# I'm doing my bit to stimulate the economy. You? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762 "2009-02-06T23:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/21 "2009-02-07T17:03:24Z")
I’m with **fisha** , here. I’ve spent about six-nine months paying down debt with windfalls (consulting checks, freelance writing, teaching, etc). Both cars are paid off, the credit cards are now paid off and so forth. The only large monthly credit I’m paying is now the mortgage and $80/month for our new laptops. Beyond that… Converting the attic into a modern, high tech home office. Purchasing the house next door (about $100K value for $40K. It’s an estate sale.) Launching a new business in this town that serves locals. Launching a new business that will market nationally. Trying to get an economic development (long-term, low interest) loan out of the state next door that will: 1. Allow me to acquire a woman’s magazine that’s failing 2. Allow me to acquire a senior’s magazine following the owners death. 3. Expand the local business up there into a new market. 4. Hire four more people If it all works we’ll eat like kings! Get me: 1. Reduce personal debt 2. Expand corporate debt to expand business and marketing during a downtown. That’s the way you do it, baby. Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/22 "2009-02-07T17:26:23Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Trying to get an economic development (long-term, low interest) loan out of the state next door that will: > > 1. Allow me to acquire a woman’s magazine that’s failing > 2. Allow me to acquire a senior’s magazine following the owners death. > 3. Expand the local business up there into a new market. > 4. Hire four more people > > If it all works we’ll eat like kings! > > Get me: > > 1. Reduce personal debt > 2. Expand corporate debt to expand business and marketing during a downtown. > > That’s the way you do it, baby. Yeah! Damn! Looking for a freelance proofreader/copyeditor, by any chance? I’m writing a grant for the NIH, so I think that puts me in the category of “looking for government handouts”. But I’ve bought some very cute dolls on Etsy! Oh, and I hit a deer a while back, so the collision center is very happy with me, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/23 "2009-02-07T18:59:33Z")
I bought a brand new desktop computer and installed a really expensive graphics card. Definitely doing my part. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/24 "2009-02-07T19:12:51Z")
I bought [this](http://images.cars.com/main/DMI/175097/513.jpg) last weekend. Not that exact one, but like it. I’ve been a struggling single mother for several years, and my thing was to buy cheap, “disposable” cars every couple years. My last car was a 20-year-old Honda Accord, all faded and dented and scratched, whose AC went out at the beginning of last summer, which almost killed me (check location). However, the recession hasn’t been hurting me- in fact, I make more money and spend less on bills right now than I have in a long time. I used to live paycheck to paycheck until I quit smoking and didn’t need daycare anymore for my youngest. Now I start to panic a little if my bank account drops below 500, not including my savings. Savings! Yes, I finally have savings. So to congratulate myself on sacrificing all these years and driving Pieces Of Shit and quitting smoking and basically moving up in the world, I bought myself a nice car. I now not only have AC up the wazoo, I even have heated leather seats. Among many other conveniences. And the payments are low and for only 2 years, cuz I put a lot down. And it _goes_.🙂 I’m so happy about it I could just shit! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/25 "2009-02-07T20:12:49Z")
I bought a kebab yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/26 "2009-02-07T21:33:10Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > What’s the name of this wondrous product? If it’s sold down here, I’d be willing to fork out the money to help stimulate the Aussie economy AND improve the style-a-bility of my hair. It’s [Pureology Root Lift](http://www.drugstore.com/qxp138314_333181_sespider/pureology/root_lift_spray_mousse.htm), which, in addition to working so well, sprays on in a thin stream directly onto your hair. You don’t have to get it all over your hands. My stylist introduced me to it and I love it. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/27 "2009-02-07T21:59:15Z")
I haven’t yet, but in May I’ll be spending a stupefying amount of money moving to a new city (and possibly starting grad school), so I feel justified in my current penny-pinching. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/28 "2009-02-07T22:21:13Z")
