IDAHO FALLS - As soon as people start to receive their tax refunds polls show it will be spent right away, but what are people spending it on?

"Trying to get ourself our of debt with paying bills," says Stephanie Francis, mother of three.

"I imagine they're probably paying of bills," says Gerald Nelson, who is expecting his first child this year.

"Going to pay bills, put some in savings," says Leisa Moulton, who is looking forward to a refund.

"Paying bills, I always pay bills with it," says Jonee Varela, while buying groceries.

Bills, bills, and more bills. The refund is a staple check people rely on annually to help pay off debt and even more so in this recession. But how many people actually stick to the plan?

Even with the best of intentions statistics show that the 2009 tax months of March, April, and May showed a retail spike from 12 percent to 20 percent.

But not everyone will be paying bills.

"We're going to apply it to a return trip to Norway, we have family there," says Linda Eggers of Idaho Falls.

"With my tax return this year, I'm buying a car," says Gloria Ramos

"Last year we spent a lot of it getting out of debt. This year we spent a lot of it on ourselves and our kids," says Stephanie Francis, mother of three.