OT: Stimulus checks
I know that about 95% of the people on this internet message board make well over $200,000 per year and will not be receiving a check; however, for those who are going to receive one, what are you going to spend it on?
Regular household bills? A $1200 MDen shopping trip? Still employed so throwing it toward the mortgage or splurging on a Macbook? Booze and drugs (joking)?
Anyone wake up to a deposit in their checking account?
After living in TX the last 11 years, I'm using it on a cross-country move back to west Michigan, where I spent my first 26 years...looking forward to seeing leaves changing color, 4 seasons, bugs not bigger than my pets, and sub-130 heat index in the gridlock summer. Snow may get to be a bear, but thats life/grass is always greener -
As a remote CPA I have many contacts on the Economic Stimulus front, and most SSI/SSDI began receiving them Thurs/Fri. I had suboptimal income in 2019 - aka not over the AGI phaseout amount - and have a pending notification, funds will be available effective Wednesday.
Looking forward to many more trips to the Big House, and returning home. GO BLUE
Just moved back to the Midwest (Indiana) a couple of years ago from Dallas, couldn't be happier with the decision. It was our second stint in Texas and it's just not for me. Still work for the same company in Texas remotely too.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
I moved to south texas almost 2 years ago and you're not kidding about some of the bugs down here...... holy shit sometimes it's like jurrasic park.
I definitley do not miss the grey clouds from up north though. Getting more sun has been great for me.
In Southeast Michigan we basically had two bad snowstorms this winter - one in November, one in February. Otherwise just a dusting here and there. This was a milder winter than usual, but most years it really isn't that bad - and our cities actually know how to plow streets when it comes down, unlike in the South.
To me the much worse thing about winter is the darkness. Going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark, that's the thing that gets me. On the flip side, we do have super-long summer daylight.
I live in Houston and although I miss the midwestern weather, damn do I love me some HEB and year-round BBQ'ing on the back patio.
I've been thinking about how we can spend ours here in our small town. Sure, we could buy a bunch of stuff on Amazon and give Bezos more money that he doesn't need, but I want to stimulate my local economy. We are already eating take-out once a week to help out the handful of restaurants here in town. We rarely eat out during normal times as we both enjoy cooking our own meals, so that is a change we've made. I'll probably buy garden supplies from our local hardware store instead of going to Menard's fifteen minutes away. Plus I'm doing more of my grocery shopping at the store here in town instead of going further to Kroger or Meijer. Little things I hope will add up for our local small businesses.
My wife's hospital has bungled many aspects of preparing for the 'Rona (each person in the hospital has ONE N95 mask), the one really cool thing they did is making massive catering orders on a rotating schedule from 10 nearby restaurants. This allows them to keep most of their cafeteria workers at home.
The restaurants (all are locally owned, and only one is a chain restaurant),are so grateful for the business that they have been donating party platters to the hardest hit floors (ER, ICU, and Geratric Mental Health) whenever their day comes up. It's been a really cool thing to see the community come together like this.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
That’s a pretty cool idea and nice to see how well that’s worked out.
It is.
Personally, I'm too leery of a restaurant worker having it but no symptoms thus contaminating the food. The only take out we have been willing to risk is soup, which you can just heat back up and be pretty certain it's safe.
Just seems like a real weak link in the process to me. But everyone has to do what they're comfortable with.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
If there is a farm share/community supported agriculture (CSA) program where you live you might want to consider joining. A great way to get local healthy produce (and sometimes other things like bread, meat, dairy). And I think a lot of small farmers are really hurting right now because so much of their business has been used for farm-to-table restaurants, which of course aren't buying the produce anymore. We actually have a thing nearby for local fishermen, which we may do this year.
Since me and my wife are lucky enough to keep working, my plan is to hoarde my money to battle the impending wave of inflation that is just about to smack us all. That, and I am getting a new battery powered weed whacker.
If you're still expecting inflation wouldn't hoarding your money be the worst option? Maybe invest in something that will rise with the inflation?
