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I am sure you are already pumped up about the fat check you are probably going to get from the government. You might have even gone shopping mentally for some gadget you have had you eye on. That can be a fatal mistake.

Now, I'm not trying to be a scrooge here, but the plain truth is, I am not really liking this government plan to try to stimulate the economy and pull us away from a possible recession by suggesting you barge out the door and spend the money at some local store. President Bush said, 'Letting Americans keep more of their own money should increase consumer spending, and lift our economy at a time when people otherwise might spend less.' I strogly suggest thatThe President needs to read The Fair Tax Book by Neal Boortz.

As recently reported in the Wall Street Journal, in December 2007, Americans had $944 BILLION in total revolving debt, most of it on credit cards. Spending with plastic cards has sneaked into every nook and cranny of American life. In the past, consumers put only discretionary expenses on plastic cards. Currently, most peopleare so strapped for cash that they use revolving credit cards to pay for necessities like groceries and gas just to make it through the month. That is economic slavery.

The government's plan might sound like it will work well, however,but I don't think it is a workable idea. In my opinion a much better plan is to use that rebate money to reduce your debt on credit card balances. If you have less debt, you eventually willwill eventually have more money to spend on things like groceries and gas. This is about basic survival for families like yours. There is not an economy on the planet that can flourish when families are buried under a mountain of suffocating debt.

Do you already have a plan for what you are going to do with your stimulus tax rebate? I'm supporting the plan of using your rebate to move toward gaining your financial freedom! Here's my best advice.

Do NOT mentally go shopping and spend the money before it arrives in your mailbox. Instead, plan out how you can spend the rebate to improve your financial condition.

Use the money to reduce your credit cardpay off debt. There is no good reason to go out and blow the money on 'stuff' when you can't pay for the stuff that's already sitting on your credit cards as debt. When you are DEBT FREE, you can begin saving up to buy that gizmo or gadget you have been salivating over.

If you are already debt free, then invest the money so it makes more money for you. It doesn't take very long before that $600 or $1,200 dollars can double or triple in value at an 8 - 12% return.

Allright, allright. If you just HAVE TO spend some of the money on a splurge item, then at least limit the amount you use by enjoying a nice dinner at a restaurant or buying that music CD or book you've been wanting. After that use the rest to pay off debt or invest for your future. The quicker you get out of debt, the more often you can do fun things with your income instead of spending sleepless nights worrying about how you are going to pay off those credit cards and get out of debt.