When will I get my Rebate Check?

When will you receive your federal rebate? Now we know — the Internal Revenue Service published the payment schedule yesterday.

The IRS plans to start issuing about $107 billion in rebates on May 2 to about 130 million households. To be eligible for a rebate, you must file a federal income-tax return. So, assuming you file by April 15, here are the general rules:

Direct Deposit: If you complete the “direct deposit” section of your return, your rebate will probably be deposited directly into your bank or credit union account.
And you’ll get your rebate faster than others will. The U.S. Treasury plans to directly deposit rebates in three weekly batches: on May 2, May 9 and May 16.
Directly deposited rebates “will all be done in the first three weeks of May,” IRS spokeswoman Peggy Riley said. Altogether, the IRS expects to issue about 34 million rebates this way.

Paper Checks: If you do not complete the “direct deposit” section of your return, you’ll get your rebate in the form of a paper check, by mail. The Treasury plans to put rebate checks in the mail in weekly batches, starting May 16 and ending July 11.

Order of Payments: Exactly when you’ll receive your rebate depends on the last two digits of your Social Security number. (If you’re married and filing a joint return, the IRS will rely, for this purpose, on the Social Security number listed first on the return.)

To understand how this will work, consider the last two digits of your Social Security number to be a whole number.

For example, if your Social Security number ends in “26,” your number is 26. The closer that number is to zero, the sooner you’ll get your payment.The closer that number is to 99, the later you’ll get your payment.

Here’s how it’ll work if you use direct deposit:

If your number is from 00 to 20, the Treasury will send your rebate directly to your bank or credit union account May 2.
If your number is from 21 to 75, your rebate will be directly deposited May 9.
If your number is from 76 to 99, your rebate will be directly deposited May 16.

The Treasury will use a similar procedure for mailing of paper checks:

If your number is from 00 to 25, the Treasury will put your check in the mail in May.
If your number is from 26 to 75, the Treasury will put your check in the mail in June.
If your number is from 76 to 99, the Treasury will put your check in the mail in early July.

To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17. Millions of retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who usually are exempt from filing a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a stimulus payment.

Keep in mind that the amount of your rebate could be reduced — in some cases to zero — if you are delinquent on federal or state income taxes, federally backed college loans or certain other debts, such as child support.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=177937,00.html#Calculator

Adventures!

Hello everyone!

As most of you heard over the holidays I'm heading to L.A. to give it a try. I'm leaving January 7th (Monday) so I've only got a few days left to prepare. I'll be driving out and taking a very southern route to try and avoid as much bad weather as possible but hopefully hit some sights along the way. If any of you have friends in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Arizona those are the main states I'll be driving through... I think I'm fairly well covered but possible places to stay with friends are very appreciated!

I've set up a blog for my adventure although I'll be posting a little on here as well. But my 'Megan Goes West' blog will have daily updates and hopefully pictures and some video feeds too, we'll see how much time I actually have once the trip begins. View the blog at meganshaffer.blogspot.com and check back often!

I'll put a link to it on the side for easy access. It is open to anyone so you wont have to sign in to view it.

Government offers TV coupons

I'm not sure if any of you still use those old rabbit ears to watch TV. I'm sure you've all heard of the "digital" transition that's going to occur on February 18th, 2009. Basically what's going to happen is the TV station broadcasters are no longer going to be sending an analog signal over the airwaves. They are converting this signal to a digital signal to free up some radio frequencies. This is not an HD signal, HD is a whole other can of worms. It's a digital broadcast signal.

If you have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch free over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set.

If you have satellite or cable service nothing will change for you, you will not need a converter box.

The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes. If your still using an analog TV to receive free TV over the air waves you might as well take this government handout.

To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at www.dtv2009.gov. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

Well, it was really difficult and confusing, but with the efforts of several family members Chrissy the Christmas mouse is happy to announce that we will have peppermint stick ice cream Christmas Eve! One elf even hid a couple of boxes behind another flavor of ice cream, but someone must have been watching and moved things back to where they should be. However, another elf managed to come along in time to save the day, so come one, come all, and enjoy the refreshments on Christmas Eve!!!

HELP!!!

Help! Chrissy the Christmas mouse is in a bad way because she can't locate any peppermint stick ice cream!!!! Can anyone help??? I might have to ask Dominic or my hippo!?!?!?!? Thanks everyone!!

HELP!!!

