Stimulus Checks' "Woo Hoo!" Moments

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





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Spending The Stimulus

The government has distributed $50 billion in stimulus checks to American taxpayers. But as Kelly Wallace reports, this short-term boost will do little to help the ailing economy. | Share/Embed


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(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.






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