Stimulus Checks' "Woo Hoo!" Moments

Americans Show Off Their Rebate Spending, From Skydiving To Paying For Bail

(CBS)  You remember the line from "Jerry Maguire:" "Show me the money!"

Well, show Americans the money - $50 billion in government stimulus checks - and they will spend, CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace reports.

A short-term boost - but not likely to drive the economy out of the doldrums, because, according to a recent survey of consumers, 51 percent said they wouldn't spend their rebate checks. They'd instead save the money or use it to pay off bills and debt.

While some consumers are in a kind of duck-and-cover mode when it comes to spending their stimulus checks, others are taking the plunge ... literally.

At a time when economists fear the economy is in a freefall, Erin Rocha used her check to do some free-falling herself. She went skydiving.

"It's always great receiving a check in the mail. It's like, 'Woo Hoo, money!'" Rocha said.

She and hundreds of others are posting their own "Woo Hoo" moments on a new Web site called HowISpentMyStimulus.com.

There are tales of learning to play the guitar ...

"I used my stimulus check to buy my first guitar," said Jessica Musikar.

Buying an engagement ring ...

"I spent it on her," said Andrew Fox, pointing to his fiancée.

And saving up for a horse ...

"Probably in July, I'll try to find the horse of my dreams," said Rebecca White.

Uncle Sam paid for one guy's get-out-of-jail card, while artist Tom Toomey, who designs and sells T-shirts, was stumped.

"I could spend it all on flowers," he pondered.

He wrote a song called "The Stimulus Dilemma."

One line says: "I know I'm such a wiz / I'll invest in my biz / Let's stimulate the cat designs."

One man's bail money … is another man's business boost.

[omnibus66]

Most people I know are using their checks to pay bills and credit card balances. The people quoted in this article evidently did not need the stimulus money, based on their frivolous comments.

[michellem99-2009]

I used my 300 to add to my computer library, Vista. I use Home XP. That is not blowing it but learnig about an os.

[inventagod2]

I filled my gas tank...

Then I bought a small TV to watch the Bu$h/Cheney impeachment proceedings. Gonna be stimulating!

[galeigh0077]

BIG DEAL GAS GAS GAS
MILK FOUR BUCKS A GALLON SAME PRICE AS GAS. ONLY MORE MILES PER GALLON. THE REST ON BREAD AND EGGS.. 4 PORK CHOPS SEVEN BUCKS. THANKS "IS THAT ALL THERE IS"?

[michellem99-2009]

I have to use money wisely.. I told my new step Mum to file and I told her I got mine..She said go buy something ye want. Well I am not one to blow money and books are smart as they are my teacher. What ye do with yers is yer buniness.

[deniseclemen]

3 days ago I received the great news that I''ll be receiving $600. I needed it desperately for bills (no credit cards and no need for gas since I take a bus. So it''s just for the basic things that are necessities even tho I work full time...rent and food). Then the next day I received news that I''ll be seeing only $300-something because the rest of the amount was being applied to what I owe for 2007 taxes. Well, okay, no need for me to write a check to make that payment. I''ll just have to make do with the $300-something. Then today I received news that the rest of the amount is being applied to the 2006 taxes that I''ve been making monthly payments for. Well, Bush, so much for your "great" idea. It was wonderful while it lasted. It would''ve been such a big help for me even tho it wouldn''t have been for fun things.

[trenticus-2009]

I hear so many comments of what people were expecting then being disappointed when it was NOT what they expected. People, there is the ole saying.."Don''t count your chickens before they hatch." Why set yourself up for a let down? I''m thinking if it is true then great if I never see a dime , oh well. Didn''t expect it at all.

[jrobertpost]

I''m glad that some people are investing in their own businesses like TCat Designs! That''s what we need - more small entrepreneurs willing to take a chance!

[gmond]

IRS should have just let me keep the 600.00 I had to pay instead of forcing me to loan it to them.

[gmond]

I''''m glad that some people are investing in their own businesses like TCat Designs! That''''s what we need - more small entrepreneurs willing to take a chance!

Posted by jrobertpost at 12:23 AM : Jun 13, 2008

Yep, exactly what this country needs - more small entrepreneurs who will create more part time jobs with no benefits.

[lemonskink]

I refused mine.

[babooph]

Wallace & the rest of the rich rake in huge returns for 10 years & bluster about the suckers getting a one time pittance !!Propagandists serve their masters well.

[oneworldusa]

All going to retirement and college savings. Investing in the future.

