Congress is weighing a bill that would bring hundreds of dollars in notes to Americans in the form of tariff discounts, similar to a pandemic stimulus check to mitigate the financial blow to the government’s new tariffs.
The current version of the bill promises “at least” $600 for each adult and dependent child. For example, if you are a family of four, you will get $2,400. These amounts will eliminate married couples and earn more than $150,000 a year.
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The legislation, known as the American Workers Discount Act, was proposed by Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley in late July 2025 and must be approved by the Senate and House of Representatives before going to the president.
Currently, there are big obstacles to its death: fellow Senators in Senate Senate are not enthusiastic about the bill, and some economists say they are worried that it will not seek relief for consumers to provide tariffs.
But while the chances of a bill passing are small, it would be wise to think about where you put this check (or any unplanned cash injection).
Pay back your high interest debt
Whether it’s a check sent from the government, holiday bonus or any other cash windfall, when you receive cash outside of regular income, you should first prioritize repayment. High interest debt. (Credit card debt, is anyone?)
The reality is that your high interest debt is in any unexpected gains you may receive.
Working to repay debts? Consider getting help from a debt relief company
Quotes in this section are from member partners and are selected based on a combination of participation, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Since 2002, the free debt relief has addressed more than $20 billion in outstanding debt. It offers free credit card debt relief consultation.
Suppose you have $1,000 in credit card debt and can only afford the minimum payment of $28.33 per month. With typical terms and a 22% interest rate, it will take you four years and 10 months to pay off your debt – you will pay only $624 in interest.
If you are using $600 to pay off your debt, you can only owe $400. Pay the minimum limit at a balance of $400 (about $15 per month), your repayment will be cut to three years and one month, and you end up paying only $154 in interest.
Overall, this means you will save about $470 in credit card interest and reduce repayment time by nearly two years.
Store your cash in an interest-based account
Find the right savings account for you
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Editor's note: The opinions, analysis, comments or suggestions expressed in this article are separate opinions of selected editors and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.