Rebate checks: How to spend 'em

Bartender, 37, Auburn, Maine

I was planning on getting some bills paid down and helping my son with costs for his senior year of high school, but now I'm seeing that since he was 17 before Dec. 31, I don't get any money for him. I'm a little perturbed that apparently the government thinks I need money for my 16-year-old, but that my oldest child costs nothing.

I'm a single mom and I was looking forward to being able to pay for my son's prom and senior trip. Now I'm back to choosing between that and my electric bill again, not to mention the deposits for his dorm room and classes for college in the fall.

I have $300 less to count on to get that done now. I really miss the possibility of ever being middle class. Now it's poverty or rich - nothing in between. I need the stimulus check but I'm wondering why the government is acting like we may have a recession soon when we are really full on into it already.

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