- Rent/Mortgage (59)
- Services (15)
- Sports & Outdoors (49)
- Travel & Vacation (138)
- Utilities (40)
- Vehicle & Gas (144)
- Video (5)
- Weird (31)
- Other (147)