Take advantage of stores that will give you a 10% bonus when you redeem your check for one of their gift cards.

You can get all of the basics from most of the retailers offering such deals -- Sears, Kmart and supermarket chains Kroger and Supervalu.

(Supervalu says the offer will be available at all of its stores, including Acme, Albertsons, bigg's, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher's, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw's/Star Market, Shop 'n Save and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy.)

A family of four redeeming $1,800 in stimulus checks would get a gift card for $1,980.

We don't necessarily think this is the best way to use your rebate. Paying off high-interest credit cards and establishing an emergency fund top our list of 8 smart ways to spend your tax rebate.

But with the price of everything from gas to bread going up, we know many families are struggling just to make ends meet right now.

So there's no harm in letting the government -- with a little boost from these stores -- buy your groceries for the summer, help you out with your prescription drugs or even pay for the kids' back-to-school clothes.

To qualify for the 10% bonus, all you have to do is take your rebate check to the store, not the bank. Kroger will even give you the bonus if you received your rebate electronically.