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Apr 29

IRS Tax Rebate CheckWith the first distribution date of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package Tax Rebate Checks approaching quickly, people are getting excited when they check their mail. I personally am expecting up to $1200 to magically appear sometime late this year. While I’m glad to see some extra cash come my way, I’m a bit skeptical about whether this will really help the economy. I wanted to know what other people thought about this, since my own feelings are mixed, so I asked around:

Anna is a 26 year old waitress and a mother of two. Her annual income is less than $30,000 a year even after tips.
“I don’t really understand why they are sending out these checks but I think it’s great. I don’t really make a lot of money here so every little bit helps.” When asked what she plans to do with her tax rebate check, Anna responds “I’m not really sure yet. I think it will get here during summer vacation and it would be nice to take my kids somewhere fun for a change. It’s money I wasn’t counting on so I want to enjoy it a little.”

Andy is a 49 year old independent contractor. He has no children and currently makes about $60,000 a year.
“I think this check is just a trick to make fools comfortable spending more money than they really have. The kids who aren’t smart with money to begin with will go out before the check even comes in the mail and spend it ahead of time. Then when the check comes in they’ll spend that on useless things too. They feel good about it because it looks like free money, but it’s not. That money had to come from somewhere, whether it’s from the taxes we pay or a loan from the national deficit. And because he waited until election year to do it, I also think it’s a trick and a buyout by the republicans to win more votes.”

Wondering if you qualify for the 2008 tax rebate check? This chart was provided by moneybluebook.com and details who qualifies, and for how much:

Single Individuals (AGI)
Qualify For A Rebate Check?
Less Than $3,000 No
($3,000 - $75,000), but DID NOT pay taxes Yes - $300, plus extra for each child
($3,000 - $75,000), but DID pay taxes Yes - $600, plus extra for each child
(Over $75,000 - $87,000) Yes - But for income that exceeds $75,000, your rebate will be reduced by 5% (in $1,000 increments), plus extra for each child
Over $87,000 income Maybe - You have been phased out, but can still get rebates for your child
For Each Child You Have Additional - $300 per child
Married Couples (AGI)
Qualify For A Rebate Check?
Less Than $3,000 No
(3,000 - $150,000), but DID NOT pay taxes Yes - $600, plus extra for each child
($3,000 - $150,000), but DID pay taxes Yes - $1,200, plus extra for each child
(Over $150,000 - $174,000) Yes - But for income that exceeds $150,000, the rebate is reduced by 5% (in $1,000 increments), plus extra for each child
Over $174,000 income Maybe - As a couple, you’ve both been phased out, but can still get rebates for your child
For Each Child You Have Additional - $300 per child

The tax rebate checks will be distributed over the course of this summer. Below are the schedules for economic stimulus payments related to tax returns processed by April 15, 2008:

 

Direct Deposit Payments

If the last two digits of your Social Security number are: Your economic stimulus payment deposit should be transmitted to your bank account by:
00 – 20 May 2
21 – 75 May 9
76 – 99 May 16

Paper Check

If the last two digits of your Social Security number are: Your check should be in the mail by:
00 – 09 May 16
10 – 18 May 23
19 – 25 May 30
26 – 38 June 6
39 – 51 June 13
52 – 63 June 20
64 – 75 June 27
76 – 87 July 4
88 – 99 July 11

For more information regarding the 2008 Economic Stimulus package or the Tax Rebate checks, please visit the official website of the IRS.

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Apr 25

So, theres this movie, called Surf’s Up staring Shia LaBeouf from the movie Transformers. It is a movie about a Penguin who loves so surf. All of his friends and family think he is just wasting his life away, but he follows his dreams just as he was told to do by his idol Big Z(Jeffrey Bridges). Ten years before during a rough competition between Big Z and his rival Tank Evans(Diedrich Bader), ‘Z’ begins to lose to Evans, so he stages a crash and makes it appear that he is dead. But when Cody Maverick(Shia LaBeouf) comes to town to compete against Tank Evans in the “Big Z Memorial Surf Off” to pursue his life long dream of being as great as Big Z, he meets a new inspiration along the way.

The movie is adorable. It has some adult humor in it, so it doesn’t completely bore the parents viewing the film. It is a TOTALLY child friendly movie, and its also inspiring. Yes, a cartoon about penguins inspires people. which include me. It teaches children to never give up, and if you don’t know how to lose, then you shouldn’t be able to win. ‘Cuz no one likes a sore winner.

I think it is important for films that are made for small children to have an overall message. Things like, “never give up” or “follow your heart”, you know, stuff like that. Because children are the future, and we don’t want them to give up and never do what they want to truly do in life as adults. It think this movie the PERFECT for a family movie night. Its beyond perfect for young children. I could honestly watch this movie a thousand times, and still think that it’s amazing.

-Loula

Loula is a guest writer for Random Review Crew. More of her life’s observations can be found at loulaspace.com

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