Well, that's not even true. The IRS doesn't want it. They just want you to spend it. The good news for them is that there is no shortage of companies out there helping you do so. It's ironic that we, as a country, continually berate our citizenry for being poor savers (as compared to Japan, for example), yet when Uncle Sam is dolling out a few extra bucks, we're being unpatriotic if we try to save any of it!
I recently heard a story on NPR that the IRS is actually sending some people goods in lieu of a rebate check. They are identifying people with high debt levels whom they feel are likely to blow the money on such foolish things like debt repayment rather than some shiny new toy. In the story, the IRS sent a couple in Arizona a new air conditioning unit. You know, because they're in Arizona. So, instead of $1,200, they get higher utility bills.
Okay, that story was an April Fools joke by good folks at NPR. But believable, wasn't it?
The folks at Kroger (Ralph's to us West Coasters) are also doing their patriotic duty to help ensure that thousands of otherwise turncoat savers actually spend their rebate money. In a press release, Kroger explains that kind taxpayers who bring their rebate check to a store will not get charged a check cashing fee, instead, they will exchange it for a Kroger gift card valued at 10% higher than your rebate! Sears and Radio Shack have similar offers. Heck, a guaranteed 10% return? I'll take it.
Of course, I'm not going to spend my normal grocery budget on top of the gift card. So, I'll probably use the gift card in lieu of my normal grocer budget, and save that amount rather than spending it somewhere else. Unpatriotic, I know.
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