A Teaching Moment

Last Thursday Congress passed a rebate plan that will send checks to Americans in late spring or early summer. The typical family of four will receive $1,800 in “rebates” as a move to either spur the economy or get people elected or both. For now, we’ll set aside the issue that the government is just giving us back what was rightfully ours in the first place. Instead, we’re focusing on four things we’d like to see Americans do with their refund checks that will provide meaningful impact to the economy:

1. Pay down your credit card debt
2. Use the rebate for closing costs to refinance your risky home mortgage
3. Pay down your home equity line which you used to finance your Brazilian cherry floors and granite countertops
4. Make a couple extra Hummer payments

And because we care about you so much, here are four things you definitely should not do with your refund check:

1. Cash the check for 1,800 singles and head to a strip club
2. Lay it all on the Jets in ‘08
3. Spinner rims on the Pinto
4. Two words: “All in”

You’re welcome.