Over the next few months, Americans will receive a tax rebate of $300 ($600 for couples), courtesy of Uncle Sam. I know plenty of you are going to go straight to the mall and blow it on clothes, electronic gizmos, and other consumer stuff.

Here's a suggestion - why not buy a couple of quality stocks via BUYandHOLD. The beauty of buying stock via BUYandHOLD is that you can make a little money work hard in a number of different companies.

Of course, while you could buy 10 or even 15 different stocks with that $300, my suggestion would be to divide the money into perhaps three picks, investing $100 in each company. In that way, you can focus your buying a bit in your best investment ideas.

As for what stocks to buy right now, I think there are opportunities in a variety of areas. For growth investors, I think regional banks still remain reasonably valued. Furthermore, many regional banks offer good yields, and the recent spate of takeover activity in the group provides a kicker.

If you are a conservative, income-oriented investor, real estate investment trusts offer some interesting potential. While I've never been a huge fan of the group, you can now buy some quality REITs yielding 7% or more. If the market remain on the choppy side, quality REITs probably offer a reasonably safe haven for your money.