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Entry bubble Tax Rebates are Here (Sorta)!

By: Jake | May 05, 2008 | Category: Money

We're starting to see economic stimulus payments (or tax rebates) in our bank accounts! Or at least some of us are. If you want to know when you'll get it, the Internal Revenue Service has created a "where's my stimulus payment" webpage where you can enter some information and see when you should get your payment.

Animated Guy with a Tax CheckThe IRS is sending payments out in order of the last two digits of a taxpayer's social security number. So those of you who qualified for the payment, opted for direct deposit and whose SSN ends in 0-20 got rebates last week.

The IRS rebate schedule says that those of us with higher numbers at the end of our SSN will have to wait a few more weeks to get our direct deposit payments. Those who opted for paper checks will start to get checks in mid-May.

This SSN schedule assumes the IRS processed your tax return by April 15. If the IRS did not process your return by April 15, you should get your economic stimulus payment up to two weeks after you receive your refund (regardless of direct deposit or check it seems). If you did not expect to get a refund or you filed your return after April 15, it will take a minimum of six weeks after you file to receive your stimulus payment.

If you don't remember or don't know how much money you qualified to receive, you can use the IRS Economic Stimulus Payment Calculator to find out. Keep in mind you could receive less than the amount calculated here if you owe back taxes, child support, money for student loans and other reasons. Around the same time you get your payment, the IRS will send you a notice to break down how it was calculated. Keep this statement for your records.

If you did not file your 2007 income tax or an extension, you can still file your federal income tax by October 15, 2008 to see if you qualify for an economic stimulus payment. The sooner you file though, the sooner you'll get results.

If you have other questions call the IRS or contact your local IRS office.  

| Comments [15] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: economic  jake  money  payment  rebates  stimulus  tax 

 

Entry bubble DOE Website for Energy-Saving Tips

By: Colleen | April 30, 2008 | Category: General

To continue on Joanne's "everyday is Earth Day" theme...gas pump

Anyone currently residing on planet Earth knows the cost of gas is soaring sky-high. Because prices at the pump are following the same trajectory as a spaceshuttle, it's important to find other ways to cut costs and reduce energy consumption.

Last week the U.S. Department of Energy launched a new website. The interactive page gives you a virtual tour of a typical home. Just click your mouse on different areas of the house and you're given tips and ideas about saving energy and costs.

One of the more interesting tips I found by clicking on the car in the driveway. It told me to "Get the junk out of the trunk and properly inflate your tires! An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 2%."

Off the top of my head, if someone were to break open my trunk right now, they'd find: a pair of roller blades, a wool winter coat, my old non-functional laptop, my sister's semi-functional laptop from college, a garbage bag of old clothes I've been meaning to donate, and a heavy-duty ice scraper. And that's just the stuff of which I am AWARE. It's time for a vehicular spring cleaning.

Check out other suggestions for getting the most energy efficient appliances, and using mother nature herself as a natural means of heating and lighting. Little changes can add up to BIG savings, for both our wallets and environment.

What tricks do you have for saving money and energy? Any good tips?

| Comments [4] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: colleen  consumption  doe  energy  gas  money  saving  tips 

 

Entry bubble Government Grants

By: Joanne | April 01, 2008 | Category: Money

Hey! Did you hear that the government gives away billions of dollars so people can pay off their credit card bills, quit their jobs and go on vacation?  April fool!

woman standing in a shower of money

Are we really that gullible? Sure we’d all like it to be true—who doesn’t want some easy money? But before you shell out some of your hard earned money to learn how to get a government grant, or even worse, get caught up in a scam, I want you to know that the government does give lots of money away, but most government grants go to state and local governments or nonprofit organizations that in turn use the money to administer community programs.

If you or someone you know is in need, the government has loads of assistance programs that might help - they’re just not often referred to as “grants.” There are programs to help with heating bills or starting a business or health insurance for children and much more. If you’re an organization seeking a grant you should check out grants.gov, your official source where you can find and apply for a grant from the federal government.

| Comments [5] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: assistance  benefits  financial  grant  joanne  money 

 

Entry bubble Confessions of a Coupon Clipper

By: Jim | March 24, 2008 | Category: Money

When I was a smart aleck teenager back in Akron, Ohio I’d tease my mom about some of her frugal habits by calling her “Queen of the Margarine Tubs.” Her retort, “Who needs Tupperware?!” I swore she had enough tubs stashed in the kitchen cupboards to pack away leftovers from a 12-person Thanksgiving dinner. And then some. Now, guess who’s saying, “Ain’t it funny how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?”

Even with Mom’s encouragement, my thrifty tendencies didn't take root until I came to work for FCIC nearly 12 years ago. Part of my job involves getting publications from government agencies to Pueblo, Colorado for distribution. One day I glanced through a copy of our publication 66 Ways to Save Money, and somehow I got the saving message.

scissors cutting coupon

Nowadays, I plop myself down on the couch with scissors and my one large, strong cup of coffee to peruse the Washington Post’s Sunday coupons. Hey, don’t laugh! Coupon clipping is respectable – September is National Coupon Month. Even Reader’s Digest offers coupon clipping tips. One tip is to clip only what you know you’ll use and leave the rest. Get Rich Slowly offers a great glimpse into the dangers of overbuying because you were tempted by a good deal.

So what do I do with my unused coupons? I bring them to the office on Monday to trade with fellow FCIC blogger Nancy as we lunch on leftovers.

| Comments [8] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: coupons  jim  money  saving 

 

Entry bubble Newly Redesigned $5 Bills Now in Circulation

By: Sommer | March 14, 2008 | Category: Money

new $5 bill

Yesterday, Federal Reserve Banks around the country began releasing the newly redesigned $5 bills into circulation.

The new bills were redesigned to incorporate state-of-the-art security features similar to the $50 bill, $20 bill, and $10 bill that preceded it. New security features include two watermarks and a security thread; in addition, the bill has new coloring and a larger, slightly offset image of Abe Lincoln.

Since the older-design $5 bills will always maintain their full face value you don’t have to exchange them for new bills. In fact, every U.S. banknote issued since 1861 is still redeemable today at full face value. If you have old $5 bills that are mutilated or badly damaged you can exchange them through the Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

| Comments [6] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: $5bill  currency  money  sommer 

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