I-Reporters reveal what they would do with rebate check

(CNN) -- Stephanie Grosser says her husband thinks he will buy a plasma TV with the rebate check they may soon collect from the federal government. "He is wrong," Grosser reveals. Instead, that money will go toward paying off student loans.

The federal government announced that it may send checks of up to $600 in tax rebates for individual taxpayers who earn up to $75,000 a year; up to $1,200 for working couples who together earn up to $150,000; and, for those with children, an additional $300 for each child.

Gloria Estevez of Florida says that the money "Bush wants me to spend to get us out of this mess his administration got us into" is actually going to savings. New Yorker Alicia Stamp, however, would spend her rebate money on shoes and clothes for her children. CNN.com asked readers what they would do with a check from the government. Below are a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.

Anna Juarez of San Lorenzo, California
With the economy in the condition that it is in at this time, my rebate money will be in the bank. I have a son who needs braces so I will be able to pay off some of that cost with the rebate check.

Victor Aragon of Tome, New Mexico
I plan to spend it. It will help me pay for a new flat-screen LCD TV. I don't know how much this will help boost our economy since Sony and Samsung are Japanese and Korean companies.

Gloria Estevez of Pembroke Pines, Florida
I'm due to get $1,800 since I'm married and have two kids. Bush wants me to spend it to get us out of this mess his administration got us into. Well, $1795 will go towards funding my IRA account. Now the other $5, I will purchase a bag of pretzels and ship them to Mr. Bush.

Meredith Mann of Lynchburg, Virginia
If the rebate actually comes through, the money will be used to pay bills. I was leery about submitting this comment as the money is intended to boost the economy, but reducing credit card debt is more important.

Pamela Grigsby of Nashville, Tennessee
I am going to save my refund and use it to purchase gasoline since that is the equivalent to what I have spent for gasoline since Bush has been in office.

Jayne Gilbertson of Moorhead, Minnesota
My plan for my family of five is to renew our passports so we can spend government money in a foreign country of our choosing. Iraq has already gotten way more than their share, so we'll pass up that country.

Deb Nye of New London, Wisconsin
My clothes dryer just died, so I need to purchase a new one. I also would like to enroll in tap dancing lessons and some fun exercise.

Stephanie Grosser of Arlington, Virginia
My husband thinks we will spend our refund on a 42-inch plasma TV. He is wrong.

Really, we will spend half of it paying off school loans and the other half for airline tickets to go to a friend's wedding in California this July. We would have gone anyway, but I like to think the refund will pay for this so that we won't have to.

L. LaBella of Orange Park, Florida
I will use it to pay down the credit cards I have had to use to pay for gas, food, clothes and school supplies for my kids. I would like to buy something I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford, but the increase in prices has forced me into great debt.

Katherine Story of River Falls, Wisconsin
I would use mine to help pay my rent and buy some groceries. I'm a broke college student so this would be wonderful. (I) might also be able to go buy some more books for my library.

Gerard Guckin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Unfortunately, I make "too much money" to get a check. Apparently, paying your taxes consistently for almost 28 years puts you lower on the rebate list than someone who doesn't even pay taxes.

What a shame that the hard-working middle class gets screwed again. Way to go Madam Speaker. You really helped me out. Thanks for nothing.

Sue Kline of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
We plan on spending our rebate money on repairing our older car and truck, including new tires. Can't afford to buy newer vehicles so we'll fix up the old ones and keep them on the road as long as we can.

Alicia Stamp of Lansing, New York
A rebate check for our family will mean necessities for the kids (shoes, clothes, etc.), a couple of extra $ put toward our debts, and a paved driveway. I may even be able to begin some Christmas shopping!

Randy Donaldson of Phoenix, Arizona
I will put it in a savings account. Most people have forgotten that you will need to claim this rebate as income next year, which may raise the taxes you pay.

Adhis Boucha of Lehi, Utah
My husband and I are 33 years old, and we're saving the rebate for our retirement.

C. Daniel of Walla Walla, Washington
I seriously doubt myself or the people around me will actually see any "rebate." I think this is a stunt and very few of us, if any at all, will reap the "rewards." It's a joke.

Chip Bahn of Lewis Center, Ohio
With limited consumer debt and no home mortgage, we'll use the money to fund a portion of a family vacation in South Carolina.

Sherry Guerrant of Roanoke, Virginia
My husband and I will probably spend our rebate check paying bills. We have been affected by the mortgage crisis and are struggling to pay a mortgage with an 11 percent interest rate. We cannot refinance the house even though we have never once been late on the mortgage because 1) a developer is building new houses in our area that have had to be priced lower because they are not selling and it is bringing down the value of my house and 2) because we have sacrificed other bills to make sure the mortgage was paid on time our credit has suffered.

So sorry, we will not be using our check to stimulate the economy by buying TVs, video games or laptops, we have a home to save. E-mail to a friend