Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Get a Tax Rebate, Buy More Stuff, Create More Clutter

black cat in gray plastic storage bin

Should people really be encouraged to just take that check and buy more? My favorite commentary on this comes from Dave Coleman in a letter to the editor in the San Francisco Chronicle. It starts like this:
A $600 "stimulus" won't make much difference to the Americans I know. We won't be able to run out and spend it on more "stuff" because we don't have any more place for stuff. If the government really wants our votes, they'll provide free plastic bins for
our stuff and free storage places for the bins.
If you don't want to spend your rebate frivolously, Laura Coffey has some excellent suggestions on how to use that refund. Here's just one of her ten ideas:
Use your tax-rebate check to take care of some important car maintenance. Are you approaching the time for a 30,000-mile full service for your vehicle? If so, why not get that behind you?

[photo by ariedana / Dana Franks]

5 comments:

Leslie said...

My husband and I discussed this Tax rebate and what we should do with it. Well it just so happens that my PC is dying a slow agonizing death, so I think his dream of converting me to the wonderful world of Mac is going to happen sooner than we thought.

Jeri Dansky said...

Leslie, as a Mac fan myself, I can't help but think that's a fine way to use the rebate.

Blue Yonder said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Blue Yonder said...

In a related vein to Laura Coffey's article, the Don't Buy It campaign has some ideas for how to use your rebate - as well as a critique of an economic system that requires "stimulation" by shop-'til-you-drop consumer spending.

Jeri Dansky said...

Blue Yonder, thanks for that great link! It's nice to see this suggestion: "Donate your rebate to those working to end poverty, promote environmental responsibility, peace, justice, or equal rights for all."