My husband was downsized out of his job a few weeks before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  After that, interviews and potential job offers just vanished, even though we're in Florida, not New Orleans.  Fast forward to 2008 and he has just gotten a job back in his field at a salary well below what he was making previously.  Our rebate check is going immediately to supplement our move out of state for this new job.  We can't afford to buy a house, after selling ours three years ago to stay solvent and pay the bills while living with inlaws.  The rebate is part of the budget merely to help us towards recovery back to a lifestyle we haven't seen now for years.  I"m thankful to have the money, but I wish it was more - it's a drop in the bucket.

Photo is of me and one of my daughters, now in Kindergarten.