Highlands Today
$600 Economic Stimulus Checks Just Weeks Away
Let's Go Shopping!
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Published: April 23, 2008
AVON PARK — There was Cecil Hess last week, window-shopping outside Young at Heart Travel in Lakeshore Mall. His wife, Judy, was waiting for Belk to open.
They're taking a Caribbean cruise next year, which is where their $1,200 economic stimulus check may go.
The Hesses are among 130 million U.S. households that will receive from $300 to $600 per taxpayer rebate from Uncle Sam. Even some Social Security and Veterans Administration recipients, who don't normally file income tax returns, may get rebate checks.
"This is our fifth cruise," said Hess, a Church of the Brethren pastor. "We've been to Hawaii, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean twice."
Inside, Jennifer Dean says Young at Heart has another Caribbean cruise that visits the Dominican Republic, St. Maarten and Antigua for $1,671, for a family of four.
"Kids sail free," Dean said. The deal is selling like hotcakes, she said. The IRS promises an $1,800 rebate to a married couple with two children. Maybe that's where some of those stimulus checks are going.
Young at Heart Travel, by the way, has moved to the shops behind the mall.
In the food court, Steven and Christine Grilo were chowing down on Chinese. They expected to get back $600 each, plus $300 for their son, Shane.
"We're going to give it right back," Steven Grilo, who owns a house in Sun'N Lake. "We're behind a month on the mortgage. And with the price of gasoline ..."
Suffice it to say, he didn't believe others would fritter away their rebates on new clothes and non-essential items.
"They're going to pay their bills," argued Grilo, who came here from Rhode Island. "They're not going to go out shopping."
At Lowe's, Greg Simmons is hoping a few shoppers will want a new dishwasher. He sells refrigerators, stoves and other major appliances.
"I'll probably get back $900," Simmons said. "I'm going to save it for a father-daughter getaway in Orlando.
His child is home-schooled, and recently passed her GED at age 15.
Since modern washers and dryers are energy-efficient, they're a good way to save money, Simmons said.
"This one uses about half the water of a top loader," he said, standing in front of a handsome, pewter colored, front-loading Samsung washer. Twelve hundred dollars for the washer alone. That's two whole rebate checks.
Well, there are a couple of Frigidaires, nearly as nice, for $1,296, Simmons said. Plus $100 each for pedestals. But the pedestals are nice storage compartments for dryer sheets and soap bottles.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Austin ) on April 23, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Interesting post. I work for a company that tracks and manages gift cards, we blogged about the IRS stimulus a few days ago. I know there are different ways to spend it. I just want the readers to be careful about the scams that are out there. Also, don't buy into the retailers who are offering 10% bonuses. Consider this: Last year $100B was spent on gift cards and $8B was lost/unredeemed. My advice? Save it, put it towards debt, buy that HDTV you've always wanted. At least you can say that Uncle Sam helped you financed it.
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Posted by ( cyclist2 ) on April 23, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My check is going in my money market account. I'll use some of it to pay off credit card bills.
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Posted by ( lpcheermom ) on April 23, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm using it for savings account and a gas fund!! Once its gone its gone.
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Posted by ( wweflladeee ) on April 25, 2008 at 6:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
We have been told that we will be getting this free money. But I am the type that I can not plan for it until I have it in hand. The last time we got this money I was a single mom with 2 minor children and I got $300.00, (not much) Now it is just myself, so I will expect the lowest amount if any at all, then when or if I get more then I will be happy.Then and only then,I will plan what to do with it. I do know that it won't be enough to do much with at all.
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