[aznyron-2009]

as old retired man living in Thailand I did not get the last check I was told if your on social security
you don''t get one unless you paid taxes which I don''t
sadly if I got one I would spend here not in the USA

[carlylaine]

I chose to assist the economy and myself by purchasing beautiful leather boots and canvas western hat to match that I have never had the money to buy. I wanted to help the economy...I feel more magnanimous by giving aid to the economy than save for what? I''d rather get what I want than watch financial situations nickle and dime me poor again.

[honestabe8]

I am still waiting for my "woo hoo" moment. i come home from work every afternoon to see if it''s in the mailbox...nothing yet

[naucoming4u]

My "woo hoo" moment won''t come until Bush and Cheney are six feet under... pushing up WEEDS!

[naucoming4u]

However, on the rebate check issue...

...I''ll be buying myself a decent handgun in order to protect myself from the ensuing chaos that will take place around the time of the Great Depression Version 2.0.

(Coming soon to a town near you)

[slim1h2o]

I haven''t received mine yet. Maybe us CBS posters have been put on a "Watch" list, and won''t get a check for our subservient actions.

I''m with ya NAUcoming4U, on the weeds post. See? Why would Bushit give me/us any money, when we wish him death. But he deserves it though.

He has brought death and despair to us.

I find it coureous that not one of you nut jobs is willing to refuse the money or to turn it back over to the government. I''m still waiting for a check from a liberal democrat. Yeah right!

[liberalme]

How can you compete with people working for $59 a month in Vietnam?

Posted by mortal3 at 01:10 AM : Jun 13, 2008

Just keep buying those Nike sneakers!!

[liberalme]

I find it coureous that not one of you nut jobs is willing to refuse the money or to turn it back over to the government. I''''m still waiting for a check from a liberal democrat. Yeah right!

Posted by butchsao at 07

Ok so your complaining that the Repukes have sent the checks and in the next stroke of a key, complaining that the Dems aren''t sending you a check---easy to please huh?

Go punch a brick wall or something.

[sayso2]

Don''t know that I''d call it a "woo-hoo" moment but my stimulus check will go to paying the balance off on a more fuel efficient used car I recently purchased. No matter how you look at it, it seems either the banks or the oil companies will end up with most of the $$$. The banks pprobably need it but I''m not so sure about the oil companies.

[rhs648]

I chose to assist the economy and myself by purchasing beautiful leather boots and canvas western hat to match that I have never had the money to buy. I wanted to help the economy...I feel more magnanimous by giving aid to the economy than save for what? I''''d rather get what I want than watch financial situations nickle and dime me poor again.

Posted by CarlyLaine

As a young family man over thirty years ago, I got in trouble with credit cards. We owed more than we could comfortably afford. My wife and I stopped using all credit cards and began to pay off our credit debt. It was painful for a couple of years. Today, we pay cash for most things and pay off anmy credit card debt each month. In the credit card business, we are known as deadbeats. Today, we have a sizable savings and investment program which include mutual funds, money market accounts, and tax free municipal bonds. Hoping to retire comfortably in six years, my $1200 rebate check will be invested. This helps both me and the economy. I just received notice of the check and look forward to receiving it.

[texanforlogi]

Woo-hoo! I can finally buy some groceries!

[cattlekate]

Mine was about 1/2 of what I expected. I don''t understand...............

[gopack443]

I wonder how many oil company shares I can get for mine.
Thanks W!

[gopack443]

My girl friend used hers to stimulate the Chinese economy, she spent it at wal mart

[gopack443]

These "rebates" all come from borrowed money. That money has to be paid back by someone. It''s not a rebate it''s a forced loan! We will ALL be paying back a LOT more than were getting.
Thanks W!

[rhs648]

The stimulus checks are a collective concept designed to stimulate the economy, not provide direct aid to individuals. The thought is that by stimulating the economy,, individuals will benefit. From the moment this idea was conceived, naysayers have been critical. Where is the enthusiasm for trying something different? To speculate that something untested will fail is to doom it before it has a chance. Like other lessons in life, hopefully we don''t repeat something that doesn''t work. Doing nothing is worse than trying something new that might just work.

[hotpaulie]

the average American is a moron when it comes to personal finances

[gunshack1]

Checks to be mailed are sent out according to the last two numbers on your social security number.
00-38 checks have been mailed
39-51 checks to be mailed today
52-63 checks mailed by 06/20
64-75 checks mailed by 06/27
76-87 checks mailed by 07/04
88-99 checks mailed by 07/11

[sallyr3]

To our President George W. Bush..."Thank You!" We from Texas know what kind of leader you are and how you have helped the people. We are greatful for it. Those of you who are not, go ahead a send your stimulus back now. Stop complaining and do something to help yourselves.

[mizzbenita21]

Uncle Sam short changed me. I got $300 instead of $900. I guess my child doesn''t count to GWB.

