Jeweledsunshine,

I think we are meant to feel this is free money because the point is to give the money to people who will spend it because the economy needs a boost. The OP felt that this rebate will not help those who need it but it's not meant to help us...it's meant to help the economy and they want to give the money to those most likely to spend it but also initially set it up where those people would also be giving it back to the IRS as well.

Brandy,

Yep, I agree.  Funny thing is, I have been asking around with people I work with/know and they have all said they are going to use it to pay off bills, and I'm one of them.

 I have been hearing people say they would use it to pay bills as well. But many will splurge on unnecessary things too, I am sure.

 " Senate passes $150 billion stimulus plan Seniors to get tax rebate, but no extension for unemployment benefits"

 Information from the IRS on stimulus package

Rebates: What You Need to Know 

Is it just me or does it seem the Gov. is "marketing" this stimulus package to a certain target audience?

Just "show me the money!" I have debt to pay down! Emergency savings to fund! I am sure NOT going to buy a HD TV or a new laptop or whatever else they sem to think we'll all go hog wild for.

I'm sure some people will....I can see my MIL blowing it all on gizmos, gadgets, and the like while avoiding paying her property taxes yet another year.

They are hoping we all spend it. It's theirfix for a sludgy enconomy.

They are in trouble with those of us here, eh?

Seems to me that we should be asking ourselves just where this money is coming from?  Our country is already operating in a deficit ( I'm sure we can all relate to that to some degree!).  Seems like the government should be concentrating on practicing frugality like most of us currently are. Regarding the rebate,  I have no intentions of spending any of it, just using it to take care of our "deficit"!