Stimulus checks: What consumers should consider doing with the money
These are tough times. But thoughtful choices can stretch the dollars you get.

Respite care is a term caregivers should know. Bankrate explains it.
Respite care is when someone takes over for the care of a sick, developmentally disabled, physically disabled, elderly or terminally ill person. The regular caregiver is usually a family member; the respite care worker offers relief from the stress and strain of caring for another person. A respite worker may come in for several hours or stay for weeks, depending on the needs of the regular caregiver.
Unpaid family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours each week caring for a loved one. Nearly 1 in 4 spends 41 hours or more. Caregiving is stressful, emotionally and physically, no matter how much love is involved. It is natural to become so involved in caring for someone else that caregivers fail to see to their own needs.
Many of the estimated 50 million caregivers in the U.S. today suffer from stress, exhaustion, depression, a sense of isolation, and physical ailments exacerbated by the demands of their day. In order to recharge, it is important that caregivers let go and allow someone else to carry the burden for a time.
Caregivers cannot stop the impact of a chronic illness or debilitating injury on their loved one. They can, however, take responsibility for their own emotional and physical health. They can schedule periods of time during which they can renew and be better prepared to take care of someone else.
Caregivers should make a plan for respite care and time away (even if it is just in the backyard with a book). Here are suggestions:
Many caregivers feel guilty even thinking about respite care for their loved one, and it can be especially difficult for a husband or wife to leave the care of their spouse to someone else.
The value of respite care is in what it does for both the caregiver and the person being cared for. Time away, even if it is only a few hours, can offer a caregiver a sense of renewal, a reminder that they are important, too. It gives them the opportunity to re-energize, maintain social relationships, run errands, or simply do something they enjoyed before they became a caregiver.