[inventagod2]

Stockpile ammo...

[neocon60]

dump the dollar switch into the EURO...

[honestabe8]

gunshack: mine ends in 13. still haven''t gotten the check.

[mediamomma]

I''m using mine to pay for books and school supplies for my kid for the summer college program she''s going to. If I didn''t get that check, she wouldn''t be able to go. As it is, she got in on scholarship. I haven''t even added it in my checking account yet. Whatever is left is going to be used to help get my car paid off and for food. Those people using it to jump out of planes should have given their money to charity. Obviously they don''t need it.

[rhs648]

Uncle Sam short changed me. I got $300 instead of $900. I guess my child doesn''''t count to GWB.

Posted by mizzbenita21

Either you miscalculated, there was an error on your tax form, or the government made a mistake. Instead of blaming George Bush, try calling the telephone number on your notice of how much you will receive. Again, George Bush is personally responsible for everything that happens. How naive!

[rhs648]

I''''m using mine to pay for books and school supplies for my kid for the summer college program she''''s going to. If I didn''''t get that check, she wouldn''''t be able to go. As it is, she got in on scholarship. I haven''''t even added it in my checking account yet. Whatever is left is going to be used to help get my car paid off and for food. Those people using it to jump out of planes should have given their money to charity. Obviously they don''''t need it.

Posted by mediamomma

The rabate checks are for econimic stimulous, not aid to individuals or people with low incomes. Jumping out of planes helps stimulate the economy. People work at these places and airplanes and parachutes cost money. Is it fair to judge what peop;le do with their money? You or I might do something different with our money but it is up to each person to decide on how they use their money.

[michellem99-2009]

They have a site. I was just visiting it.
I got mine at the end of May. I got the paperwork in the mail some time back. I had gone thru a full name change to what my Dad named me. So the form was wrong/Ripped it up and printed a new one and wrote a letter,put a copy of name change order and copy of my ID card. I sent it off . Hang in there. I say if yer meant to get it yer will .

[bobnjersey]

[From the moment this idea was conceived, naysayers have been critical. Where is the enthusiasm for trying something different?]
[Posted by rhs648 at 10:00 AM : Jun 13, 2008]

the problem with this idea is that the money they''re sending to everyone is money they don''t have to give ... just like every other program they now spend new money on ... it''s all borrowed and will have to be paid back in some form. what''s the benefit vs. the cost to pay back? this will define if it an effective program or not.

you''ll never hear about it''s true cost ... only the marginal bump it provides as part of some fleeting economic statistic.

[newsjunky5]

This is a feeble attempt by Bush to put off bad news during his term. It goes against his policies in every way except that. Much the way Carter was blamed for the root cause of inflation, this will be passed on to the next chief executive. If he started that fall of the Dollar, why did Nixon try his famous Price Freeze. Remember that feeble attempt?

I''m going to buy Euros with mine, the Yuan is iffy.

[rhs648]

you''''ll never hear about it''''s true cost ... only the marginal bump it provides as part of some fleeting economic statistic.

Posted by bobnjersey

If the economic stimulous package jumpstarts the economy, it may means more jobs for people, businesses making moey, and lower unemployment. It may be difficult to measure the benefits, especially with the higher energy costs, food prices, and the housing slump. Government can do nothing or government can try doing something. Herbert Hoover chose nothing and Franklin Roosevelt tried different programs during the great depression. Some of those programs are still with us.

[piresh]

They make it sound as if everyone will be getting a check but go to the IRS website. I looked on there to see when I could expect my check, and found out I''m not. Supposedly I earned too much last year - hah! tell that to my bank account.

[avigil2]

To piresh: sounds like you have too much money which you spend on needless things. Must be nice.

[bretster7]

rhs648 said,
Again, George Bush is personally responsible for everything that happens. How naive!


rhs,
It is not naive, it is pure irratonal,blind, phsychotic, hatred. Pure and simple

[keithle1]

Stimulate this.

[keithle1]

Nothing Bush/Cheney can do will stop them from being rated as one of the bottom five Presidential administrations of all time.

[rhs648]

I expect an economic bonananza in about a few years from now..low dollar value..high foreign currency value means american prducts are cheap..instead of buying local asian or european products..ITS CHEAPER AND BETTER to buy american..means more production more production means more jobs more jobs means more money more money then more commerce more commerce...well you get it..NOW IF WE CAN ONLY ALIGN OURSEVES TO THIS..instead of those liberal restrictions imposed on american companies and businesses

Posted by libsluv2spit

Let us hope that your prophesy comes true. America has been through many economic slumps and cyles before. There is only so much manipulation that can be done to offset these economic cycles.