I've heard a free market economy likened to fire. If contained and regulated, it can be of great benefit. But uncontrolled and unconstrained, it can destroy everything in its path.

Tax Rebate Incentive Checks
 

On word


TV

Of course I will need to put up the other $1,000 to get the 52" flat screen LCD, but it's a start. I'm such a simplton. ;)

(I feel like I'm derailing this thread a bit......)

KB and CPs posts are both way to long to quote, so scroll up for a refresher.

In the mean time, the rental market has gone sky high, demand is rising as supply is waning because it's being flooded with people who are losing their homes. People in the real estate and lending industry are being laid off, as are people in the service industry. How many of those will be able to pay their rent or mortgage for longer than a month or two? Savings is at an all time low while debt is at an all time high in this country. Where are these people going to go when they can't make rent or their mortgage payment?

We also have a hiring freeze. People are being overworked, stressed out and the it trickles down in to effecting home life. Our clients are putting more pressure on their employees and ours to cut down on costs while expecting the same level of service they received before we laid off 25 people (small company, that's a lot). Two of our competitors are about to go under. I work in a specialized industry (my company, not my position). What will happen to those people?

It's easy to say you're (general, not just Kevy) affected by this. But we all are. We're all in this together. The choices that other people make about their finances will effect us all. If enough people choose to stop going to eat at the favorite hole in the wall around the corner it's going to go out of business. What will happen to those people? The trickle down effect from this mess scares me.

I keep reminding myself that I did the right thing. I'm paying off a debt. I'm paying off a debt.
:)

I just talked myself out of using mine for an HDTV.

No, no, no! It's patriotic to spend, spend, spend! Our president told us so.

Perhaps you could spend in on a donation to the Obama campaign.

Call me: I'll talk you back into it.

Me too. :D

I just talked my self out of the 52" HDTV.

I think I'll go with the 42". I just measured my old Tube TV, and found that it is only 27". And the 42" will be covered by my insentive check, and in fact Howards TV will take an additional 10% off if I use my check there.

After reading all the posts and explanations I have no idea how much I'm getting or when. My plan is to put whatever money I get in my puny little "saving for a new car" savings account.

I find it disturbing that we have an economy that seems to require that we buy stuff to keep it healthy. And by buying more stuff we use up more resources and pollute more and put our future in jeopardy. But if we're prudent and stop buying so much junk the economy will crash. At least that seems to be how it works.

The latest This American Life is devoted to trying to explain how we got into the current credit crisis. It's the most coherent explanation of an insane situation I've heard, a great program. Check it out.