# Stimulus check when you're still working **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 30, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674 "2020-03-30T15:40:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/1 "2020-03-30T15:40:59Z")
Just curious as to what everyone who is still working, presumably without severely reduced hours/pay, plans to spend their $1200 on. I think it’s an awesome idea to put that money back into a struggling community, and while I applaud everyone and anyone who decides to do that, the fact is there are a lot of people who could still really use that money. I wouldn’t ask for it, and wouldn’t be opposed to money ONLY being offered to those affected, so please don’t think I feel entitled to this money. I do not. What do I plan on doing with it? Finally get my car paid off for good (I’m about $350 away), and putting the rest toward a cc debt that has paid for car maintenance and repairs (and an upcoming trip I bought plane tickets for back before all this happened, including the car repairs). Whether I’m able to go in June remains to be seen, but I’ll deal with that as it happens. If you still have your job, or at least are able to make ends meet more or less as before COVID-19, how are you planning on using that money? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/2 "2020-03-30T15:45:39Z")
Possibly a donation to the Biden campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/3 "2020-03-30T15:52:33Z")
My wife needs more than $1200 in dental work, so we’ll be boosting the local economy as soon as the dentist reopens. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/4 "2020-03-30T16:08:21Z")
I’m investing in coffin futures. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/5 "2020-03-30T16:09:49Z")
When it was first whispered that we’d be getting it, I offered it to my friend who is a waitress with a mortgage and a car payment. But once the restaurants in Ohio closed and servers got unemployment…well, she’ll be getting her $1200, her husband’s, her kid’s $600, and unemployment and I think an extra $600/week (or month?) from Ohio so I think she’s doing just fine. Mine will go into my savings “bucket” i have set up for some home renovations I want to do this upcoming winter. I’ll be hiring local contractors to do it as planned. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/6 "2020-03-30T16:21:47Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > My wife needs more than $1200 in dental work, so we’ll be boosting the local economy as soon as the dentist reopens. Yikes - wishing her the best! I’m terrified of the dentist and honestly haven’t been there in years (although I know if work that needs to be done). I’m just that freaked out about going. Not only because of the actual work getting done, but the cost as well, especially w/ no dental insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/7 "2020-03-30T17:09:41Z")
I know it was given to us to spend to prop up the economy, but unemployment could hit 10-20% and who knows how long it will take for the economy to recover. so I’m saving mine. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/8 "2020-03-30T17:13:50Z")
It’s going straight to credit card debt. We’ve been working diligently lately to get it all paid off, and we’re lucky enough that we don’t need the stimulus money for day-to-day expenses. We’re already doing what we can to support local businesses. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/9 "2020-03-30T17:14:51Z")
If we get anything from this deal, we will be spending most of it if not all of it at local restaurants getting take-out. It may not make a difference in their survival, long-term, but what else can we do with it? - it is supposed to be spent in your community, not saved. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/10 "2020-03-30T17:16:57Z")
Mine will go to pay taxes due with my 2019 return. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/11 "2020-03-30T17:23:43Z")
The majority will go as a donation to the small museum where I work. We’re at high risk of shutting down permanently if we remain closed much past beginning of June. The remainder will go toward paying down a credit card bill. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/12 "2020-03-30T17:26:48Z")
To help our friends and gig employees who are at more economic risk. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/13 "2020-03-30T18:05:13Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Mine will go into my savings “bucket” i have set up for some home renovations I want to do this upcoming winter. I’ll be hiring local contractors to do it as planned. I already got my renovation supplies a few weeks back before the “staycation” orders were issued. Now I’m waiting to see if I get laid off next month longer than the 1 week planned. Or if I have to stay home “out of an abundance of caution” without sick days. If I don’t or can’t get tested, I can’t claim A&S benefits either. If not the CC bill came in Friday for the supplies so those get paid first. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/14 "2020-03-30T18:14:26Z")
If we get a check we’ll probably owe it on our 2020 taxes. 2018 was a decent year and we’d qualify for a reduced payments amount, 2019 was a bad year and we would get the whole thing but 2020 is shaping up to be our best year ever so my understanding is we’ll have to pay back the amount we shouldn’t have gotten. So we’ll put it somewhere safe until we’re sure if its our or not. Since it looks like we’re going to sell our house before 2020 taxes are due we might use it to pay down our mortgage. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/15 "2020-03-30T18:20:03Z")
Why do I have to spend it at all? It’s just another number in a column. If, at some point in the future, I find myself with more money than usual I may spend it on something I hadn’t planned on spending it on, but why do I have to tie my income to my expenses on a one-on-one basis? ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/16 "2020-03-30T18:30:12Z")
Most of it will pay off the cost of the root canal I had two weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/17 "2020-03-30T18:30:38Z")
I’m retired and don’t need the money. It will either go to my kids (depending on their work situations), to Meals on Wheels, or to some other charity like a food bank. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/18 "2020-03-30T18:35:45Z")
I’m preemptively buying another computer. Gonna start gaming with the wife again with all the downtime. Arrives in 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/19 "2020-03-30T18:41:58Z")
My $1,200 will go all towards paying off credit card debt, and whatever left over, goes into savings. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674/20 "2020-03-30T18:49:45Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I know it was given to us to spend to prop up the economy, but unemployment could hit 10-20% and who knows how long it will take for the economy to recover. so I’m saving mine. Same here. My check won’t be stimulating the economy in any sense. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulus-check-when-youre-still-working/850674.md?page=2)