Car Shopping

So if you haven't heard, Kennedy and I were in an accident this past Wednesday with our first snow. We didn't make it down off our mountain without losing control due to the ice hidden under the snow. One big scary sled ride with no way of stopping - except for hitting either a telephone pole or an on coming Ford pick up. God blessed us and I was able to steer enough to avoid the phone pole, NOT hit the truck directly head on ... but did hit him with my front passenger side. We then spun 270 degrees into the brush/woods/ditch before coming to a stop.
Neither Kennedy nor I were seriously hurt -- just a bit tongue for Kennedy and bruised knees and stiffness all over for me. Unborn baby is fine as well --- ultrasounds verified this.

However, it is very likely my Avalon is totalled. We are waiting for the insurance adjuster to determine the cars plight ... but we are preparing for the need to car shop. In doing so, we are very much drawn to the Toyota Sienna (the only minivan on the market that can come in AWD), however we are not wanting to buy brand new. If anyone has any insight into the minivan market, please call Ken and I at 717-642-5203 or email us: kb3777@hotmail.com or smsonja@yahoo.com.

Turkey Bowl Pregame Preps

With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving it is time to get semi-serious about Turkey Bowl Plans. (Next week we'll get serious! Seriously!) I've had some response to an email I sent and sounds like the game is on. At least there was interest in the breakfast. If you have not responded yet, please drop us a line so we can get a head count. Also spread the word. I've seem to have lost my list of emails from last year's extravaganza (probably got put away with the archives) so I need help getting in touch with everybody.

I'm assuming Ben, the 2006 MVT, will be there to protect his title and hang onto that trophy! (you do know where it is, right Ben??) Now that we know what we're playing for, I'm sure the level of play will really be significantly changed.......

Anyway, watch Megan's video to get you pumped up, send me a note confirming your coming, and start your pre-season exercise regimen! (Well that can wait another week or so!!)

Brent

New Dryer

I am purchasing a new dryer this week - old one doesn't heat on regular cycle and is 19 years old. If anyone is interested in the old one, please call me immediately - I plan to order new one tomorrow - not sure of delivery date, but hope this week sometime! Carole

Reminders

I'm trying to figure out how to post a calendar or a link to one for family events and such...unfortunately I'm a little technologically slow myself, so be patient.

As for announcements:

Aunt Carole's reserved Dec 20th for a nieces day at her house. See below for details.

Make sure your family pages are ready to 'hand in' by Thanksgiving dinner, no holding up those calendars this year!! (I'm pretty sure the biggest offenders are my family so umm I'll work on that!

And plenty of you need to weigh in on the Turkey Bowl discussions! Only two weeks until Thanksgiving!

Kennedy's Halloween Costume

Several of you were asking at Missy and Tom's party what Kennedy was for Halloween ... she made a pretty cute Dumbo! Not that we are biased or anything ......


And yes, that is a tiny Timothy mouse sticking out of the brim of the yellow hat!

Thursday, Dec. 20th!

Attention all nieces!!! Keep Thursday, Dec. 20 available for final Christmas preparations at Aunt Carole's house - any of you who are available are welcome to finish up Christmas cookies, wrapping, etc. - any time after 10:30 a.m. Last year was quite productive and entertaining on this day! Anyone else who is available and willing to help, feel free to stop by! See ya then! Aunt CArole

Holes and black worms in the yard!

I have received a few questions (and a lot of bewildered looks from neighbors) about the recent activity at our house. I'm sure there will be more, as the project is to be documented and published in a national co-op publication (no economic advantage to us).

We have decided to "bite the bullet" and install a verticle closed loop geothermo system to provide our HVAC needs. The holes(3) are 200 feet deep and about 12 inches in diameter. The black worms are the piping that will circulate a glycol solution in and out of the holes and through the heat pumps (2).

Our oil furnace (and its associated costs) will be removed.

The project includes removing most of the existing ac duct work and replacing with new. Because of limited space and access, this will require removing part of the second story outside wall.

We are also adding load control to the electric service.

Entire project is to be completed by first of the year.

It will be hectic until then!

Seagull Century

Well the first time I am typing on this - not sure since I am technologically challenged if I will have any success!
Oct. 6 my friend Linda and I completed the seagull century bike ride - we had 43 miles of fog and when fog lifted it got quite warm!! But we did not have rain, cold, or wind! Last year it poured the entire day!! We completed the ride in 7 1/2 hours - one hour faster than when I did it 5 years ago (pre West Nile). So, older is better!?!?!? I am going to try to put a picture on here, but if I don't have any success and you really care, you can go to www.marathonfoto.com and check me out under Seagull Century 2007, racer #3435. I would offer pictures of Linda too, but out of 15 cameras, 13 found me and 0 found her!!!! I told her that just means she has to do it again!!!