2009 Stimulus Check Latest
Monday, June 1, 2009 11:10Some more news to report on the 2009 stimulus check…
The recent stimulus package passed by congress (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) has now had the finer details examined and it can now be confirmed that the only mention in the act that relates to a 2009 stimulus check is by way of a section describing a tax credit which will be the lower of $500 or 6.2% of the yearly income of a taxpayer.
So any taxpayer who earns $8064 or more per year will receive a credit of $500. If the taxpayer earns less than $8064 per year then the 2009 stimulus check will be 6.2% of the yearly income. For joint filers the maximum figure is $1000.
If you qualify for a check then in order to receive it you need to file your taxes. For this I recommend TaxAct who provide a free service along with their paid services and can get your refund in as little as 9 days. For more information click here.
For those interested in studying the actual wording of the Act, they will find this in section 1001 of the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009. This section is titled “Making Work Pay Credit”. There is no actual mention of a 2009 stimulus check.
One other hoped for stimulus was conspicuous by its absence from the stimulus package. This was the possibility for penalty free access to retirement funds, be that a 401(k) or an IRA fund. It was hoped by many that in the case of hardship a withdrawal would have been possible without incurring a penalty. This approach was favored over the 2009 stimulus check proposal by many experts as this would have resulted in a stimulus to the economy without it being at the expense of the taxpayer.
Tim says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:33 am
Wow,$1000, what is that going to do for the average american. While our tax dollars bail out the greedy, we might get a mere $1000. How about each true American that filed taxes 08, made a certain amount, not on welfare receive say $30,000. Alot of people could possibly get rid of their debt. Especially credit card debt. Then make it almost impossible to get another credit card if the debt paid off was $10,000+ for a certain amout of years and their be strict lower limits. Therefore banks wouldn’t wind up with debt from those can’t repay eating it. $900 million dollars could be distibuted in a manner that not only helps out the economy, but get you average Joe out of debt. Just a thought from someone without a college degree, not in debt and most certainly not a greedy person.
Nicholas says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:27 am
Stimulus checks are risky business man. Look what it did to japan in the early 90s. It pushed the country into a deep hole they felt until close to 2000. That said for a mere $1000…. What do you think if the gov. gave everyone $30,000 dollars? Now if you joking, thats funny. But if you serious, well sir, you know less about a working economy than Mr.McCain. Think about what would happen to the value of the dollar if nothing else.
stac says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I completely agree with Tim….think about it: If you want to stimulate the economy then give the average american some real money and like he said, the majority of us would GET OUT OF DEBT. ISn’t that the goal here. But instead we keep giving BIG BUSINESSES and BANKS MILLIONS to squander — buy new jets, have parties, and get huge bonuses— while we still struggle. It does not take a Genius to understand this…..I am still outraged that the surrounding counties where I live are going to GIVE BOSCOV’s a department store $6 million to keep this stupid store open. IF you want to BLOW $6 MILLION dollars then why don’t you let every PA resident NOT pay their PROPERTY taxes — which are very HIGH. That would also STIMULATE the economy — we would have several thousands of dollars to spend …. but instead you are giving a STORE $6 million dollars and we still are not going to SHOP with the economy in this state. I am sorry I got off the subject TIM — I am just fired up over this. I am a stay-at-home mom and substitute teacher and like YOU said above we can FIGURE this out but these HIGH PAID government officials CAN’T?????? FRUSTRATED!!
Maureen says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
If the government were to give out money simply to repay debt, it would not stimulate the economy as intended. With the stimulus checks, it’s thought that Americans will have more money to go spend on physical goods, if everyone were to go buy things with those checks the idea is that retailers’ profits would increase, creating more jobs and so on. There are definitely problems and flaws with this plan especially since so many Americans are in debt, many financial advisers would tell them to put that stimulus check towards paying down their debt, which is what many people do.
Nicholas Capano says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I don’t disagree with you on the U.S. making more educated decisions on where to put the money. However, if they are going to fix this they need to do it on the corporate and small business level, they maybe be foolish but American consumer would make even a more ridiculous waste of the money.
