When Dominae Vescio Ramirez bought a Hopewell home in September, she didn't imagine extra money would be coming her way to help repair her fixer-upper nine months later.

But now that as much as $1,200 will be deposited into her bank account, she and her husband plan on using it.

"We are going to finish a bedroom and put a deck on. A lot of people are saying they are going to put it away, but once it gets in their hands, it'll be a different story. People don't want to admit it, but it's free money."

Ramirez' family is one of more than 130 million American families who will get a rebate as part of President Bush's economic stimulus plan. Rebates began arriving via direct deposit earlier this week.

Amounts allotted range from $300 to more than $1,200, depending upon each individual or family's situation. The program is designed to stimulate middle-class spending, jarring the U.S. economy out of what many see as an impending recession.

Federal income tax filing and income determine the size of the checks.

To qualify for a check, 2007 earnings must be less than $75,000 individually and $150,000 for a couple.

Individuals who paid federal income tax will get as much as $600, while couples who filed jointly could receive up to $1,200.

Americans who did not pay federal taxes, but earned $3,000 or more, could receive as much as $300 each or $600 per couple.

Each dependent child, like Touyna White's son, could bring in around $300 more. She plans to use her extra cash for that son's graduation party essentials like plates, utensils and decorations.

"The economy is so bad right now, I think it's all going to go right back in. I think that if it stays this bad they should do it again next year," said White, of Robinson Township.

White could receive as much as $900, but for most middle-class Americans that won't be enough to overcome their credit cards debts for items already purchased, said Brian O'Roark, a Robert Morris University economics professor.

"The problem is the stimulus package simply isn't large enough. If the refunds were bigger, maybe they would pan out.

"People are not looking to spend more money. They are looking to pay off money they've already spent."

That response is counter-intuitive to the plan's desired effects, he said.

"They intend people to spend it. That is the way it will have the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time, if people just go and spend money."

Cheryl Robertson of Moon plans to use her and her husband's checks to pay bills or for a vacation. Like many Americans, that vacation will be hindered by the economy, even if it is paid for with "free" money.

With gasoline pushing $4 a gallon and rising costs for everything from milk -- $3.51 per gallon, to eggs -- more than $2 a dozen, O'Roark believes Americans are frightened of their economic future.

With that mindset, money meant to jump start the economy just may sit in banking accounts where it has been directly deposited.

"It's not going to stimulate things as much as you'd expect," he said.

"A lot of people are worried about what will happen with the economy. My guess is there are so many people who think things are so bad right now, it's going to take a lot to change their minds."

However, things may not be as bad as they seem, he insists.

"In the near future, things are going to get worse before they get better. But what are they getting worse from? We are being led to believe we are in a recession, and none of the numbers play that out.

"If things are going to get worse from where they are, it's not that bad."