Holiday And A Wedding

The Age

Tuesday December 9, 2008

GEOFF STRONG

TASMANIA will be pleased with Karen Ballard. She plans to spend most of the $1000 she will get from the Federal Government's cash stimulus, in the island state.

The Chelsea Heights single mother said she would spend the money on a holiday for herself and her son Kyle, 9, to attend her sister's wedding in late January.

"I know the money is to go towards helping the economy and tourism is part of the economy isn't it?" she said.

The rest will go towards paying off the layby she has taken out for her son's Christmas present, and to buy the wedding dress. Anything over might go to pay bills.

Ms Ballard, 31, works as a part-time home carer for Bayside Council. She said she paid all her bills off fortnightly - and anyway, she felt that using the bonus to pay something as boring as bills was a waste.

But her neighbours, Chloe and Jason, believe the money will go straight back to a government in one form of another.

"For us it is just going on bills," said Chloe. "We will spend it on rates, car rego and the water bill. None of it is going to go on Christmas presents." -- GEOFF STRONG

© 2008 The Age

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