Category: Rent/Mortgage
-
Catching up
"What I did with my check was to catch up on my rent. I am still behind a bit, but working my way out. "
Liz, 42, School Bus Driver
Fort Worth, TX -
House
"My wife and I put it in our savings for a down payment on a house."
Steve, 27, Architect
Philadelphia, PA -
Rent
"I actually didn't purchase anything, or had the opportunity to do so. I was in St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands for my brother's funeral and we spent a great deal of money so when I saw the $600 added to my bank account I was a little relieved. Only to remember that I had written a check of $750 to my landlord before I left New York City. So +600 and -750 was displayed on my account summary the same day. "
Jerlyn Thomas, 23, Senior Interactive Graphic Designer
New York, NY -
Kept the wolf away for an hour or 2
"We didn't buy anything..we used it to catch up on some bills we didn't pay over a slow winter..(mortgage, auto loan)...and we are still a month behind..."
Christi, 34, stay at home mom
Magna, Utah -
Thanks for the two bits, Bush.
"My Husband and I just moved into are first apartment (we were just married in March, and are expecting a baby in August). We filed single last year, he got $300 and I got $600. ALL OF IT went to bills, gas, and food...except for $150 of my stimulus check that got put in the "baby fund." As much as I appreciate the two bits that Bush threw our way. It was kind of a big tease. Everyone got just enough that they couldn't complain that it wasn't enough. But truth be told...he could've kept the $900 if he would just admit his mistakes and step down from his office, and possibly wear a dunce cap for a week...just to make me laugh.
Keep your money next time George, your going to need it to pay your legal fees when the misguided people who voted for you finally help the rest of us try you for war crimes and abuse of power."
Jill, 24, I'm a temp, because that's the only job I can find, even with a BA in political science...thanks again W
Levittown, PA -
All on the Mortgage Payment
"I spent my $600 stimulus check on my mortage and I had to add $100. I wish my check had been larger because we still need food in the house and gas in the truck. "
Jo Ann Franklin, 36, Self Employed
Memphis, TN -
Saving for our upcoming move
"We will be saving our check for when we move in a couple months. Gas prices keep climbing, so we have bought a house closer to our jobs. We are also expecting our second child in December, so this check could not come at a better time!"
Nick and Annie VW, 25, Engineer and Nurse
(soon to be) Rock Valley, IA -
Where did all that money go?
"My husband and I have 5 children so we received $2100. I really cannot figure out how $2100 got spent within a week, but I know that the majority of it went towards gasoline (we are at $4.15/gallon here in IL) and groceries (Walmart) and bills. I did spend $100 at oldnavy.com and I did pay $212 for my summer college course that I am taking next week. I also spent about $300 on food and beverages for my graduation party. Other than that, I don't know where it went! "
Yolanda C, 34, Bookkeeper/Samco Sales and Marketing
Rockford, IL -
Movin' on up
"Since I was college this past year I only qualified for $300. It all went to pay for the security deposit on a house my boyfriend & I will move into in a few weeks. I can't wait to move out of my tiny apartment so that my dogs can have a safe fenced back yard to run in every day. It is worth every penny."
PSU Alum, 23
State College, PA -
Spent tax rebate on taxes
"I live in Upstate New York so I spent my $600 plus $7,300 more on property taxes in the last year for the priviledge of living in my own home. No wonder businesses and our youth are fleeing."
Jim, 55, Software development
Cortland, NY -
Stimulate the Housing Market
"We are moving to a new city with new jobs and just bought our first house. We love low housing prices! The stimulus check is being used as a bridge between paychecks, or was used to increase the down payment, whichever way you want to look at it. "
A & B, 26, Engineering
Pittsburgh, PA -
What would you do??
"We got our check the same day as our property tax statement. Very Un-Dude! We had grand plans but ended up doing the responsible thing. "
MAC, 28, Education
Des Moines, IA -
Federal Bank Bailout Program
"Made a mortgage payment--poof it's gone. I guess you could say we bought 30 days of shelter. Stimulus was just another part of the banking crisis bailout in my book."
Greg, 52, Realtor
Palm Coast, Florida -
Recession? Hmmm
"We took our stimulus check and paid our security deposit and first months rent. The economy has gone to doodoo, my husband got a paycut and we were forced to file bankruptcy, surrending the house. That's a big F.U., GDubya."
Richie Notsorich, 24, NYFB
Southeastern, Michigan -
Stimulte this, buy a house.
"I took my $900 check and $100 from savings to write an escrow check to Chicago Title so I could buy a new house on my VA benefit. Now my kids don't have to sleep on my sofa and love seat for the 96 hours a month I get them, because of how high and dry my X left me while I was gone in the Arabian Gulf. Six years of living in barracks, ships, and studio apartments, now I have my own home and my kids their own rooms when they visit, hopefully for more than 2 weekends a month. "
Michael, 44, manufacturing
Burlington, WA -
Thanks to the 'Canes, We're Boring...
"Paradise has a cost, brought to us by Ivan and Dennis and Katrina. Insurance raised 110% this year, so we'll have to be b.o.r.i.n.g. and save the $ just to pay the mortgage all year. Darn it! "
Lori, 37
Gulf Coast, FloraBama -
Saving my Economy
"I would love to say something exciting. Alas, we are buying a house and need padding..for the move."
Laurie, 36
El dorado hills, CA -
Come on No Eviction!
"Expensive private university = no money. So I sank the entirety of my check into my rent! My mom thanks you, Economic Stimulant."
Eric, 22, Student
Decatur, GA -
Damn you bills!
"I'm totally lame. I'll probably just put this toward the mortgage, utility bills, car insurance, etc. I'm fine with that. I'll sleep a little easier at night. "
Andrew
Phoenix, AZ
The Book
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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.
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