Tax rebates are in the mail, or they will be soon. Assuming you filed a tax return this year, have a valid social security number and fall within the boundaries created by the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, you’ll be getting a check for $600 if you’re single, $1,200 if you’re married, and even more if you have kids. You could take this check and by the “toy” you’ve been dreaming about for months; you could splurge on a weekend getaway; or you could is use it wisely, allowing it to help you sell your home.

Your tax rebate can turn the house you’ve had on the market for months into a sold commodity. All you have to do is think, and you’ll realize the numerous opportunities the government has just given you. You could, for example, offer the cash to the buyer, giving him a little more incentive to sign the papers. Or, if you don’t have a buyer just yet, you could use the money to get a home inspection, find out what’s wrong with the house and fix it. Barring any major problems, you could also (or instead) boost your curb appeal, investing in exterior maintenance and decoration. You could have every inch of the interior scrubbed and polished. Or you could hire professionals to advertise your home in a way no buyer could resist. You could do almost anything.

Rather than wasting the bonus the government is sending you, put it to good use. Make an investment that will bring you more money in the end and enable you to live out your goals. You don’t need a weekend getaway, but you do need a new home. To get that, you have to sell yours first.