I am so sick of “stuff.” I can be a material girl, won’t deny it. But keeping up with the Jones’ is just something I can’t get into. In case you haven’t heard, we’re in the midst of a recession, although George reassures us that it’s just a “slowdown.”

My husband and I do OK for ourselves. In an attempt to save money for our future we have decided to live frugally for the time being. Our house isn’t decked out (although we will be siding it this month!!!). We live within our means. We do have nice clothes, dine out occasionally, and can be seen at our local watering hole once in a while. I even splurged today on Red Sox tickets! However, the need to spend incessantly among some that I know has become irritating!

Many of us have, at some point, lived beyond our means. And where has that gotten us? You don’t need new furniture every two years. You really don’t need a TV that rivals a movie theater. You’re new monster truck will be a hit at the gas station. And those jeans you paid $120 for — no one can tell. They look like the same pair I saw at JC Penny for $20.

If spend, spend, spend is your prerogative, fine. Knock yourself out. But when you can’t afford it, and you complain constantly about cash flow, bills, and the rising price of gas and groceries, you kind of make me want to stab myself with my Target flatware (that I bought at 40 percent off).

This need to keep up with the Jones’ can’t just exist within my circle of friends. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I just being a green-eyed monster?

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As gas prices quickly rise to nearly $4 a gallon ($3.77 in my neighborhood — thankfully I live near an Indian Reservation and can get it for the low-low price of $3.44 a gallon), the government has decided to start sending out the much needed rebate checks on Monday, a week earlier than originally planned.

I have seen countless articles from financial experts on what to do with the money — stick it in your savings account or pay off debt. Seems logical to me. I’m not too concerned with boosting the economy by purchasing a flat screen TV or a new summer wardrobe. I’m more concerned with boosting my credit rating and safety-net. Our rebate check will be nice and safe in the bank. Sorry George.

Retailers hate people like me! Lucky for them they’ve devised some ingenious marketing plans to put all of those rebate bucks in their pockets. It’s going to be a feeding frenzy to snatch up $106 billion dollars.

Sears will be converting tax rebate checks into gift cards at cash registers and online, and adding on another 10 percent. The gift cards have no expiration dates or fees, but shoppers must purchase a gift card equal to the entire amount of their rebate check.

Wal-Mart’s customer service centers will be cashing rebate checks and running special promotions to encourage spending.

Home Depot is planning a campaign to encourage shoppers to use their tax rebates to buy eco-friendly products such as programmable thermostats (and I’m sure a new turbo lawn mower and shiny grill).

You can get all of the details here.

So what’s your plan? Will retailer promotions and incentives sway you?

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