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Old 04-14-2008, 08:52 PM   #1
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Just blew my stimulus $

Hehe -- just returned from 4 days in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It was so beautiful, and the timing couldn't be better because we avoided a major snowstorm at home.

Even better, it was all within the $600/person stimulus package that we will hopefully get in a couple of weeks. (I know, shouldn't count on money that isn't in my pocket yet)

per person breakdown:
Airfare: $308
Hostel: $12/night (tolerable quality)
Theme park entrance: $65
Transportation by bus: $30
Food and other expenses: roughly $60
Total = $511/person

Had a great time despite the obvious cheap frugal choices of hotel and food. Snorkeling and beautiful beaches are free once you get there.

Anyway, care to share how you will spend your stimulus money, if you don't make too much money to disqualify?
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Old 04-14-2008, 08:56 PM   #2
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Sounds like a fun (late) winter getaway.

Had to laugh that a lot of your stimulus payment went to the Mexican economy. That's about as unpatriotic as ER!
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:06 PM   #3
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Did you by chance fly Mexicana?
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:08 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by GoodSense View Post
Anyway, care to share how you will spend your stimulus money, if you don't make too much money to disqualify?
I'm putting mine together along with my Fed tax refund to pay for us to go to Savannah, GA and Nashville, TN for 8 days at the end of this month. Plus a couple of day trips to Chicago with the our community college. One this week is "For the Love of Chocolate".....the title says it all! And the other trip is an architectural tour by boat on the Chicago River, along with a little bit of a walking tour. All of the trips include some very awesome food!!!
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:12 PM   #5
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My stimulus went to the Obama campaign fund

Great pics!
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:16 PM   #6
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I want one of whatever that thing in the last picture is. Providing its over 129lbs and good at home protection. Looks like a baby polar bear with a bushy tail.
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:20 PM   #7
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Had to laugh that a lot of your stimulus payment went to the Mexican economy. That's about as unpatriotic as ER!
Yup, but most of the consumer products in the US are made overseas anyway. At least I flew an American airline (which is apparently going out of business by the end of the month)
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:22 PM   #8
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Haven't got mine yet - waited till the last minute to pay the $1300 to the IRS - now I'll wait to get the $1500 stimulus
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:53 PM   #9
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Did you by chance fly Mexicana?
No, we flew Champion Air, which is a charter airline just for vacation travels. The ticket was a last-minute sale price. I heard rumors they are going out of business, but don't know for sure. The flight was on time both ways and no complaints.
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:54 PM   #10
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I'm putting mine together along with my Fed tax refund to pay for us to go to Savannah, GA and Nashville, TN for 8 days at the end of this month. Plus a couple of day trips to Chicago with the our community college. One this week is "For the Love of Chocolate".....the title says it all! And the other trip is an architectural tour by boat on the Chicago River, along with a little bit of a walking tour. All of the trips include some very awesome food!!!
Sounds like you will have a great time blowing strategically spending your money as well. Cheers!
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Old 04-14-2008, 09:57 PM   #11
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I want one of whatever that thing in the last picture is. Providing its over 129lbs and good at home protection. Looks like a baby polar bear with a bushy tail.
It's a coati and seems to be a hybrid between a polar bear, a monkey, a dog, and a racoon.

Why 129lbs? Is that the average weight of burglars?
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Old 04-14-2008, 10:10 PM   #12
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Seems I'm overcrossing threads.

Hmm, I remember some sort of beast called a coatamundi, I'll have to see if they're the same thing. That one looks a little more robust than I remember them being.
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Old 04-14-2008, 10:18 PM   #13
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Damn, I hate being a Canadian. Nobody sends me money. Enjoy!
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Old 04-14-2008, 10:30 PM   #14
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Damn, I hate being a Canadian. Nobody sends me money. Enjoy!
But you got all that free health care !!!!
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Old 04-14-2008, 10:43 PM   #15
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Anyway, care to share how you will spend your stimulus money, if you don't make too much money to disqualify?

I'd rather have the salary that disqualifies me from getting the stimulus $, but since I'm not, my $600 is going towards

-new motorcycle boots
-new leather motorcycle pants
-passport
-the Retired Gypsy's Never Enough Savings Fund


I think the boots and pants I want both come from Europe...so much for helping the American economy there.
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Old 04-14-2008, 11:07 PM   #16
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I'd rather have the salary that disqualifies me from getting the stimulus $, but since I'm not, my $600 is going towards

-new motorcycle boots
-new leather motorcycle pants
-passport
-the Retired Gypsy's Never Enough Savings Fund


I think the boots and pants I want both come from Europe...so much for helping the American economy there.
Sounds like fun! As long as you don't have to travel t o Europe to get there...that might crash the budget.
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Old 04-14-2008, 11:11 PM   #17
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Anyway, care to share how you will spend your stimulus money, if you don't make too much money to disqualify?
No stimulus for me- thus continuing my perfect record of one way cash flows between me and the US Government.

Ha
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Old 04-14-2008, 11:23 PM   #18
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Sounds like fun! As long as you don't have to travel t o Europe to get there...that might crash the budget.
I think for the price they want for a bit of cowhide, they should fly me out for a week's tour of the countryside.
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Old 04-15-2008, 04:42 AM   #19
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We were going to bank it, but DW decided to take a summer class in - get this - Business Ethics. Too bad they don't teach more of that. When she's done with that class, two more to go and she graduates with her BA.

There WILL be a party!
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Old 04-15-2008, 09:14 AM   #20
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Looking to spend it on a last minute cruise out of NOLA or Mobile (since we can drive there). Only thing holding us back is DH is so busy at w*rk right now! It really stinks when you've got the money but not the time. FIRE seems so far away right now!
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