So in May most taxpayers will be receiving a few hundred dollars in “economic stimulus” to attempt to fend off a recession.  Sure, who doesn’t want an “extra” 300 or 600 dollars in their account?  Heck, some families will get easily over $1,000 because having a kid is worth another $300 a pop.  The catch is that this check from the government is an advance on your tax return for next year.  Is money now worth more than money then?  Certainly to most citizens it is.  But i wonder what the effect on our federal finances will be.  We’re neck-deep in another fabricated war.  Unlike a “real” war when the nation is called on to help manufacture tools to fight and urged to be frugal to save resources for the nation, we’re being urged to spend money at the mall.

I feel a lot better this year about my taxes because i am receiving a refund.  Last year it was pretty disheartening to know that my money was going to killing people.  Knowing that i might have to pay back some of the $600 that i receive and realizing that we’ll probably still be fighting makes me want to ensure that my deductions are maximized for next year.

I, for one, won’t be using the economic stimulus money to stimulate the economy at all.  I’ll be throwing the full amount at a credit card balance which will pull $600 out of the coffers of a bank charging me interest (well, by that time i’ll be working on my 0% interest debt – but they are counting on me carrying it until they can charge me interest).