A lot of families are going through some tough economic times, and with stimulus checks rolling out many wonder just exactly what to do with them. Experts are now questioning the spendthrift attitude, saying with the hard economic times you need to be just plain thrifty.

Here are some radical steps you can take to save your cash; if you're a smoker quitting could save you about $1,800 a year, instead of going out and buying new clothes, go to thrift instead and no more eating out. Plus they say going to the library for books, music and movies you could save around $1,900. And if you want to make a little extra dough, you can hold a garage sale, which could rake in about a $1,000 a pop.

Even if people don't follow these more radical savings ideas most of the people we talked to plan on doing something practical with their checks. Those check will be hitting your mail or bank account sometime soon here is a schedule of dates when you can expected your government stimulus check if you filed your tax on or before April 15th 2008.

Direct Deposit:

00 thur 20--May 2

21 thur 75--May 9

76 thur 99--May 16

Paper Check:

00 thur 09--May 16

10 thur 18--May 23

19 thur 25-- May30

26 thur 38-- June 6

39 thur 51-- June 13

52 thur 63-- June 20

64 thur 75-- June 27

76 thur 87-- July 4

88 thur 99-- July 11