10-30k to everyone would cause the value of the dollar to collapse. Also giving it to irresponsible people is still just as foolish. You think Wall street exploded last fall wait until this happens (Which never will, due to what is written the sentence before). I showed my Economic Professor that post and he laughed like he just watched Dane Cook attempt a serious role. People just need to not be foolish with money. I guarantee 8 out of 10 people with 30,000 in debt (before this recession) should not have bought all the junk they did. People should do the math before they attempt to by a house themselves, just because a junky bank will loan to them does not mean they can afford it. We are grown adults here, not children going to daddy for money for gas because we spend our last dollars at the movies.
Don’t get me wrong some people have bad luck, but its like welfare, they are few and far between.
Nicholas Capano says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
And yes the government officials stuff is hilarious as well. In a pathetic way of course.
Shannon says:
February 4th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Giving $500 per person or $1000 per couple isn’t really going to help. I bet at least 75% of this country is in debt far beyond that $1000 total.. I know I am ($4000 in debt). So will this really help us clear our slates, not even close. I think $5000 or even $10,000 would greatly help people at least make a dent in their debt if not clear it up completely. The $30,000 would be nice too. If they’re willing to give billions to big name companies, than they can give a little more than a few million to the ‘normal people’ of this country.
And to Nicholas’ comment about loans for houses – you might want to think about why some of these houses went bad. Sure I’d say most were because people weren’t budgeting correctly. But I know several were also due to divorce, death in the family and loss of jobs. You can never really plan for some of these things to happen because most occur in the blink of an eye.
Phill says:
February 4th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I’m simply making an observational opinion with my statements.
I think the government is basing this ’stimulus check’ on annual incomes of companies, families, and individuals. I believe the reason our government is willing to ‘give companies’ billions of dollars, and the average household “mere millions” is simply because the average household is only thousands in debt. The average business is Millions in debt. If the government can agree on a set percentage for each category, (Company, Household, Individual) the checks will get to our hands much quicker.
I also believe that the government should keep a much better watch on company spending policies. Create better laws/penalties against shipping jobs to other countries. And, simple irresponsible spending in general. We as US citizens should also take a better look at what we’re spending habits are.
Think of a stone being dropped into water. Watch the ripple-effect of that stone. Now picture that same stone dropping onto a pillow. The ‘ripple-effect’ is counteracted/cushioned by the pillow. It’s a much softer landing.
If Companies, Households, And Individuals spend irresponsibly…..We’ll ALL end up like the stone that drowns in water…….
Nate says:
February 4th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Lock the prices, do not let the prices rise or fall, this will keep the $ the same. Give each middle class taxpayer $30,000, $60,000 for a family. Require a third invested somwhere in their choice of what, the other two-thirds pay off debt and buy goods. With the prices locked, the dollar cant fall or raise.
Make these idiots that made bad business decisions work their butts off to get the business that would be started by this money. Which would make them advertise, which would get the papers and television companies the advertising dollars they need to survive. This would weed out the idiots and make others stronger.
But instead out brilliant government gives out a trillion to a bunch of banks that keep their idiot CEO’s that have proven that they suck at their jobs. Lets give them all this money so they take the whole country with them
colleen says:
February 4th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Instead of 890+billion to bail out big business, y not bail out those who really need it. The taxpayers. If the gov. would give us each 1mil(even 500kwould do). We will pay taxes on it(everyone the same amount(20-30%????) that would leave us with 300-500k. We could pay off mortgages, credit cards, buy new cars, SAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, buy health insurance, invest………….. This will in turn bail out the mortgage industry, banks, auto manufacturers,etc. Then the govt needs to change their spending, change the way bills are voted on–one thing at a time–no adding things on to big bills, like they r trying to so to this package(600m for govt cars, & all the other STUPID things they are trying to fund). If it wont “stimulate” the economy NOW—6months or so, its not worth it…….
