Slog - Comments on Early Payday from Uncle Sam http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam You might have a little extra scratch next week: The federal government, eager to boost the flagging economy, will start distributing special stimulus payments Monday - four days earlier than expected. "Beginning Monday, the effects of the stimulus will begin to reach households," President Bush said Friday. "This money is going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump and at the grocery store." The department announced the early arrival of the payments Thursday after saying last month that it would begin sending out the money on May 2. As of next week, 800,000 tax... Copyright 2008 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:21:26 -0800 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:50:04 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Poe I'm spending mine on drugs.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006270 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006270 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:42:41 -0800 Comment by Katelyn I'm spending mine on drinks at Chop Suey, probably.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006277 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006277 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:46:13 -0800 Comment by Andrew I am going to buy the services of a male escort and the rest to Obama!

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006286 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006286 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:50:54 -0800 Comment by Gitai All to the credit cards. That'll help save my personal economy.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006289 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:53:18 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Sweet! And this is the year I get $900 instead of $300 - Obama's gonna like that money!

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006298 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006298 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:57:45 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Whatever I have leftover after the pot and the smack, I'll give to Hillary. Just to piss you all off.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006304 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006304 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:01:27 -0800 Comment by Eric Grandy I'm going to buy a ration of rice!

]]> Eric Grandy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006307 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:02:25 -0800 Comment by tomasyalba Whatever you do, don't save it!

]]> tomasyalba http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006311 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006311 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:06:13 -0800 Comment by meh I'm gonna spend mine on credit card debt and some further education. And a pallet of cat food, so I have something to eat when I retire.

]]> meh http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006314 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006314 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:09:25 -0800 Comment by bobcat hookers and blow

]]> bobcat http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006315 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006315 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:09:26 -0800 Comment by DOUG. BUSH + THIEVES = NEW BICYCLE!!!

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006316 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006316 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:10:00 -0800 Comment by Abby And my birthday's coming as well! Pointless electronics and shoes, here I come! (I still want one of those Time Capsules Apple's come out with.)

]]> Abby http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006317 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006317 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:10:46 -0800 Comment by genevieve All toward credit card debt, sigh.

]]> genevieve http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006323 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006323 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:13:54 -0800 Comment by NaFun Yes Abby, yes you do. I just got one, and it is stellar.

I'll probably spend mine on CC debt and getting new tires for the truck since two of them were slashed overnight.

]]> NaFun http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006325 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006325 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:14:58 -0800 Comment by Mike in MO I'm with Poe. Except for the Hillary thing.

]]> Mike in MO http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006327 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006327 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:15:46 -0800 Comment by Laurie Mann Any truth to the rumor that this is taxable income?

We'll probably save it for our summer vacation.

]]> Laurie Mann http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006328 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006328 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:15:50 -0800 Comment by newrollerskates My daughter's birthday is May 8th, and then the credit card needs feeding too.

]]> newrollerskates http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006332 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006332 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:19:33 -0800 Comment by happy renter @16:
The rebate is not taxable income.

]]> happy renter http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006334 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006334 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:19:41 -0800 Comment by happy renter PS I'm spending mine on vacation in Toronto. Take THAT US Economy!

]]> happy renter http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006336 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006336 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:21:24 -0800 Comment by myself I'm investing it in the lottery and the World of Warcraft TCG.

]]> myself http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006343 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006343 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:27:22 -0800 Comment by pragmatic The ironic part about this being a "stimulus package" is that to fund it we'll be selling more treasury notes to China. So much for helping the US economy. So, to solve a "credit crunch" our government's solution is to become even more indebted to China?

]]> pragmatic http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006369 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006369 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:46:00 -0800 Comment by thelyamhound I'm hoping our would-be stimulus package actually reduces the few thousand dollars we owe in taxes. Never, ever file as sole proprietor.

]]> thelyamhound http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006382 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006382 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:53:28 -0800 Comment by elswinger Yeah direct deposit! (I'd spend my $600 on weed if I knew anyone who had some).

