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Baylor Consumerism Expert Shares Five Tips to Make the Most of Your Stimulus Check

May 26, 2021

4 min

James Roberts, Ph.D.

With President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, citizens nationwide received a second round of stimulus checks in the form of $1,400 per person and an additional $1,400 per dependent.


The Rescue Plan also brought increased child tax credits and unemployment benefits.


James Roberts, Ph.D., The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing in the Hankamer School of Business, is an internationally recognized expert on consumerism and the author of “Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy.” He said the latest round of stimulus funds offer consumers bright opportunities, but he also cautioned against pitfalls in uncertain times.


Roberts said that people should first consider building up their emergency savings funds – a step, he said, more Americans seem to be taking during this time of pandemic and economic fluctuation .


“Over the last 20 years or so, Americans have not saved much. However, in the first nine months of the pandemic, the U.S. savings rate increased by a whopping 100 percent. By some estimates we are at a national savings rate that hovers around 20 percent – which is incredible,” Roberts said.


Roberts shared a few tips on how to get the best value for your stimulus check and prepare for times ahead:


1. Enhance your savings.


Save a portion of your stimulus check for the inevitable rainy days ahead. Start with $1,000 to your short-term emergency fund. If possible, every family should have a $2,500 emergency fund. This provides peace of mind and avoids having to borrow from friends or family, or even worse, max out your credit cards or take out a “payday” loan, which I strongly advised against.


2. Invest in experiences.


Given that a lot of Americans have significantly increased their savings and lowered their credit card debt, I say people should splurge a little on something for themselves or their families with the remaining $400. Remember, experiences bring more lasting happiness than buying stuff. Good mental health is critical to our well-being.


3. Start early.


Don’t forget that the $1,400 stimulus check is only a small part of the money that may come your way. The child tax credits are a great opportunity to save for your children’s college. The earlier you start saving, the better. This is the beauty of compounding interest.


4. Save while unemployed


I suggest any extra boost you might get in your unemployment check be saved for the days ahead. Don’t let money burn a hole in your pocket.


5. Plan ahead.


Every family’s goal should be to set aside six months in living expenses so if you do lose your job, it doesn’t put you and your family into an immediate financial death spiral.


ABOUT DR. JAMES ROBERTS


James Roberts, Ph.D., is The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. He is a nationally recognized expert on consumer behavior and has been quoted extensively in the media and has appeared on the CBS Early Show, ABC World News Tonight, ABC Good Morning America, NBC The Today Show, Yahoo.com’s “The Daily Ticker,” and has been quoted and/or featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, USA TODAY, TIME, FOX News, The Doctors on CBS, US News & World Report, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and many other media.


His books include “Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy” and “Too Much of a Good Thing: Are You Addicted to your Smartphone?”


ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY


Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.


ABOUT HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY


At Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, top-ranked programs combine rigorous classroom learning, hands-on experience in the real world, a solid foundation in Christian values and a global outlook. Making up approximately 25 percent of the University’s total enrollment, undergraduate students choose from 16 major areas of study. Graduate students choose from full-time, executive or online MBA or other specialized master’s programs, and Ph.D. programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship or Health Services Research. The Business School also has campuses located in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Visit baylor.edu/business.

Connect with:
James Roberts, Ph.D.

James Roberts, Ph.D.

Director, Centre for Nonprofit Leadership and Service, Professor - Marketing

Expert on consumer behavior, human-computer interaction, compulsive buying, and effects of consumerism & technology on individual happiness.

Consumer PsychologyConsumer BehaviorMarketingConsumer CultureMaterialism

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4 min

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Research has demonstrated that increased stress and all-night study sessions can lead to lower cognitive functioning and test scores, adding even more pressure on college students. Baylor sleep expert Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., director of Baylor University’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, studies how cognitive and behavioral processes are affected by sleep. “Sleep deprivation makes life worse. And it makes the person not getting enough sleep worse at life,” Scullin said. “However, if we focus on improving our sleep, life will get better, and we will get better at life.” Poor sleep is particularly common when students are studying for exams or working on major projects for classes. 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When people get more sleep – even just one more hour of sleep per night – “they literally become happier,” Scullin said. That extra hour of sleep can improve social relationships, emotional reactions and cognitive functioning. With improved cognitive functioning comes improved academic performance. “Adding more sleep to your life makes life better, and it's going to make you better at life. It's going to resolve some of the stress, and you're going to better handle events that are inherently stressful. You're going to enjoy life while you're also taking classes. And you know what? Your grades are probably going to improve.”

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