Yes, and the immediate problem is going to be massive deflation. Inflation is going to be something to deal with down the road.
Well, that's kinda what I meant. We use an investment app, and we are planning on putting a good chunk down using that.
I love mine. The head spins sideways to work as an edger. No priming, no fuel, no cord pulling, no noise.
We have one now, and I love it. However, the batteries are almost 10 years old, and there are really only cheap Chinese knock-offs that are way over priced. It is actually cheaper to buy a new trimmer with newer batteries than it would be to buy two new batteries for the older system.
If consumer spending goes in the tank (I guess that's not an if, but more of a fact) and stimulus money can only partially fill that gap (2 trillion isn't even 2 months of normal US economic activity), where does the inflation come from? Medium to longer-term inflation isn't a given either if the fed unwinds things properly, which is admittedly tricky, but certainly can be done. The inflation hawks could not have been more wrong about the last financial crisis.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
I am actually worried about a short term inflation burst that will come later this summer (hopefully). I could be wrong - hope I am- , but if people are loosed from their houses in the middle of summer, I could see a massive uptick in spending; I am not sure we will see the same level of output for a while (especially with the looming sanctions against China).
Based on everything I have read, I expect some good old fashioned stagflation at the end of this year.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
Ya, I think stagflation is definitely on the table. I suppose it's just not quite my expectation at this point.
With oil at $20 a barrel there will be no inflation....with 20% unemployment, no inflation. They can pump as much money as they want but if it doesn't get spent, there will be no inflation.
Only way we get inflation is if the next administration realizes China is not our friend and enacts laws that bring manufacturing, en masse, back to the US. I'm not holding my breath.
You mean if the current administration is re-elected correct? No way are Bernie and Sleepy Joe are going to fight this battle.
April 13th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
I have the E-Go and i love it fyi
It will simply go straight into the emergency fund to continue to pad that. We don't know what 3 months from now will look like.
Don't blame you whatsoever and I'll likely do the same, but from a policymaker/economists perspective this is exactly what they hope you don't do with your stimulus check.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:11 AM ^
That is our plan as well. We have a small emergency fund but nothing to keep us going for several months. Have not yet seen our stimulus deposit and we are nowhere near the limit. Guess we're just down the pecking order.
I imagine some people are in a similar position--getting the stimulus money because they don't earn a ton, but also keeping a regular income (for the moment). So I am thinking save some of it, use some for day-to-day expenses, and then also use some targeted at companies and organizations that are facing increased need right now. Here are my ideas:
1) purchase some gift cards for local businesses.
2) donations to local charitable organizations.
3) donations or memberships to cultural organizations or other non-profit museums, historic sites, etc. Those places rely heavily on admissions, which they are not getting at the moment. They contribute to a positive standard of living, so it would be great to keep them around. (Full disclosure: my wife works at a non-profit historical organization.)
April 13th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
Wait, I thought you needed to be a millionaire for that? I was misinformed.
April 13th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Depends on the chicks.
Nothing changed for my wife and I at all for work, so we are still bringing home the same amount of money we always have. We have been lucky that way. With that said, I’ll be spending my stimulus check on a PRS guitar from the local music shop. We’ll be using hers to help pay for a new back patio at our house that we’re having a local guy from our church put in for us.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
I always wanted a McCarty hollowbody in whale blue. Such a beautiful guitar.
April 13th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
My man! Those McCarty’s in that blue are a fantastic combination. This is what I have right now: 
April 13th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
Very nice! Buddy who I played in a band with had a PRS solid body that was beautiful, but sadly had to return as he never could get the action right on it (I think it was the action - I'm a drummer who only knows how to play some rythm guitar, so not super knowledgable on guitar stuff). Even sent it in to PRS to work on and no matter what it would always buzz at times. Ended up getting a LP standard instead.
April 13th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
All of my stuff right now is semi-hollow but the one I’ll be purchasing today is a solid body. I’m excited for it as I’ve only had semi-hollows even in my non-PRS guitars. The one today is going to be a PRS Paul’s guitar with TCI pickups. I am also a drummer first and foremost, so the guitars don’t get as much playing time.
