Category: Utilities
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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 -
Tryin' to work with what I got back.
"I wasn't able to buy anything but pay bills. I'm a single mother of 3 kids and I only got $600. I feel robbed but what can I do? I just worked with the money that was given to me and hopefully I'll have some left for uniforms for my kids to go to school. :("
Victoria, 28, Entertainment Consultant
Homesteaf, Florida -
Keepin it cool
"I bought a new central air conditioner for my home. Not too exciting except that it will last for years & when its 100 degrees this wkend... I can chill in my cool house."
Cris, 30
boise, id -
"I wish I could have gotten a Wii for our family but that didn't happen. I payed off a bill for a bed that I had bought for someone else. A major part of the rest went to bills... (I.E. Electric, cable, Car Insurance.) My wife used some to help someone else out on one of her friends bills. Some went to gas and groceries. A friend of ours never had a new bick so we bought her one along with a few other random things. Then it was gone in a week... So aside from bills I think I only stimulated about $200 out of our $1200."
Matthew , 29
Geneva, Ohio -
Help others by helping yourself
"Bought a motorcycle from a friend of mine. I will be driving to and from work (36 miles one way) to save gas. My friend will use the money for closing costs. Also paid some utilies, bought groceries and gas and took the family out to eat a couple times."
Ron Bull, 36, Engineering
Warren, MI -
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 -
Born to be mild.
"I'm stimulating the Chinese economy by putting it towards the purchase of a scooter. That way envious truck and suv drivers can ask me the same questions over and over again at gas stations. "
Jeffrey, 30, truck driver
Bryantville, MA -
It's a tax rebate miracle!
"I got the world's biggest dashboard Jesus. I pray to It for a better cashflow. Actually, I frivolously spent it on bills and gasoline. "
J Wunderle, Freelance writer/Audio engineer/philosopher
Springfield, MO -
A Little Hope
"My refund was split between my education costs, food, utilities and a little hope-fund for my unborn child. "
Katharine, 30, Graphic Designer, Professional Student
Akron, Ohio -
Conspiracy
"I bought......Oil!!!!!! For our hot water boiler. Seems ironic doesn't it. The rest I used to buy.....Gas!!!!! For my car. For my daughters car and to pay off my mothers....Gas bill!!!!! Exactly who am I stimulating with this money? The very people who put us where we are? Sounds like a conspiracy to me."
Chris Magillicutty, 49, Property Manager
Manchester , NH -
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 -
Bad Economy
"Both my wife and I have been cut back to only 40 hours a week and so we were gettting behind in bills so we actually just paid on bills that were getting behind. Nothing extra."
Ernest Aviles, 37, Construction
Fort Myers, Florida -
"sigh."
Barbarella
Boring, Mcborington -
What I spent my ESC on & maybe you should've too
"I freakin' paid bills! And if I had a car, I would have paid bills AND for gasoline! Maybe you should have too. Nothing wrong with financially getting ahead."
Frederick, 34, Creative Designer
Grand Rapids, Michigan -
A Reliable Pistol
"RIA Government Model 1911A1. Bought it because I needed a reliable auto-pistol."
Stanley, 22, Student
Saulte Ste Marie, Michigan -
THE FEDERAL GOV'T GETS AWAY WITH IT
"I paid overdue utility bills and insurance for my car that I can't even afford to put gas in. Nevermind that I don't have health insurance and my teeth are rotting out. Thanks to Federal Reserve Bank! People, the federal economy is a joke. The real stimulus will come when people decentralize the cities and relocalize economic activity. BUY LOCAL EVERYTHING!"
Adrian's Lament, 22, Self-employed Permaculturalist
Sacramento, California -
Popping bottles to pay the bills
"I have like 4 jobs and have been trying to bartend so i can at least only have 2 that can make ends meet. I used my stimulus check to pay some bills and supplements my income for 2 weeks while i took the bartending class. I put that on my credit card so i hope it pays itself off soon."
Julia Davis, 26, non-profit
Beltsville, MD -
The gift that keeps on giving.
"I'm using my stimulus check to become more energy efficient. I'm adding a Plenum Heater to my Propane Furnace to take advantage of cheaper electric rates. At current propane prices I'll probably save about $1000 per year and as prices increase the savings will increase. The gift that keeps on giving!!!"
Brian, 36
Merrifield, MN -
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
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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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