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006383 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006383 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:53:43 -0800 Comment by Taxpayer I'm going to make a donation to the public schools. It seems to me that money spent by the government amounts to a stimulus no matter how its spent ... so instead of rebates, they should be putting more money into schools, public works projects like transit, etc. Then when the teachers/construction workers/etc get paid, they can go use the money to buy consumer electronics or whatever.

]]> Taxpayer http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006436 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006436 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:31:06 -0800 Comment by Geni Mine will only slightly offset the pain of the check I sent them on the 15th. It's the stupidest damned thing - why in the name of all that's unholy didn't they allow those of us who owed money to reduce the amount owed by the amount of the rebate? It's so 'tarded - I had to send them a check, the check just cleared, then I'll get a check from them, then I'll have to wait for that to clear - wouldn't it have just been simpler to build it into the 2007 taxes for people who owed?

*grumble*

]]> Geni http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006443 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006443 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:40:04 -0800 Comment by jon c i want to buy plutonium from north korea, but my wife wants to buy a dresser and a coffee table.

]]> jon c http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006453 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006453 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:50:36 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Sadly, I didn't get my promised electronic tax refund today ... why are those delayed?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006469 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006469 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:05:00 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Like most responsible people, I received my tax return, in the mail, over a month ago. Sorry Will.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006606 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006606 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:47:06 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi @25,

Yeah, well, you know, this is the federal government we're talking about here.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006649 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006649 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:55:58 -0800 Comment by Breaking News Those rebates? Well it is not taxable income BUT,,,get this but, it does come out of your refund next year. So enjoy it now since you will be paying it back to the government next year.

Here is what will happen: If there was no rebate this year and your refund next year was going to be $700.00 you would get $700.00 but since you got $600.00 this year you are only going to get $100.00 next year.

It is Bush's way of fucking all of us on his way out of office.


]]> Breaking News http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006664 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006664 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:23 -0800 Comment by Jeff @30 - That's not true. From http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html:

Q. Will the payment I receive in 2008 reduce my 2008 refund or increase the amount I owe for 2008?

A. No, the Stimulus Payment will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return.

And as somebody not getting a rebate check, you got my hopes all up that I might not really be missing out on anything...

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006727 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006727 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:24:00 -0800 Comment by meh? @30, really? I hadn't heard that, and can't find any mention of that on the IRS site. Any backup you can provide, or is that just coming from some left-wing nut site?

@23 If you find someone who has some good stuff, post about it. I need some too. :(

]]> meh? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006758 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006758 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:32:18 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Dear everyone: Come the fuck on. You seriously don't have a weed connection? Where do you live? Medina?

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006833 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006833 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:49:47 -0800 Comment by Greg No, yeah, live it up. Spend it on whatever the hell you want. It's not like the money was taken away from programs for poor people or anything. Be selfish! Make Ayn Rand and GWB proud.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006839 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006839 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:50:40 -0800 Comment by jane There is a wii for sale at the VA hospital's Canteen - $10 less than the suggested retail price. i just saw it yesterday. and of course, since it's the Canteen - no sales tax!!

]]> jane http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006970 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006970 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:42:54 -0800 Comment by jane There is a wii at the VA Hospital's Canteen. I saw it yesterday - it is $10 off the suggested retail price. And as with everything at the Canteen, there's no sales tax. You don't have to be a Veteran to buy stuff from there.

]]> jane http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006974 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1006974 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:46:16 -0800 Comment by Nay @25
I hear you!
But you know they have to take that money and try and earn some interest off it first before they give anything to us. Heaven forbid they lost any chance at profiteering....

]]> Nay http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1007082 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1007082 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:31:34 -0800 Comment by RainMan I'm thinking of converting mine into Euros. But 19's idea of spending it back in my home and native land sounds good.

]]> RainMan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1007185 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/early_payday_from_uncle_sam#c1007185 Money Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:50:04 -0800