Much has been debated about the size of the second set of stimulus checks distributed to Americans amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. After all, with millions of people in the United States out of work, severely underemployed, and behind on rent, there’s a lot of emotional weight behind any argument about whether the second round of stimulus checks is too much or too little. While it remains to be seen whether or not Joe Biden will pass larger relief packages once he’s sworn in on January 20, 2021, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t options on the table for you even with your $600 stimulus payment.
While $600 certainly won’t cover a month’s worth of rent (or any back rent payments you might owe), there are still a variety of ways that you can put that money to work. Of course, saving the money isn’t a bad idea, and many people across the country will likely do just that, socking their check away in a savings account or even investing it in the stock market. While those are totally sound choices for using your stimulus check, the items on this list are a little more fun or unique than the typical advice you might receive from other personal finance pundits. Read on to see a few different options that might be enticing to you if you’ve just deposited your stimulus check from the IRS and are otherwise in a sound financial state.
Spend some of your stimulus on upgrading your tech setup.
With so many people spending time working from home, your existing computer or laptop might be on its last legs from overuse. The same could be said about some of your tech accessories, whether it’s a keyboard, mouse, router, or even external storage devices. One inexpensive thing to spend some of your stimulus checks on is a portable USB drive or hard drive, which can help you keep your business documents and files separate from your personal files on your laptop or computer. Even purchasing a Western Digital WD my cloud 2TB external hard drive can be an effective way of increasing your storage capabilities without spending too much money. That leaves you with extra money to spend on other items on this list or put towards groceries or savings.
Fix up your home while you’re spending more time there.
Another great way to spend your stimulus check is on some necessary maintenance around the house. For a family of four, the stimulus checks are $600 for each adult, as well as an additional $600 for each dependent. That equals a total payment from the IRS of $2,400, which can go a long way when spent wisely around the house. For example, if you’re trying to renovate a few aspects of your kitchen, while $2,400 won’t cover a complete remodel, it can go a long way towards fixing things up.
Part of spending your $2,400 wisely around the house involves being smart about the areas you use and what you spend it for. For example, rather than replacing every appliance in your home outright, it might make sense to do this piecemeal. As such, you might look for a local company that can repair your refrigerator, oven, or dishwasher. Searching for appliance repair in Bend, OR‚Äîor whatever area of the country you live in‚Äîcan help you find quotes to pick an affordable repair service with technicians with years of professional experience. You don’t have to live in central Oregon to find a pro to help with your appliance repair, either; there are plenty of competent appliance technicians across the country.
Save some money towards a future trip with friends.
While many people are saving their money towards all kinds of things, no rule says you have to keep your stimulus check-in a long-term investment account. In fact, saving some money towards a vacation and making plans with your girlfriends could be a much better use of a portion of your stimulus money. One of the best parts of planning a vacation is the opportunity to pick a destination and start researching different places to visit nearby. Whether you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas or a getaway to a treetop Airbnb in Tennessee, there are plenty of adventures to be found with friends on a trip together.
If you really want to take things up a notch while you travel together, you can look up which type of edibles matches your Zodiac sign. Picking CBD-infused edibles for the Libra, Capricorn, Virgo, or Aries in your group can ensure you have a memorable time together‚Äîand might make the Taurus traveling with you chill out for a few days, too! Whether you look for a destination in a central place for friends who live in separate cities or want to take a relaxing trip to a spa together, it’s easy and fun to plan trips together.
Update your wardrobe and rock a new look.
Even though you can’t go shopping for clothing in person, it is possible to try on clothes in your home and return them if they don’t fit. Before shopping, do a little bit of research and read up on some style tips for petite women to lower your chances of having an item come that doesn’t fit your petite frame well. Especially if you have long legs with a petite frame, it can be tough to find petite dresses, so being able to test outfits out while you’re in the comfort of your own home can be a major boon.
Especially if you’ve been working out over the past year and are a short girl whose waistline has changed, shopping online and returning what you don’t like is an easy way for many people to shop and enjoy fashion. Especially when quarantine measures get lifted, and you’re able to see friends again, you’ll want to make sure that you look your best. As such, it’s not a bad idea to spend some of your stimulus check on some new styles to rock when you head back out to the bar with your friends.
