What To Do With Your Rebate Stimulus Check

In the blogosphere there is a lot of discussion about what people should be doing with their rebate checks that are starting to come out in May. Most people are talking about paying off debt or putting it into a CD or savings. Here are some other alternatives that you can consider when deciding what to do with your windfall:

1. Invest in Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) - These are pricier than regular light bulbs but will save the earth and your pocketbook from an untimely demise. Throw a couple hundred dollars towards changing all your light bulbs out and reap the savings in your power bill and longevity of the earth.


2. Fill your freezer - Your freezer doesn't run as efficiently if all you have is a tub of Chunky Monkey and a Tostinos pizza in there. Consider buying some meats or other items to fill your freezer so a.) you will have a fridge using less electricity and b.) on those weeks where you are short on cash and have little money to spare to buy groceries you can pull that rump roast out of the freezer that you bout 2 months ago and throw it into the crock pot and not have to worry about how you will feed your family this week.


3. Get an electric programmable thermostat - $100-200 buys you a regulator that you can program to lower the temperature when you are not home and thus save money over the long haul.


4. Invest in a low flow Shower head - Again no brainer here - save the earth and your water bill at the same time.


5. Replace all the filters in your house - New filters means the less your systems have to work to clean the air.


6. Buy energy efficient appliances - Yes your 14 year old Whirpool washer still works but do you think that thing isn't a water/electricity hog? Donate it to a women's shelter and get a highly efficient model to save on water and electricity bills.

Before you make any decision have all the options in front of you so you are well informed.