What gadget should I spend stimulus check on?

[SnowballCamper]

What do I need that I don't know I need? (related to camper & camping) Since we're on lockdown in WA (even many of the federal lands are closed up) we didn't get to do our spring break trip to Ozette Lake. With the stimulus check coming, what are some ideas for camping stuff to get? Something I can tinker with for a while before actually taking it camping would be nice.

[Glenn Baglo]

I don't know. Maybe save it for taxes?

[Iowa Dave]

I’m going to buy some rubber shoes. I, no fooling, gave my last pair to a church mission store. They were a little to small for me so rather than let them age out
( they were low mileage) I gave them away. Then some red solo cup shot glasses. After that maybe some Alka seltzer and replace all my canned meat that I am consuming for lunch each day I am stuck out in the country. Tuna, Kippered Herring, Sardines, and Spam. And some beef for making Jerky. Although there was a nice big deer in the orchard two nights ago. And October is coming.
Iowa Dave

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by SnowballCamper

What do I need that I don't know I need? (related to camper & camping) Since we're on lockdown in WA (even many of the federal lands are closed up) we didn't get to do our spring break trip to Ozette Lake. With the stimulus check coming, what are some ideas for camping stuff to get? Something I can tinker with for a while before actually taking it camping would be nice.

You can find 60 ways to spend your money at:
https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...lbums2282.html

I also just installed a Bidet that is not on the list.

[SnowballCamper]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

You can find 60 ways to spend your money at:
https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...lbums2282.html

I also just installed a Bidet that is not on the list.

Thanks! There is a lot to consider there. I especially like the sewer hose mudflap and the leveling bubble on the trailer tongue.

[ShelbyM]

This is a timely thread, thanks! I'm thinking about a small flexible solar panel that will fit the trolley roof section of my Casita, a 100 amp hour Lithium battery and a replacement converter that will work with Lithium. I think I might get all that for $1200. Yes, low enough income to get the full $1200. But who knows when I can use the trailer again? It might be better in the long run to give it to my political party of choice

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

This is a timely thread, thanks! I'm thinking about a small flexible solar panel that will fit the trolley roof section of my Casita, a 100 amp hour Lithium battery and a replacement converter that will work with Lithium. I think I might get all that for $1200. Yes, low enough income to get the full $1200. But who knows when I can use the trailer again? It might be better in the long run to give it to my political party of choice

I suggest that you go trailering a number of times befor you spend lots of money on stuff you probably won't use.

[ShelbyM]

Yes, good point. If I catch the virus at my age my trailer days may be over! Thinking that the point is to spend the $ quickly whether needed or not and I can only consume so much beer and ice cream.

[sokhapkin]

Why "spend" instead of "save" or "invest"?

[ShelbyM]

Originally Posted by sokhapkin

Why "spend" instead of "save" or "invest"?

Stimulus? Bet you knew that....

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by sokhapkin

Why "spend" instead of "save" or "invest"?

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

Stimulus? Bet you knew that....

But its not a stimulus payment.. its a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) payment. its intended to help people survive the financial loss they are experiencing due to the government's actions during this pandemic (which are needed to save lives). The idea is to help people in the short term with rent, food, and basic necessities - no more.

But that raises a question... should people have savings so that they can remain self-sufficient for a few months of a pandemic, job loss, medical crisis, etc. It seems that very few do. If you are looking at this as some sort of bonus then you might be one of the few. For me, I think I will save it for the future tax increase that will be required to pay the debt on the largest government "bail-out" in US history. I could go on but I would end up violating forum rules.

So my recommendation for your CARES payment is:
1st: Food
2ed: Housing
3red: Imminent medical expenses
12th: 401k investiments
22ed: other savings.
284,444th: Camper gadgets

[ShelbyM]

Originally Posted by gordon2

The idea is to help people in the short term with rent, food, and basic necessities - no more.

You could be right but I'm not sure stimulus wasn't part of the plan as well. I'll have to check on that. There isn't anything I need but I sort of felt an obligation to spend it. As to folks not saving for a rainy day, I agree 100%. Airlines for example have been hugely profitable for a number of years. No money set aside. IMO, let the shareholders eat it. The planes aren't going to disappear. On the other hand the people fearlessly continuing to work in our Walmart do not make enough to support a family, much less put anything aside. Same is true for most in the various service jobs. Paycheck to paycheck for a large number of our fellow Americans and it's rarely through any fault of their own. Good to remember in hard times.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

You could be right but I'm not sure stimulus wasn't part of the plan as well. I'll have to check on that. There isn't anything I need but I sort of felt an obligation to spend it. As to folks not saving for a rainy day, I agree 100%. Airlines for example have been hugely profitable for a number of years. No money set aside. IMO, let the shareholders eat it. The planes aren't going to disappear. On the other hand the people fearlessly continuing to work in our Walmart do not make enough to support a family, much less put anything aside. Same is true for most in the various service jobs. Paycheck to paycheck for a large number of our fellow Americans and it's rarely through any fault of their own. Good to remember in hard times.

