SAN DIEGO — Monday night, Congress approved a $900 billion stimulus package that includes $600 stimulus checks for each person who qualifies, as well as additional unemployment benefits. Those stimulus checks could be in people's accounts by early next week. President Trump has asked Congress for a bill that would raise the $600 to $2,000.
“This is our third shutdown for the salons and spas," said esthetician Libbey Lazarus.
Like many people in the personal services industry, Lazarus has had a tough year.
"A lot of my friends' [businesses] have closed," said Lazarus. "Four of my friends in San Diego closed their business and they're going to restart obviously when they can, but it's absolutely devastated the industry."
Lazarus will receive a $600 check. Anyone making less than $75,000 a year qualifies, including dependent children under 17.
While it's something, Lazarus said it won't go far enough.
"Oh yeah," she said. "It's like, nothing. I mean because, you know, we live in one of the most expensive states in the nation, and it's our third shutdown. I think it's like eight months now we haven't been working."
Lazarus isn't alone. Maru Oderzhakhivska co-owns New PMU, a permanent makeup academy and studio that opened in March.
"We are teaching them not only how to be a permanent makeup artist, but also how to run a business," said Oderzhakhivska.
Oderzhakhivska and her former students can't work right now. Instead of $600, like Lazarus, they just want to open back up.
"That's what we need," she said. "We need to reopen our doors because we need to pay our rent. We need to pay our bills."
Also included in the package is an additional $300 a week in unemployment for 11 weeks.
Bobbi Rebell, a personal finance expert at Tally, said instead of looking at what you can't do with the money, focus on what you can.
"I would really encourage people to be very thoughtful in how they do spend this money, and use it for things most urgent," said Rebell.
That includes debt that has consequences and cash savings.
"The number one thing is uncertainty these days," said Rebell. "We don't know specifically that we will get another deal anytime soon."
The stimulus checks are automatic. The extra unemployment should be as well if you're already signed up for unemployment.
