Did you know the government is "giving back" $107.9 billion dollars to US taxpayers in a couple of weeks? Of course you do. Everyone does. What are you going to do with your rebate? Here's what everyone else is doing (from Stores await consumer rebates)
$40.9 billion - going towards consuming.
$30.0 billion - going towards debt.
$19.8 billion - going towards savings.
$4.6 billion - going towards medical bills.
$4.4 billion - going towards investments.
$3.9 billion - going towards "other".
$107.9 billion
Thats an interesting number. Here is another one:$55 billion
That number represents the 2008 budget allocation to the Department of Education. Here is an even more interesting number:$657 billion
Which, of course, is the 2008 budget allocation to the Department of Defense and Homeland Security.So, in a couple of weeks we are all going to make a decision. We can go out and buy a Playstation 3, make a payment on our car, or put it away for a rainy day. But that would effectively be taking money away from education and giving it to Sony, Toyota, and Bank of America.
Instead, make the decision to use that money in a manner which would confound our Government. Use it to fund our education system the way it should be funded. Dont just help yourself. Make a statement. Tell everyone you know. Counter the groupthink that will persuade most people to follow the masses and consume something. Ill be giving "my" $600 in the beginning of May to DonorsChoose a non-profit organization that makes donating to local schools, and even specific classrooms, dead easy.
I hope this makes you think a bit about how you will be spending "your" $600. I hope you Don't Choose to consume.
UPDATE
So I've decided to change the way I'm spending my $600 (which I've already received). Instead of giving to DonorsChoose, I am going to give my $600 to Obama's campaign. The reason I decided to give to Obama was because in the long run, having a president like Obama will do more for schools than some money will now.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:20 PM Unfortunately, while hubby and I haven't even filed our tax return yet, the rebate has already been "consumed". Not on a big screen tv or Playstation, but $895 to tent the house for termites (bigger problem here in South Florida than in some other parts of the country), and $500 to fix yet another spontaneous roof leak (suspiciously about 6" from the one we just had fixed 6 months ago). Poof! So much for the rebate. I suspect that, as many as there may be, who are spending it on "luxury items", there are more who will use it to buy gas ($3.58 this morning at my local Citgo)so they can get to work to put food on their tables. I'm not disagreeing with you -- but not everyone can afford to be so altruistic.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:54 PM Well, for me, I have done without things for many years. I have now been without a tv for over a year, well not completely without one, I watch a small black and white tv that is around 30 years old. So I will be adding this refund to what I have managed to save up over the past year and I will be buying a big screen tv.
April 19th, 2008 at 02:57 AM Since my husband hasn't been able to get 40 hrs at work the last couple weeks I'm thinking some of it will have to go towards our Credit Card bill, but the rest will be put on our mortgage as we are trying to get that paid off ASAP!