NORMAL - To save or splurge, that is the question. As money starts to appear in Americans' bank accounts from the federal government's $110 billion economic stimulus package, Central Illinois businesses are eager for a piece of the pie.

"We truly hope they'll choose Target to spend their checks," said Terry Muller, executive team leader at Target at the Shoppes at College Hills in Normal. "We know they have a lot of choices."

Congress approved the stimulus deal in January in hopes of spurring more economic activity. Eligible Americans started to receive up to $600 each, plus an additional $300 for each of their children this week. The question now is how much will be spent or saved, said Illinois State University Professor Gary Koppenhaver.

"Consumers right now are in a bind. Spending that money may give them some satisfaction," said Koppenhaver, chair of the finance, insurance and law department in ISU's College of Business. "In terms of their financial health, it doesn't make a lot of sense."

But at least some Central Illinois residents plan to put the government's money back into the economy.

Jaime Emlen of Goodfield used her tax refund earlier in the year to pay off a couple of bills. With those expenses out of the way, the stimulus money can go toward another project she's wanted to do since her home was built six years ago.

"We're planning on doing some landscaping," Emlen said.

The rebates are a good incentive for people to shop, first for those necessities but maybe for a few luxury items, said Bill Alvey, part of the sales staff at Wright's Furniture in Pontiac.

"I think any business would anticipate a little economic boon," he said.

But it's also hard to know what to expect because of increasing gasoline prices, Alvey said.

Declines in the stock market, a deteriorating job market, shrinking home values and rising food and fuel prices contribute to consumers who feel less wealthy and want to save more, Koppenhaver said.

The stimulus checks likely will help offset increases in consumer goods, especially since $4 a gallon gasoline looms in the coming months, he said. Then, consumers likely will save some of the cash while big ticket items and luxuries will be toward the end of their lists, he said.

"People are going to be careful," Koppenhaver said.

Alvey has seen evidence of that slowing economy.

"They're not going overboard on anything. They're looking at value more than anything else," Alvey said. "They're concerned with the talk of layoffs, increasing gas prices."

It's a different story at Sherman's in Normal.

"If the economy is in trouble right now, we haven't noticed," said Manager Corey McWhorter.

Nonetheless, McWhorter hopes the stimulus money sends more people into the store to buy an appliance, furniture or television at what's typically the slow time of the year. In fact, customers already have visited the store to look at televisions, saying they plan to return once they get their stimulus payment, he said.

Flat-screen and high-definition television sets also are expected to be popular picks at Target. The amount people receive from the government puts them in just the right price range for a new TV, Muller said.

In the current economic environment, consumers also are interested in paying down debt, Koppenhaver said.

That's one thing Morgan Blake of Normal will consider.

Blake and her husband have discussed paying off credit card debt or putting the money toward an extra mortgage payment. But depending on how busy the summer gets, they're tossing around another idea - taking a vacation.

"It's nice extra money to have," Blake said.