No matter what your political leanings or opinions on the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package, everyone can agree that it’s a lot of money–money that even we college students contribute through our taxes.

The amount of money, $787 billion, seems so big I can’t even fathom it. But it exists, kind of, and legislation has been passed to ensure that it is spent for the benefit of the American public. However, as we’ve all seen lately, large historically trusted names can’t necessarily be trusted to handle money responsibly. Luckily, there’s a way for you to keep an eye on the “Powers that Be.”

Recovery.com, the federal government’s official Web site on the act, is a great resource to show what is being done with the money and future milestones for its mission. It offers a break down of what areas spending is aiding, a scrollable timeline tracking the stimulus plan’s progress, and even a link to the full text of the legislation. To stay informed over the course of the law’s lifespan, you can sign up for e-mail updates by ZIP code.

The act’s mission is to help you survive the recession. Hold government to that by staying up to date on its effects.