As I was spending my time reading a variety of websites today, I cam across on article on CNN.com that talks about how different people in the United States plan to spend their tax rebate checks.  The news reported in the past few days that the first of the economic stimulus payments are going out early in hopes of stimulating the economy now, instead of a week later like the original plan.  I’m not sure if that extra week is going to make a bit of a difference but hey, if it makes life easier for some to get their check early then that sounds good to me.

CNN features seven Americans and their plans for the rebate checks:

• Mark from Georgia will be paying off bills.
• Laura from California will be paying off back taxes with hers.
• Kathryn from New York discusses how two of her working children won’t get the checks but they could use them.  She claims them on her tax return as dependents so neither the parent or the child will receive payment. 
• Melissa from Wisconsin is in a financial bind with rising food prices and hopes to use the money to get ahead.
• Trista from Minnesota is planning to donate a portion of her rebate check to charity.
• Tana in Georgia is taking her daughter on a vacation in celebration of her graduation from elementary school having made straight As.
• Karen from Washington will be putting her payment towards starting a small business that will be run during her retirement.

I don’t see much in the way of economic stimulus here.  The last two will be putting the money back into the economy.  If this is a good representation of what Americans will be doing, then about 28% of the checks will be spent on non-necessities while the remaining 72% will either be donated or used to pay down debt or help ease a financial crisis.

Ours is going towards my future education.  I’m not sure if that stimulates the economy but in the long run, it is going to stimulate my economy.