Our economic stimulus money is in our savings account. Though we may have to spend it on vet services for our aging dog. But we certainly didn't go out and buy anything.

I STILL haven't gotten my check! It will probably go right to paying off my credit card when I do get it.

So there went half of my stimulus check. That doesn't count as retail spending, does it?

Is genuine new purchases vs. a reflection of increased prices?

What I mean is in: Apr 10 people bought cameras for $100 each and in May 8 people bought cameras for $130 each. Apr sales $1,000 May sales $1,040. Less people buying more expensive stuff = increased retail sales. That doesn’t mean an improved outlook going forward and still means more people pulling back.

For the record, my ‘rebate’ check went to savings and will not be touched any time soon.

My fiancee took an extra month in her job search, there went our checks.

(To be completely honest, though, part of it is waiting there to see if the iPod Touch gets a version bump and/or price cut.)

I learned from a smart economist a long time ago never to believe what people say about the economy. His contention was always that, if consumers have the wherewithal to spend, then they WILL spend, even if they don't say that to pollsters. Such is the splendor of the dismal science.

I'm against sloppy economic quick fixes (like the stimulus checks) because they effectively substitute for long-term, sound policy. They're little more than bread and circuses. I certainly acknowledge that the inflation in energy and food costs are a burden for the very poor (an expanded earned income credit would be a good idea to target that group), but the fact is that many Americans can, and ought, to pay more for these commodities.

What if we also exclude food, the other category that's way up in price? Are we then left with a 0.1% rise?

Is it possible that by the time the checks arrived people looked at the amount, then at the tens of thousands of dollars their house values had fallen, the price of gas, the enormous credit card debt they had amassed, and said 'the hell with it' and went to the mall?

I spent a lot of it in May, but both Spouse and I work two jobs. Four incomes, no kids, we have breathing room many other families don't have. In May we spent a chunk of cash updating the home we bought 10 years ago when it became abundantly clear we had no chance in hell of selling it for a fair price. Might as well make the best of it since we're not going anywhere. : )

The sky has been falling since I had my first job in the early nineties, at least according to everything I've read. As a result, Spouse and I made tough decisions to live well beneath our means. Our generation has heard since we were born that there would be no social security by the time we were ready to retire, so we planned to fully fund our own Golden Years. We don't carry debt (except the mortgage), we don't spend frivolously and we save at least 25% of what we bring home every month. Again, no kids, so it's a lot easier for us to do this than a lot of other families.

The stimulus check had nothing to do with our spending last month, however. When that check comes it's going in the Roth.

I'm not sure what the rules were, but I didn't get a check. Was there an income cap?

And what do you get ?

Less than zero when you deduct inflation.

I propose that everybody who posted his or her plans for the check, back when Andrew Leonard asked us... I propose that we all post what we actually use the checks for, versus what we said back then.

My check is not here yet. As far as I know, four factors cause later checks: 1. Mailed-in taxes versus e-filing, 2. Did own taxes versus using a preparer, 3. Owed money rather than getting a refund, and, 4. Gigh last two Social Security number digits.

I suffer from all four of these conditions, and no check yet. I believe the fanal checks are supposed to come out during July.

Have check. Looking for that party featuring aged scotch, hookers, blow and HDTV.

But it's still going into savings.

The checks haven't all been mailed yet. Based on the last two digits of my SS# mine will be mailed the week of July 4th.

And is it just me or is it fucking ridiculous that because I filed electronically I now hafta wait an extra 4-6 weeks to get the damn money in the form of mailed check when the IRS already has my direct deposit information since I've done the direct deposit thing for the past 4 or 5 year, including--oh, yeah--THIS YEAR. Utterly fucking inefficient.

2 college tuitions 2 cars 3 households 1 summer program, prescription drugs, bowling. Will barely notice it. Debt? Wouldn't cover one month credit card bill which is paid in full every month. I've got 5 cell phones, 3 cable bills.

And don't forget hipsters, this goes into your next years tax sheet as earnings so you will pay tax on it.

I spent mine on badly needed new eyeglasses. The rest (and more) went to a trip home for the funeral of a very close family member. If the trip hadn't been necessary, the remainder of our check was going into savings.

Pay no attention that violin playing over there. Your credit card is bigger than mine. Narcissism is forever!

I think that says it all. Bad economics often comes into play during an election year. Memories are short and you want to keep these kinds of things fresh in the minds of voters.

I don't think anyone can really look at anything that governments will do this year and expect it to look rational. Even in the good times it rarely makes sense.