Very nice!! Not to thread hijack, but I recently acquired a DGT and can't get enough of it! How are the PRS acoustics? I am looking for a decent acoustic for my kids.
Man I love my PRS acoustic. I would highly recommend it to anyone that was looking at one. They have great sound. The guy who plays in a band with me plays a Taylor and I would compare it favorably to that. Of course the finish on PRS acoustics are top notch and the birds are a nice little touch that can't go wrong with the kids. When I see the PRS birds, I immediately think quality and it just feels good to play. The acoustic hasn't disappointed in that regard.
Nice! I'd love a PRS. I've been looking at those recently, but I can't justify a new guitar.
Here is some of my collection. Vintage MIJ Washburns. Early 80s made at the Yamaki, Matsumoku, Terada and Fuji factories are the best values in used guitars available today. Vintage wood. Top notch luthery. The HB35s rival Gibson 335s at a fraction of the price. Also my 1990 Telecaster Deluxe Plus, which was my first professional guitar. Its a rare model that has some value as Johnny Greenwood plays one, along with the guys from Widespread Panic. I have some other guitars also...too many to play at one time.
A modern Paul Reed Smith would fit perfectly with these oldies.
I'm going to disagree that "about 95% of the people on this internet message board make well over $200,000 per year". A fair amount of people with two-incomes will, yes. But I suspect that probably 50% of two-income households will still be below $200K. This place seems to have had a large influx of MLive 'contributors' over the last couple of years. Shit posting is one thing, but the grammar and spelling in a LOT of posts are just terrible! If nothing else, the number of people that use the word 'cause' incorrectly makes me vomit in my mouth. 'Cause' is a word, it is NOT a short form of 'because' - you friggen mouth breathing heathens!
And that is my decidedly unscientific, one-sided view of things.
I have one income, so I will receive a direct deposit, but it will not be for the full amount.
I was kidding. Making light of the fact that people tend to inflate the truth on the internet.
I wouldn't be surprised, though, if there were a lot of high income earners on this blog given the education/age/location profile of the readership.
I certainly agree that there are a lot of high earners here. But $200K is a fairly steep hurdle in most parts of the country. I live in VA, ~50m south of DC. Here, two incomes mean more than $200K for, probably, 70% of the population. I doubt that's the case in SE Michigan, though, and for the vast majority of more rural areas.
Anyway, I plan to spend mine on replacement decking for my back deck. I want Trex, because wood requires more maintenance than I care to do (paint every other year). Unfortunately, several of the current boards have/are rotting through (it's 14 years old).
Yeah, my deck is in rough shape too and it's tempting to get it redone. Got some quotes on a fix for it last year and they were exorbitant. I think contractors were just throwing huge numbers at the wall and seeing what stuck. Kinda annoying but that's supply and demand for ya. May have to check again now that demand is down.
That composite is not cheap. I plan to save for a few years as I'm expecting my quote to be 15-20k for our deck. Especially since I can't say no to upgrades...
Woof.. my wife and I are going to do a composite deck. I work for a company that provides decking and I can purchase it at cost.
When priced out it is only 1000 more roughly than an all wood deck. We are making a massive addition to our current rotting wood deck.
A friend of mine is going to install the composite and ill help where i can, should be about 3 to 4 k once we pay him for the install plus materials.
I am pretty lucky to be able to save a lot working at a supplier.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
This place seems to have had a large influx of MLive 'contributors' over the last couple of years. Shit posting is one thing, but the grammar and spelling in a LOT of posts are just terrible!
Agreed. To those who'd grumble about a post like this, watch "Idiocracy" sometime. There are coarse idiots at *all* levels of our society and it's getting worse.
Buying 1,200 McChickens, if only because my friends and I used to value things based on McChickens instead of dollars and I want to know what that amount of McChickens actually looks like.
Got mine
April 13th, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
People pay for porn?
