This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: Got a rebate? The IRS has begun sending out more than $100 billion in economic stimulus payments to 130 million U.S. households. Here's what your windfall can buy in the St. Louis region.
For $300 (minimum rebate for an individual)
- Milk and bread for a year (52 gallons + 52 loaves)
- 8GB Apple IPod Touch (Circuit City)
- Designer dress and purse (Macy's)
- 5 tanks of unleaded gas (15-gallon tanks, at Wednesday's prices)
- 10 gallons of Olympic deck stain (Lowe's)
For $600 (maximum rebate for an individual)
- 3 monthly payments on an economy car (Kia Optima)
- 2 season tickets to the Muny (Terrace A)
- Casual dining table and four stools (American furniture)
- Nikon D40 digital camera and zoom lens (Creve Coeur Camera)
- 6 months of pilates classes at a student rate (Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis)
For $1,200 (rebate for married couple)
- 42-inch-deck riding lawnmower (Sears)
- Apple MacBook laptop
- 1 nonstop roundtrip ticket to New York for Mother's Day weekend, plus airport parking (American, economy class)
- 1 month's rent on a downtown loft (University Lofts)
- ¾ of a 42-inch plasma Panasonic TV. Sorry, but you'll need to come up with $399 more. ($1,599, Best Buy)
How will you spend your rebate?
