While you are at it, eat half of that rotisserie chicken you bought at costco, and then return it saying it tastes bad to get your $4.99 back.

Or buy a plant from home depot, plant it, and then before the 1 year mark, if you don’t like it, dig it back up and take it back to home depot and say it didn’t grow well to get your $20 of so back.

I did both of those just last week!

Leaving aside your point about ethical dilemma, is there a reason not to do it? So far you’ve mentioned the hassle, that is at least real. However if you’re at risk of losing your job in the foreseeable future (as most of us are), then delaying the payment would seem to be a no brainer even if it does cause you to have to make a big decision in 3 months; namely pay it all back, or claim you can’t.

Other options, like getting a HELOC titled now, if possible also seem good. I’m really just trying to illuminate the contours of how to navigate the economic reality of now.

I’ve already lived through one massive episode of the govt fucking me with my own money. I really don’t want to do that again and so maximizing my financial preparedness is a valid process.