It’s no secret that millions of Americans are still struggling financially due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged businesses and personal incomes for more than a year. And with the new infusion of $1,400 in cash to many eligible individuals, it remains to be seen how they spend it.

But here are five popular ways Americans will likely spend the stimulus payments.

Stocks

According to a new survey from Self Financial, about 17 percent of the poll’s respondents admitted that they would put at least some of their $1,400 stimulus check in the stock market. Market experts have said that the second stimulus check of $600 in late December was a major driving force for the GameStop stock mania saga.

Health and Dental Check-Ups

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans weren’t able to get their annual physical and dental check-ups. And with dwindling financial resources, the new stimulus check could give people more confidence they can afford such important services, especially if they don’t currently have insurance.

Car Maintenance

It is true that many Americans have been driving less during the pandemic, but with vaccine rollouts ramping up in most states and fewer case counts, businesses and the economy are slowly crawling back to normal. That means more car usage to get to and from work and setting aside more money for vehicle maintenance.  

Education

There have been many reports of undergraduate and graduate students halting their education because they had lost their jobs and income that were used for tuition. Now, with a little extra cash, some Americans may be looking to enroll again.

Furniture

Millions of Americans had to transition to a remote working environment due to the pandemic. But even after the vaccine rollout is completed, many companies are indicating that remote work is here to stay. With this in mind, there are plenty of Americans who are looking to upgrade their personal office space with new furniture.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.