I just gave away all of my rebate - ASK ME ANYTHING!

[TexasBushwhacker]

I opted to stay local (Austin, TX), so

$10 a month to the Capital Area Food Bank
$10 a month to Mobile Loaves and Fishes HOW program for the homeless
$10 a month to Capital Area Planned Parenthood
$10 a month to Capital Area Mental Health Center
$20 for the next 6 months to Texas' next senator - RICK NORIEGA!

[DS1]

1. Why must you make me feel so selfish?

:D

No really, that's great of you! :thumbsup:

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. I am fortunate

...to live only 7 miles from work and drive a car that gets 30 - 35 MPG.

...to have just gotten a 4% raise (even though I don't make a lot of money, it helps me keep up with the rising gas and grocery costs)

...to just have me to support. I can't imagine struggling to support a family right now. It's just me. I can tough out just about anything. Hell, right now I don't even have hot water!

Anyway, I have no interest in "stimulating" an economy that Bush f*cked up!

[DS1]

5. I'm in a similar boat

I mostly stopped driving to work

I didn't get a raise, and the last one I got last year was shit anyway

I do just have me and my cat to support

but I didn't give away my check. I spent most of it on mixed drinks.

:D

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Biking instead of driving is the next goal

I'm in no way fit enough to do it now, but I'm shooting to be fit enough by November. We dress casual at work (if I show up in a dress they think I'm going to a funeral or a job interview) and we have showers, so biking is totally doable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Just PACE yourself... from a fellow biker

that is now biking everywhere.... it seems

[Triana]

2. Well. There's a cushy place in heaven for you for the first four, at least! n/t

[Hekate]

4. You rock

:yourock:

Hekate

[AlCzervik]

6. You are an extremely kind and compassionate human being.

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Zoigal]

8. Kudos to you, Bushwhacker

You are an inspiration. Haven't got ours yet, but will try to
follow in your footsteps. (Maybe not the same groups, but
similar.) z

[LucyParsons]

9. I live in Austin

THANK YOU!

:hi:

:applause:

[JohnnyCougar]

10. I love Austin

I just visited there two weeks ago. My friend lives there. I want to go back!

[cynatnite]

11. Would you please call the IRS for me and tell them to put a rush on ours?

We're slated for Jun 27th and I'm sick of waiting.

[Buns_of_Fire]

17. So far, they seem to be running about a week ahead of schedule.

Mumsy got hers last week, and the IRS site originally told her not to expect it until this week. She's happy.

I'm scheduled for around July 4. If I get it ahead of time, I'll be happy, too. So will Kiva.

[Ilsa]

12. May blessings rain upon you for your kindness.

You have the best priorities. Hugs to you.
Ilsa.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. You know, it's funny

The company I work for is pretty good about philanthropy, but there's also been some .... pressure .... for the employees to be more involved, ie. give money and volunteer, for this non-profit that the company set up. The company benefits indirectly, so the president asking us to subsidize his pet project just rubs me the wrong way. It did make me think about what causes I DID want to support though. Initially I used the money to pay down my one and only credit card, and that's still done, but then I thought about giving small amounts monthly and the magic $600 number and BINGO! I knew what I wanted to do. It was so fun deciding which organizations. I was just giddy!

[ConsAreLiars]

15. "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make,"

Here's a treat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLTFJiN8o-A

The Beatles singing that song with collages of their evolution from boy toys to enemies of the state.

[JackDragna]

16. I did the same thing.

I gave mine to Doctors Without Borders. Other people need the money a hell of a lot more than me.

[taterguy]

18. What's the best bike ride you've ever been on?

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. Oddly enough, I haven't had a bike in years

I'm really more of a walker, and I don't really care where I'm walking. I'm totally "in my head". I used to walk 4 miles a day and then 10K on Saturdays or Sundays (always took one day off). The thing is, I live 7 miles from work, so that's too far for walking (especially twice a day), but I could do it on a bike, once I'm in better shape. I figure if I get back into walking mode now, I can be in good enough shape (and less heavy) so that biking 7 miles would be possible when it starts to cool down in the fall.

[taterguy]

21. You could buy a really nice bike with a rebate check :)

Seven miles would be very doable on a bike depending on factors like weather, terrain, road conditions and employer's dress code.

So is it true that money can't buy love?

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. Uh, have you read the rest of this thread?

I gave my rebate money to charity. But a bike is still in my long term plan. Right now I'm too heavy to ride a bike (over 250 lbs.) I have to lose some weight and get more fit before biking anywhere will be an option.

[NNN0LHI]

20. You could have really used that money too couldn't you have?

I admire you.

Don

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. Are you kidding me?

I don't have hot water right now because I can take tepid showers in the evening because it's so freaking hot here, and I wash my laundry in cold water. Paying for gas for one HOT shower a day just seems like a waste. To wash dishes, I just heat up a kettle.

I'm still paying my deductible and co-pay for gall bladder surgery that I had 18 months ago, but I figure they can't put my gall bladder back in, ya know? So they can wait. They already got $8K from my insurance anyway.

I haven't had a vacation is 2 years.

But I know that when the economy sucks, the charities get hit even harder than the rest of us. This felt right, so I did it.

[NNN0LHI]

25. You are shaming me into doing the same thing because I know you are right

I should too.

Great thread by the way. Start more.

Don

[TalkingDog]

22. Hey, tell the world whydon'cha? : Post it Here!!

http://www.howispentmystimulus.com/

Some of these are funny, some sad. But a whole lot have the same attitude you do.

[TexasBushwhacker]

26. Thanks!

I did it!

It's interesting reading what other people spent their money on. There were the people that spent it on guns and ammo :eyes: and then there's the middle aged guy who spent it on "fees" associated with importing his "wife" from Vietnam. I guess loneliness is expensive.

[TexasBushwhacker]

27. Did you send one in?

Did you get some kind of confirmation e-mail? I sent mine in, but it hasn't been posted yet. I'm wondering if I need to resend it.

[TalkingDog]

28. Did not. There might be a contact addy on site.

We ponder our purchases (sometimes too much for my taste) before we make them.

Charities are a no-brainer. We pick a local one, do a smidge of research and send some money that will be used for the community.

Buying for ourselves is a WHOLE nother story.

Hope it gets worked out.