We will be paying down debt, but I bet Sears will sell a lot more HDTV's than other stores this week.

A local used car dealer is offering to double your stimulus check if used to purchase an in-stock car. There're better deals around than +10%.

A recent reader of Wise Bread, I've enjoyed many of the tips and found some I used right away.

My husband and I are still deciding what to do with our check. We thought of splitting it and buying what we want. The Meijer deal is intriguing as we always need groceries (and they sell clothing and other general merchandise, too). Also, if we buy the gift cards on our credit card we get points on our credit card. We're still negotiating.

Similar to Sears, Meijer had this on the back of their weekly ad this week:

Government Rebate Booster at Meijer

In case the link has changed, here is the text:

Government Rebate Booster at Meijer
Turn your economic stimulus payment into even more money.
Get $30, $60, $90 or $120 in additional rewards!
For every $300 in Meijer Gift Cards that you buy, we'll kick in a coupon for $30 off your next General Merchandise and Apparel purchase.
Maximum $120 reward.
Gift Cards must be purchased iwth credit or debit card, cash or personal check.
Offer valid 5/2-5/31/08.

"...but if you were planning to spend it on appliances, furniture, or anything else that Sears stocks, you get a lot more bang for you buck."

Provided that Sears' prices aren't 10% higher to begin with.

Like Rachel says, paying down debt stimulates people's personal economies. This could then allow them perhaps to use the money they're saving on that interest rate to buy things in the broad economy. Of course, this isn't quite the same. There is a reason it's "trickle" down economics, not "flood" down!

Our rebate is already accounted for in our kitchen renovation budget, so I guess we're in the "spend" camp. Sigh.

Jewel/Osco stores (in Chicago, at least) are offering a 10% bonus for every $300 of your check spent there.

http://www.rothrockchevy.com/ in the Philadelphia, PA region is offering to double your money if you spend your economic stimulus check on an in-stock pre-owned car.

Thanks because most news broadcasts outside the USA tend to give world news... the USA however seems to like to cover itself in its news and not much more. Yes I do realise some channels are different but when I was out there for a few months I still found myself having to go to www.bbc.co.uk/news to get some real world news.

Just beware that this "Stimulus" is actually a LOAN from next years tax refund.

The way that I understand this thing working is such:

If you will get more than $600 (I am single) on your federal return next year - lets say $800 refund, you will infact only recieve $200. Because you were Loaned the $600 this year.

The Benefit - is that if you were to recieve $200 return next year, then you get to keep the $400 as a bonus - But I am pretty darn sure that Uncle Sam will classify that is Income on the following year.

So - if you are like me - I claim no deductions, and therefore put a fair chunk of change away each month (not a smart thing to do - I know) but I always get $800'ish returned. I will only recieve $200 next year. So I will be getting with my Payroll department, and adding some deductions, that way - They take less money - but not too much - just enough to make it so that I claim the extra $$.

Oh well - they'll get you coming or going.

So far (2008 May 11) it seems that several stores or chains offer a ten percent bump if you buy their prepay card. A couple of used car dealers offer a 100% bump -- but when was the last time you knew the true value of something from one of them?

I do appreciate 10%, and work hard to achieve that kind of gain, but I think I'll hold out for a bit and see if a better deal materializes.

BTW I am not in financial difficulty, just parsimonious.

Duh!
No car dealer gives anything for free!

That last comment was directed at Paul Michael for what he said about people spending too much of money they don't have.

As for the payments being a "loan" from a credit on 2008 tax returns, that's not entirely true. Yes, the payment you receive in 2008 may very well affect your 2008 tax credit for this program, however, any money that you receive in excess of your eligible credit amount will NOT have to be repaid, and as far as I know, it will not be considered taxable income (although of this particular fact I am not absolutely certain). I am a tax professional, so I can say that if you have a question about ANYTHING related to taxes, you should rely on the straight dope from a qualified tax preparer or the IRS itself, NOT what friends and neighbors think might be the case (as well-meaning as they may be).