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out!!!!!!!!!!,
We the get rid of the IRS, by making everyone pay the same amount of tax, either with a flat rate income tax, or a federal sales tax, which makes everyone including illegals, pay the same amount, no returns, no refunds, NO IRS—–look at all the $$$ we could be saving.
kimberly says:
February 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Where do you think this money is coming from and why do you think you deserve it? Did you earn it? Do you feel because you have made poor spending choices you should get bailed out? I understand large companies are getting bailed out but they give jobs to thousands of people. Let the company fail and many more people are out of work and on unemployment. They already are working with these companies and making them follow guidlines to ensure they won’t make the same mistakes as before. I too have debt but I am the one that put myself there and I will be the one to pay it off. I don’t need our country to go further into debt to cover my spending habits. $1,000 many not seem like a lot but many people can use it to get caught up if they are a bill or two behind. Every little bit helps. Stop whining about who’s getting what and concentrate on yourself and how you are going to get out of your own debt.
Steven says:
February 4th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I don’t know how anyone can complain about the money we will be getting from the stimulus check. Put it this way it’s money you were not originally going to get anyways. So the way I figure it, stop complaining and accept what you get it’s better than nothing. You all are the ones who are sounding greedy now!
SG says:
February 4th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
This country wants to bail out those big corporate businesses and banks so that they can control them….we are looking at a communist country folks.
Nicholas Capano says:
February 4th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Why do so few people understand how an economy works 60k for families would DESTROY the value of the dollar. Sense I already stated that, and someone above is still suggesting. If you don’t know, the price of everything around you would go up. Those Asian Countries who control more than 60% of our debt would turn their noses up at us. Google ‘Japans financial crisis in the early 90s’ to see what excessive stimulus does to an economy. On another note think how much it would cost to regulate this, “every citizen must invest a portion” idea. Those ideas are all insane and there is a reason why economist haven’t suggested it yet.
Phill, I like your idea. I have no idea about their reasoning but yours is intuitive.
And SG pls stop reading you Iron curtain comic books and get your GED.
Traci says:
February 5th, 2009 at 1:45 am
I like what John Stewart proposed.
Give each American tax payer 10,000 and the MUST use the money to pay off debt to a credit card, home loan or student loan, car loan or other loan to a bank. Then the banks get the money and we get debt relief! Why not give it to the banks that gave to us rather than the banks that gave to their CEO”s!!!!
Greg says:
February 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
With all the money our congress has forked over in the last 10yrs they could of bought every tax paying citizen a $200,000 furnished house wow what a concept. I still don’t believe any future tax stimulus will help without a restructuring of the existing tax code. Replace income tax with a sales tax, those that have money will spend it. The more a person has the more they spend, the more they pay but it is equal, everyone pays same. Abolish property taxes. Property owners think they own but in reality they are renters. What happens to your property if you can’t pay?
My grandfather lost is house on a fixed income and worked entire life to acquire it..
I know I’m a radical but so were the founding fathers I think I’m in good company : )
Vini says:
February 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
For those who has more than $10,000.00 in debt, they should cut up all their credit cards. Your debt will add up higher and higher. Don’t think you get a good deal in purchase, you are paying much higher interest on credit card if you don’t pay off right away. So be smart, if you don’t have the money in your account don’t over spend. That’s why there are so many people file bankruptcy. My opinion, the government shouldn’t bail out these big corporations. These corps can merge with other company and reform. Fired all the CEOs and reform new management. The government is using all the taxpayers’ money to bail big corps without our approval. I don’t want to bail them out, just let them work it out themselves or put in their own money not ours. The government should give out stimulus checks for those who filed income tax to help them out for mortgage, rent, food, clothes for kids and etc and cut down on welfare. People don’t work do deserve any of my tax money.
Beth says:
February 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Tim, I agree with you. I’m single. $500 won’t get me anywhere. Give me about $20,000 and I can get out of debt and live comfortably. The government can bail out banks and car companies, but not us average citizens. The rich get richer.
alina says:
February 5th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I still think that if the banks would give more money or just simply make checks payable to your mortgage or car loans that would help more than you think…its extra money in your pocket to spend money…..
bluesfan says:
February 6th, 2009 at 1:00 am
the whole thing about giving the people a $MILLION DOLLARS$ is just to funny, unless it is bill gates who is giving it out. heaven knows he dont need it. $600 million dollars is nothing but a tax write off for him. it wouldnt even have to be a million. a non repayable grant from bill gates, now that would stimulate the economy. people would be able to pay thier banks back and lord knows bill would make his money back in the first year. its a win-win sitiuation. something like that is what its going to take to make us bounce back from a fallen economy.
bluesfan says:
February 6th, 2009 at 1:03 am
o. and one last thing. LETS DO AWAY WITH ALL CREDIT CARDS. if its not in the bank then dont try and spend it.