Most Americans are just a couple of paychecks ( or Illnesses ) from bankruptcy . If you spend your 'bonus' , ( which is really your money -the gov't has no money ) it will go to the butcher, the baker and corner grocer who will immediately spend it to stay afloat. They will give it to their barber, babysitter, or food delivery man , who will spend it for rent, gas or electricity. and so on. . . .But if you give it to a bank or rich guy,he will stick it in the bank or investment where it will just SIT. Or in an overseas bank or tax dodge. And I would suggest you not spend it before it is in your hot little hands. Remember , this is the government promising the money, and not all who hope for it will get it.

[Glenn Baglo]

It's not government money or your money. I think it's actually your future debt. I always maintain that if anybody ever understood economics, the whole apparatus would collapse.

[C&G in FL]

[QUOTE=gordon2;774134]I could go on but I would end up violating forum rules.[Quote]

I commend you Gordon. Having read some of the recent threads on this forum you are one of the members that are not “breaking” forum rules while others have apparently decided that the COVID-19 crisis means it is OK to promote personal political viewpoints and conspiracy theories. Hopefully, the moderators have addressed this issue since my last reading.

While I am not promoting socialism, it concerns me that there are people who desperately need financial assistance at this time rather than a “windfall,” which is what this distribution of money, no matter what it is called, for anyone who is not going to have a financial crisis actually is. I speak of those whose biggest concern is where can I get a few rolls of toilet paper, not the people who are struggling to feed family members, pay the rent/mortgage, or the electric bill, etc.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Most Americans are just a couple of paychecks ( or Illnesses ) from bankruptcy .

That is the problem. That should not be true.

Originally Posted by DavidG

If you spend your 'bonus' , ( which is really your money -the gov't has no money ) it will go to the butcher, the baker and corner grocer who will immediately spend it to stay afloat. They will give it to their barber, babysitter, or food delivery man , who will spend it for rent, gas or electricity. and so on. . . .But if you give it to a bank or rich guy,he will stick it in the bank or investment where it will just SIT. ...

No, it does not just "sit." It becomes the start-up funding for the butcher, the baker and corner grocer, or the loan for them to buy a car to get to work, or to buy a home. Or it gets invested in Government bonds, which are sold to pay off debt from things like the CARES Act.

But most important, if you don't need the money for life's true necessities now, and you save your CARES payment then you will actually have some money for the the butcher, the baker and corner grocer the next time some sort of personal or widespread calamity occurs.

[steve dunham]

[QUOTE=CPW;774167][QUOTE=gordon2;774134]I could go on but I would end up violating forum rules.

I commend you Gordon. Having read some of the recent threads on this forum you are one of the members that are not “breaking” forum rules while others have apparently decided that the COVID-19 crisis means it is OK to promote personal political viewpoints and conspiracy theories. Hopefully, the moderators have addressed this issue since my last reading.

While I am not promoting socialism, it concerns me that there are people who desperately need financial assistance at this time rather than a “windfall,” which is what this distribution of money, no matter what it is called, for anyone who is not going to have a financial crisis actually is. I speak of those whose biggest concern is where can I get a few rolls of toilet paper, not the people who are struggling to feed family members, pay the rent/mortgage, or the electric bill, etc.

The funds probably should have been more targeted or means tested instead of one size fits all but that would have increased the bureaucracy and delayed the payments causing more hardship especially in a crisis
And then their is the “ It’s not fair crowd “ who whine anytime someone gets one penny more than them , who had to be placated
Ours is going into savings until we find something we really need and is actually available , maybe toilet paper futures ?
Spending money for the sake of spending money just doesn’t fly with me .

[ShelbyM]

I still think this is a good time to spend the money if you can. If you don't already have enough savings, then of course you should hold on to the $. If you have family who need it to get by, then passing it along is the same as spending it. If neither situation is applicable then why not have some fun with it and help keep the economy afloat?

[ShelbyM]

Yes, better targeting would have probably added quite a bit of time. What seems unfortunate to me is that only about 25% of the money goes to individuals. We can only hope the businesses that get the rest will keep their part of the bargain and retain employees. Hopefully there will be oversight, we'll see. Now about those alloy wheels....

[TappyGee]

Mine is going to a young family in need who did not have time to build up emergency savings.