If you have not filed taxes you will not be getting a stimulus check.  You must file taxes and select a check from Uncle Sam or a direct deposit to get the money thrown your way.

Also, there is another alert you might want to watch out for.  Identity thieves will have a new cash cow to go after when Billions of dollars flood the streets as free money from the U.S. Government this week.  You may want to check your mailbox frequently if you requested a check and make sure no one can steal it.  I have seen people stealing out of mailboxes when they know other peoples checks or credit cards are arriving in the mail.  Guard your mailbox by getting your mail immediately.

Did you stimulus check arrive this week?

There are many things you can do with the money.  I recommend paying off your debt or mortgage.  The retailers want you to buy, buy, buy.

Wal-Mart will let you cash your stimulus check for free.  Sony is offering $400 discounts on High Definition TV’s.  The number two retailer Home Depot is giving away big discounts on High Efficiency washing machines such as the GE HE’s.

The absolute best way to spend your Stimulus Check?

More important than paying off debt is actually feeding your family and keeping food on the table.  Kroger and Ralph’s will add 10% of the value to the rebate checks in increments of $300 to each gift card.  Albertson’s, SuperValu, and Shop N’ Save will give you an extra $30 for every $300 in rebate checks you put on gift cards.  Your family can look at this as an investment that will earn more than interest in a bank account and keep you eating during a threat of a recession.

Basically, all you have to do is go in your local store and purchase gift cards with your rebate checks and save huge money from that.  My family can spend $200 at least in one grocery trip so it adds up.