Unfortunately for the economy, the sprog chose a Nerf gun that was much less expensive than the one he initially wanted. We also didn’t eat lunch at the mall, nor did we get him new clothes. So, thanks to my six-year-old, our bank account is still fat, but the economy is no better off. Robin ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/29 "2009-02-07T23:31:58Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > It’s [Pureology Root Lift](http://www.drugstore.com/qxp138314_333181_sespider/pureology/root_lift_spray_mousse.htm), which, in addition to working so well, sprays on in a thin stream directly onto your hair. You don’t have to get it all over your hands. My stylist introduced me to it and I love it. Thanks. I’ve made a note of it. I’ve never heard of it before, so I’m guessing it’s not available here. Still, I can continue to hope. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/30 "2009-02-08T01:33:03Z")
I bought a '09 Jetta SportWagen on new year’s eve. (My old car - a '99 Oldsmobile Cutlass - died.) I’ll be buying a new computer in the near future, a Dyson vacuum soon and spending a romantic weekend in Williamsburg even sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/31 "2009-02-08T02:06:39Z")
In January we bought a 50" plasma TV - in cash, we’d been saving up for it. Yesterday we got a leather couch, love seat & over-sized chair. There are five recliners in total. 😃 Same as above, we saved up and paid cash. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/32 "2009-02-08T02:08:41Z")
After deciding my old car had reached the point of not being worth repairing anymore, bought a new car last month. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/33 "2009-02-08T02:32:29Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Unfortunately for the economy, the sprog chose a Nerf gun that was much less expensive than the one he initially wanted. We also didn’t eat lunch at the mall, nor did we get him new clothes. So, thanks to my six-year-old, our bank account is still fat, but the economy is no better off. > > Robin Sure, **MsRobyn** , blame the sprog. 😉 Today may be the day I buy my fancy new oven/microwave/toaster combo machine! Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/34 "2009-02-08T02:59:05Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > Sure, **MsRobyn** , blame the sprog. 😉 > > Today may be the day I buy my fancy new oven/microwave/toaster combo machine! Maybe. He’s weird that way. When I’m prepared to spend more, he’ll choose something less expensive. When I don’t have as much to spend, or I don’t have it at all, he chooses the most expensive thing there is, then whines when he doesn’t get it. Anyway, we are now discussing buying a laptop for Airman. So there’s hope. Robin ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/35 "2009-02-08T03:08:49Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > He’s weird that way. When I’m prepared to spend more, he’ll choose something less expensive. When I don’t have as much to spend, or I don’t have it at all, he chooses the most expensive thing there is, then whines when he doesn’t get it. > > Anyway, we are now discussing buying a laptop for Airman. So there’s hope. > > Robin Weird kid _is_ weird. 🙂 I want a new laptop, too! I used to have the money for one, but then I paid off my credit card. ☹ Maybe when my paycheck comes in at the end of the month! ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/36 "2009-02-08T03:15:36Z")
I’m really tempted to go on eBay and see if I can score some cheap kimono.\* I’d probably be stimulating Japan’s economy though… - a bunch of people on the kimono board I visit got kimono or sets for 99cents! ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/37 "2009-02-08T03:42:32Z")
Only through buying groceries and paying my bills, currently. I used my stimulus check last year for a down payment on a used car (which doesn’t stimulate it as much as a NEW car, but it sure stimulated my personal economy to have a more reliable vehicle!) I’m expecting about 5 grand back in taxes this year, and I will be spending some of that (pay down the car loan, catch up on a few bills, new clothes etc…for the kids, maybe a few dinners out or day trips, but nothing huge…want to keep most of it in the bank since I’m currently unemployed and planning on going back to school. Want that cushion.) If I had a job, I’d sure be stimulating a hell of a lot more. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/38 "2009-02-08T04:17:09Z")
I’m closing on a condo at the end of the month ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/39 "2009-02-08T05:35:41Z")
I’m putting in a totally new kitchen–new cabinets, countertops and appliances, so I’m not just stimulating it, I’m making it ejaculate. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762/40 "2009-04-09T22:20:05Z")
Hope this thread is young enough not to be a zombie. I’ve added an Ikea tabletop style desk and a new computer. Turner, you’ve still got me beat, though. Is the new kitchen usable yet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-doing-my-bit-to-stimulate-the-economy-you/484762.md?page=3)