# What should I do with my Christmas bonus? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260 "2011-12-06T14:36:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/1 "2011-12-06T14:36:14Z")
Every year that I’ve worked here, I’ve gotten a holiday bonus of $100. At first it was a gift card of my choice at a list of online stores. Then it was an American Express gift check. Last year I got nothing, as I changed departments. This year, because we’ve done so well in the past year, everyone except per diem new hires is getting at least $100. I’m getting $500. Where can I put this good fortune to the most use? I was thinking of telling my manager to keep the bonus and hire two new people by the end of January. But new hires cost far more than that, and are hired by need, not by my generosity. I want to put this money back into the economy in the best, and perhaps most direct, way possible. What’s the best way to pay it forward? or I could get hookers and blow ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/2 "2011-12-06T17:40:28Z")
Put in a pool. If there’s any money left over, fly out the whole family to celebrate its dedication. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/3 "2011-12-06T18:14:47Z")
To do the most good with a small amount of money, consider making a microloan through a company like [Kiva](http://www.kiva.org/)(there’s others on the internet, you may need to do a little research). If you want to do good locally, spend it on local services like snow-shoveling or car-detailing. I’ve been whooshed again, haven’t I? You should also consider using the $500 as seed money to start your lucrative second career in pool-sharking or professional poker. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/4 "2011-12-06T18:21:56Z")
The Kiva thing sounds really interesting. I’ll have to consider it. I was also thinking about a site that matches your donation and feeds the poor. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/5 "2011-12-06T19:12:24Z")
I’m out of eggnog. Just saying, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/6 "2011-12-06T19:15:57Z")
You could run out of the building and give it to the first homeless person you see. 😃 But realistically, I think the best way to put it back into the economy would be to buy something from a mom-and-pop store in your area. Or a couple nights at an old-fashioned bed and breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/7 "2011-12-06T19:35:51Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > But realistically, I think the best way to put it back into the economy would be to buy something from a mom-and-pop store in your area. Or a couple nights at an old-fashioned bed and breakfast. I did think of both of these. But now I’m wondering how many hungry mouths I could feed. I recently saw a poster for a charity that claimed that a 1 dollar donation would feed 3 children for a day. Imagine feeding 1500! ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/8 "2011-12-06T20:26:44Z")
Is it bigger than you expected? …smaller? EDIT: Mooch, damn you! ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/9 "2011-12-06T20:37:43Z")
You could: Make 500 strippers yawn Make 100 strippers smirk or make 1 stripper really happy and love you long time, or at least until the end of her shift. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/10 "2011-12-06T22:21:42Z")
500 Lottery tickets. Dumbasses say the odds are 85 million to one - make that 85 million to 500! Then you can feed MILLIONS! Joe ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/11 "2011-12-06T22:23:40Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > 500 Lottery tickets. Dumbasses say the odds are 85 million to one - make that 85 million to 500! Then you can feed MILLIONS! > > Joe LOL I second this. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/13 "2011-12-07T11:27:13Z")
I believe the standard choice in such situations is hookers and blow. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/14 "2011-12-07T13:13:56Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Is it bigger than you expected? > > …smaller? > EDIT: Mooch, damn you! **tdn** could always get himself something _click click_ real niiice. (adjust) ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/15 "2011-12-07T14:19:43Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > **tdn** could always get himself something _click click_ real niiice. (adjust) Just leeeeett him finish… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/16 "2011-12-07T14:24:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > or I could get hookers and blow Lots of people feel alone and isolated during the holidays. You’re on to something with the hookers and blow idea, but I really think it would be good for you to make it more of a social occasion. Invite a friend to go with you; perhaps someone who’s been out of town and you haven’t seen for a while. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/17 "2011-12-07T14:27:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Lots of people feel alone and isolated during the holidays. You’re on to something with the hookers and blow idea, but I really think it would be good for you to make it more of a social occasion. Invite a friend to go with you; perhaps someone who’s been out of town and you haven’t seen for a while. Blonde, brunette, or ginger? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/18 "2011-12-07T14:31:56Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Blonde, brunette, or ginger? Cocaine comes in different colors? I love this place; I learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/19 "2011-12-07T14:36:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Cocaine comes in different colors? I love this place; I learn something new every day. Sad news, the ginger is not actually made out of cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/20 "2011-12-07T15:00:43Z")
Only 100 bucks? You can barely wipe your ass for 100 bucks these days. So that’s what you should do: wipe your ass with it. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260/21 "2011-12-07T15:17:28Z")
I was going to suggest a dopefest at Eastern Standard but then you started talking charities and now I feel selfish and ashamed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-christmas-bonus/605260.md?page=2)