If we get this, Dh and I have already decided to pay a bill with it. It may not pay all of it off, but a good bit of it. I figure the less debt we have the more wiggle room we have.

Yes it is a band aid to fix a hemorrhage. We will continue to head towards a recession if not a depression until government gets spending under control and reforms the social programs we already have (especially Medicaid, Medicare, the rx drug plan, and SS.)

The tax rebate is being considered because they are hoping we will use it to buy things and give a boost to our economy - many people are doing the wise thing and spending down their debt hoping to avoid their own financial ruin.

Hey, a bandaid is still a bandaid, and I'll take it. Whether we spend it, save it, pay down debt, the money still goes back into the economy, unless the way you save it is under your mattress, of course.

Now, the next step is to get all the credit card companies to reduce their rates and set up usury limits again. I can dream, can't I??

__________________
Make someone's heart smile today.

Amen to that about the credit card rates. I'll dream with ya.

If we do get it it is going in the bank for our emergency fund! Then after I have $2000.00 in there I will pay off bills.

If our gasoline hadn't TRIPLED in the past 8 years maybe we'd have more money to spend!!! mad: I think the rebate thing is a joke. Make necessary things like gasoline more affordable! Tax rebates like this to me are just a pittance of the overwhelming amount of money things have gone up in the past 8 years. Ok, ok I know it's not to help us personally (but by the way it's talked about it's like we're suddenly been given a pot of gold ). Lets see, I guess we will put it towards airline tickets to see my inlaws. I might not agreed with everything Clinton did, but my bank account and quality of life was MUCH better 8 years ago than it is now.

you are right you will be taxed on the next years return!!!! they thru out the numbers yesterday many times(people in washington) 800 for singles and 1600 for married people the only problem is in more expensive area's to live if you would make over 150,000 a year you would not get any???? also increasing food stamp benefits to the poor??? ok here is my thing about this he says it would be a short term fix so your gonna up there benefits get them used to buying this amount of food only in a year or two drop it??? my next thing is hmm increasing welfare personally don't agree with that since there are alot of people(not all) that abuse the sysytem... then on some new stations they were saying the only way it would work would be if you bought american made products like mattresses(since only 3% are made over seas) stuff like that....if they are gonna give it out i'm gonna put it into my emergency fund myself...

The situation is really bad and most people know it. The proposed temporary fixes are financially not good moves. The government doesn't "have" this money to spread around. The only way to do it is to further indebt future generations by borrowing or to print it. Either way, the money we have is devalued. Terrible move.

We all would like a check. There is a benefit to such a move, though. It is the psychological effect of relief. How people feel can make a difference between a worsening depression and a positive outlook. A positive outlook tends to make people and business hire people, build an addition, go on vacation. Feeling secure about the future helps.

I am a little too pessimistic to think that a handout that devalues our currency further, will make people change their minds about the state of things.

Cathleen

I'm assuming that you ARE aware that the US has one of the very lowest prices per gallon of gas in the world? Many european countries pay WAY more than we do and have for a long time.

__________________

I agree - I'll take the tax rebate they will provide but I am not going to use it to go out and buy something. I'll use it to pay down a debt.
I also agree, that rather than giving the rebates, make cost of living cheaper - lower gas prices, lower grocery costs, lower utility expenses, etc.

__________________