What are you spending your stimulus check on?

By Hugh Fisher
Kannapolis Citizen
How will you spend your economic stimulus check?
Starting this week, the U.S. government is distributing payments of $600 and more to individuals and families as part of an effort to give the economy a shot in the arm. Seniors filing a tax return will receive $300.
The first to receive money will be those who chose to have their refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts. Paper checks will begin to go out to all taxpayers beginning on May 16.
Local residents surveyed last week stated a wide range of uses for their checks.
Some will use the payments to pay for much-needed medical care or home repairs. Others will spend the money on a summer vacation.
Sonia Leigh of Kannapolis is going to do both.
“I’m going to go get my eyes checked, and then we’ve got a vacation coming up to Florida,” Leigh said. “That’s going to help us out.”
Vessie Foster of Kannapolis said her family will use the funds for home repairs. “We’ve got to do a lot of painting and fixing floors,” she said.
Others plan to use the money to offset the rising cost of living.
“Mine is going where? Straight to my gas tank,” said Venitta Sparkman of Concord. “The gas I have to buy is $3.67 a gallon right now.”
Many of Kannapolis’ residents are torn between spending the money and saving it.
The purpose of the government rebates is to encourage people to spend money on products and thus encourage economic recovery.
Or, to put it another way: “My son said that to be patriotic, I was supposed to blow it!” Gloria Martin said.
Martin, a Kannapolis resident who works at Village Grill downtown, said that deciding how to spend the money would be tough.
“My dishwasher is ancient,” she said. “I’ve meant to replace it for years. But we’re also going to get a second TV for my guest room.”
In order to receive the payment, you must have filed a 2007 tax return.
But if you haven’t filed your taxes yet and filed an extension in time, don’t worry: You will still receive an economic stimulus payment as long as you file your return by Oct. 15.
Contact Hugh Fisher at 704-933-3450 or hfisher@kannapoliscitizen.com.