Isn't myth-debunking site Snopes the greatest? Especially useful: their recent post on the misinformation floating around about when stimulus checks are going out.
Apparently, a popular email going around has some truth to it: the IRS will in fact be distributing checks based on the last two digits of taxpayers' social security numbers. But the email also has a flaw: the dates circulating are from 2001.
The reality is that the money will be coming much sooner, between May 16th and July 11th for most. So you know, start yacht-shopping now.
Speaking of which, what are you spending your stimulus check on, if you're getting one? Most people we know are throwing it in the gaping student-loan maw of Sallie Mae rather than doing anything especially stimulating.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. How'bout those taxes! Did you know "Big Government" reaps more money per gallon of oil than even "Big Oil"!? Meanwhile Hittlery and Obamawant to take those capitalist pigs to task for their profits? Outrageous!
Mike at 5:32PM on Apr 3rd 2008
2. Wow Ada, I was just talking with this with my wife( yes I do talk to her...sometimes)
With record deficit, Is it really wise to give out 'stimulus' checks? I know if I was trillions of dollars in debt I would not give even my bestest good friend 'extra' money.
I know it makes me sound like an A-hole, but shouldn't the government be a little more responsible fiscally?
mac at 6:33PM on Apr 3rd 2008
3. Spending it on divorce expenses. That'll cover about 1/10 of attorney fees.
web jones at 6:33PM on Apr 3rd 2008
4. Well, I don't think I'm going to get one Ada. But if I do, I think I'll travel up to NYC and see a Broadway show. Mrs. Willet is a real Broadway fan.
Willet at 10:27PM on Apr 3rd 2008
5.
We could spend it at Wal-Mart, but the money would end up in China
We could spend it at a convenience store, but the money would end up in Pakistan or India.
We could spend it on gasoline, but the money would end up in the Middle East.
We could spend it on yard maintenance and home repair, but the money would end up in Mexico.
Sooooo, where can we spend it so the money stays here?
Ooh, ooh, I know! Buy marijuana with it! The money might end up in Jamaica, but there's lots of homegrown around so chances are good that it'll stay here.
FL Chick at 10:38PM on Apr 3rd 2008
6. According to my accountant, the checks will definitely go out in order of the last 2 digits of Social Security numbers.
As for spending the stimulas check and the refund check, it will be divided between my IRA, our son's 529 account, resealing the driveway, trimming a large tree, repairing and restaining the deck, and one of the long weekends that we are taking.
Kent at 11:39PM on Apr 3rd 2008
7. What a joke this stimulus plan. Most people won't even get a check. If you owe taxes and are paying them monthly on a payment plan you won't be getting a check. They will keep it and apply it to what you owe so you won't be stimulating anything.
Violet at 6:25AM on Apr 4th 2008
8. I've heard this is something we'll have to pay back later, but I haven't heard much of anything to prove or disprove this.
Strados at 7:22AM on Apr 4th 2008
9. I looked at the snopes site to see if the rumor I heard of was there, it wasn't. Also....Ada....this is almost a month old. Tsk.
Strados at 7:31AM on Apr 4th 2008
10. Won't be spending it - apparently the US Dept of Education will be taking all my stimulis money. There goes the lights - gonna have to move to a shelter soon
Me at 1:30PM on Apr 15th 2008
11. If you have doubts about the economic wisdom of the Economic Stimulus Program, read on. Several hundred thousand, maybe a million, Economic Stimulus checks will be sent to Social Security Beneficiaries outside the US, because they are qualified under the law. All they have to do is file a 1040A IRS Form to get a stimulus check, and they are lining up at US embassies to get the forms. While the payments will improve their lives, they will do NOTHING to stimulate the US economy. Just add that extra $1 billion of payments to the 2008 deficit.
Bedazzled South of the Border.
Bob at 5:32PM on Apr 28th 2008
12. Well I don't know about the whole SSN#, because some people at my work place has already gotten theirs, and their #'s are in the 90's and they aren't suppose to go out till July. They shouldn't have told anyone so people wouldn't be so eager to get them. I am a single mother with 2 children and it says July till I will recieve mine, its hard to wait that long.
trish at 4:30PM on May 21st 2008