The American public seems to view this with a sarcastic eye. The WSJ online asked for reader feedback on the program, and most responses incorporated this tone.
"$600 is not going to boost my financial situation in any way. It's a good thing as far as free money is concerned, but it seems more like a mirage than an oasis."
"Technically, it's a wealth redistribution scheme. Why can't they just cut taxes and give people incentives instead of just free money?"
"I'm going to invest mine in a foreign currency since ours is becoming almost worthless."
"My credit card will be clean with my rebate. Boo ya!"
Maybe this will be the economic turnaround we are all hoping for, or maybe the government will look back on this and wonder what the f*!& they were thinking.
In the mean time, I'm wondering what I should do with the spare $600. I could save it, or I could pay off bills, or go down to Tunica. What to do?
Here's what $600 can get you these days:
Louis Vuitton Damier French Purse - $595.00
While they claim this is a "purse", most women know better. This is, in fact, a wallet with a pretty pattern on it that will probably outlive you. So while it might initially seem like a silly way to spend your cash, you will have it forever. Consider this an investment in style.
Nintendo Wii plus Mariokart and accessories -$650.00
The Wii will entertain you for hours, even days. While the Wii has been out for awhile, Mariokart was recently introduced, and it's a huge improvement on an already awesome game. If you have friends who like to compete and like video games, this is a sure alternative to going to the bar. I do not, however, recommend playing while intoxicated. You will not be good.One Round-Trip Ticket from Memphis to San Francisco - $600.00
Travel ain't cheap these days, particularly if you live in Memphis. We are being held hostage by Northwest and, unlike both Little Rock and Nashville, do not have Southwest flights. (Thanks, NWA!) So getting anywhere is nearly double what it used to be. The cost of fuel makes it worse. Considering the amount of money you'd need in addition to the cost of transportation, this is not a good spend. Pick somewhere you can get to in a 3-hour drive if you're eager for vacation.
Journey Diamond Pendant - $600 (actually ranges from $89.99 to $1,899.99)
Show your loved one just how much you love them with the most unoriginal, lame diamond necklace. Jared and Kay Jewelers have been promoting the hell out of this piece, and I'm sure many lazy, unhappy married men have purchased this for their wives. If you're gonna spend $600 on jewelry, at least buy something that your wife hasn't seen advertised on TV excessively, and just pretend like you know her better than this. Nothing says I love you like buying this necklace - "honey, I don't care enough about you to find something original, so this will have to do."
Four Shares of Apple Stock - $600.00
While Apple continues to annihilate it's competition, if it has any, the value of the company has followed the same pattern. They are always so far ahead of the curve, and they must house some of the most intelligent people in the world. Why buy an iPod or an iPhone when you could buy stock in a company that won't break 2 years from now? Four shares isn't much, but it's a start.
Two $300 Pre-paid gas Cards - $600.00
It costs me $50 to fill up my tank, and I fill up almost twice a week due to a half hour work commute. $600 in gas would get me 12 fill-ups, and pay for gas for 6 weeks. With gas prices at an all time high, and with my car using premium fuel, this is tempting. The downside is that after 6 weeks of "free gas", I won't have anything to show for it.
In the end, I'll probably use my $600 to check to pay my car insurance for the next 6 months. Boring, yes, but it helps free up my paycheck for other expenses. So State Farm, get excited, because my economic stimulus will be heading your way - Boo ya!
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