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Gov. Janet Mills talks with Rep. Drew Gattine, Rep. Suzanne Salisbury and Mayor David Morse during a campaign stop at Bombay Bistro in Westbrook on Friday, April 17, 2026. Affordability checks for $300 were a centerpiece of Mills' last legislative session as governor.

A couple weeks ago, the state of Maine started mailing $300 “affordability checks” to folks around the state.

We want to know how Mainers are using that extra $300. For groceries? Rent? A trip to Funtown Splashtown or a weekend away? We’d love to hear about it.

More than 500,000 Mainers are expected to receive the checks automatically based on income requirements. Check out the state’s website to see if you’re eligible and to work out mail hold-ups.

Tell us all about how you’re using it using the Google Form below. We might reach out to you to chat more:

Ethan reports on cost of living for the Portland Press Herald. Before he joined in mid-2026, he covered local news in Augusta and surrounding areas and ran a weekly newsletter for the Kennebec Journal....

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