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What to Do With Those Economic Stimulus Checks?

This year in the United States, low and middle income taxpayers will be receiving economic stimulus payments meant to boost the national economy. Not sure yet what you'll do with your economic stimulus check? Consider using some of it to support a cause you believe in!


Photo by Flickr user kittykatfish Britt Bravo at Have Fun, Do Good has already provided a round-up of what various social-change bloggers plan to do with their checks. Many of them propose donating to nonprofit organizations, or purchasing goods and services from nonprofit-run programs.

Another initiative that caught our eye is the 100 for Justice campaign, which encourages people to donate $100 (or whatever they can afford) to community-based social justice groups. The website lists grassroots organizations in various parts of the U.S. that could use your help, and makes it easy to spread this message: "We could all go out shopping for plasma TVs and hand the money to corporations. Or, we can see this as an opportunity to give money back to our communities, support local economies, and stimulate the kind of world we really want to live in."

A more locally-focused campaign urges residents of Vermont to keep their economic stimulus spending within the state. At the Keep It in Vermont website, residents can pledge portions of their checks towards supporting social and environmental causes and local businesses. So far, for example, Vermonters have collectively pledged $33,706 to spend at locally-owned stores, $16,725 to spend at local farmer's markets, and $12,905 to donate to local nonprofit organizations.

Whatever you use the money for, we hope you're able to spend it on something that's important to you. If you have any plans you'd like to share, leave a comment below!