A Second Economic Stimulus Check? Thanks, But No Thanks.

Photo credit: The Joy Of The Mundane

Sorry, but I’m not going to fall for the election year pandering this time.  I graciously and gratefully accepted the first stimulus check - it paid for my bike and helped pay down my car loan - but we certainly didn’t need it.  And now the Democrats are [...]

Double Payday, Thanks to Uncle Sam

I awoke this morning to a wonderful surprise: Not was today payday for my employer, it apparently was payday from Uncle Sam as well. My bank account squealed with pleasure this morning as it gleefully announced that I had two large deposits waiting for me:

05/07/08 - Electronic Deposit Us Treasury 220 - $1,500.00
05/07/08 - [...]

Fighting the Temptation to Spend

A post on Frugal Dad this morning about the tax rebate got me thinking about how hard it is to not go out and spend it like a “good little consumer.” Every now and then, I get this nearly uncontrollable urge spend. It’s usually triggered by a large purchase or an unexpected influx [...]

Tax Rebate Update: Not an Advance

Finally, we have some truth shining through after a week full of questions on whether this tax rebate is an advance or “free money.” In the end, it turns out it is neither. What it is is prepayment of a tax credit we would have received in our 2008 returns. Here’s the [...]