Stretching your tax rebate

A number of retailers are offering small bonuses on tax stimulus rebates, those $300, $600, or $1,200 checks that some of us are receiving.  No wonder our national debt is $9.2 trillion.  Do your civic duty and spend those checks on:

Groceries

• Safeway/Vons: Beginning today, Safeway (aka Vons, Dominick's) will cash your stimulus checks free of charge and give you a gift card for 10% off your purchase that day or the following day.  A great deal if you can apply to gift cards, too.  Expires July 19.



• Lucky: SuperValu (aka Lucky, Albertsons) will give you a 10% bonus on your gift card purchase with your stimulus check.  Expires July 31.

• Kroger: Kroger will give you a 10% bonus on your gift card purchase with your stimulus check.  Expires July 31.

Home, Electronics

• Sears, Kmart & Lands End: Sears, Kmart & Lands End will give you a 10% bonus on your gift card purchase with your stimulus check.  Expires July 19.



• Radioshack: Radioshack will give you a 10% discount on your purchase over $50.  Excess amounts will be converted into a debit card (not gift card) good at any store.  Expires July 12.



• Staples: Offering a coupon for $40 off $300.  You don't need to use your stimulus check.  Expires May 25.

If you got your rebate direct deposited, you can show a bank statement to some retailers.