Nicholas Capano says:
February 6th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Bad idea blues fan. What has allowed our economy to thrive so much in the past was this concept of debt financed economy. It out of control I agree but we need debt in this economy to thrive
Sweetlilmex says:
February 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am
ok i keep hearing different things. If this bill passes are we getting a check. If so when do they plan on sending them?? If its not a check then please explain how we will receive credit. Thanks
djkjer says:
February 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
We seem to be hearing alot about getting “MORE” from this stimulus, yes, it is money that we would no have otherwise gotten, I agree, stop crying over getting it. It is an outward spiral, they give one thing, and we seem to want more, they give us more, and STILL we are not satisfied, but what mos of you do NOT sem to understand, is that this money they are giving out is coming from somewhere. Do a little research and you will find that this money is coming from US! I am not about to pay in enough taxes so that I can get a million dollars back in taxes. That would be a society where the aveage joe would be a billionaire, and the outward spiral continues. We all need to be more frugal with our own money, and a huge percent of the debts would not be there. Taxes will eventually and gradually continue to grow if we do have to keep relying on additional stimulus checks from the government because the money is coming out of the tax payers dollar. We need to turn back to more simple things instead of worry about buying a new car with the checks you feel the IRS should be giving us. That in itself is where the problem lies. GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY!!!!!
April says:
February 8th, 2009 at 8:40 am
So was the bill passed on the 5th that we will recieve another stilmulas check?
Amber says:
February 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I think we should be thankful for anything the government is willing to give us. People dont appriciate anything these days. They think the government owes us. Well i thank god that was born in America. In some other countries if your disabled or just not the smartest person then you live in a hut & starve..We’re lucky that our government at least trys to help us.
Brandon says:
February 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I totally agree with Tim!! Every american that filed taxes and in 2008 should be eligible for the stimulus to give americans in this economy to pay off their debt. I am a credit professional of 15 years experience. I think to be eligible you should of filed a return for 2008 and then distribute this to americans. Tim is right reinvest by americans paying off their date, so they will get better credit rating to then reinvest into the economy for loans. This will help the financial industry, but also get more americans to trust that it is getting better. Then you might see the stock market go back up as well. It is time to give to the average american, instead of take take take
Missy says:
February 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I don’t understand why they are not giving funds for each child. $500 will not help my family of 3, it will help me to pay the electricity bill, but it definitely won’t help stimulate the economy. The stimulus payout was more last year than what it will be this year, that makes no sense to me.
RG says:
February 9th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Here is an idea. Earn your own money and stop relying on the Government to give you money. It is embarrassing that people are salivating at the idea of getting free money that they did not earn or deserve. Stop buying Crap you can’t afford.
carmen says:
February 10th, 2009 at 2:18 am
i think that we need another round of the stimulus checks rather than a tax cut. right now people are so far in debt due to the economy. the checks will help people to get out of debt and on their feet again which in turn will help to stimulate our economy because people can then afford to buy extras.
Average Jane says:
February 10th, 2009 at 10:32 am
After reading several of these comments, I am amazed. RG said that people should earn their own money, I don’t totally disagree, but some people are earning their money and still struggling. There are so many people that have lost their jobs and can not afford to feed their families, let alone pay their light bill as Missy stated. My husband and I both work and have 2 children, we pay our bills, sometimes we are late, but that is really all we can afford to do. We have no savings and don’t have any hope of starting it any time soon. I would gladly take whatever they wanted to give me and I am sure RG would not send the check back!! The stimulus for the American people is not to get people out of debt, they are counting on us spending that money, that is what will stimulate the economy, not people paying off their credit cards and not being allowed to get another one. And by the way, we have no credit cards and are only about $5,000 in debt and most of that is medical bills.
Andy G says:
February 10th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
The $500-$1000 is not to “help” the average American. It is so that Americans will spend it. If you buy a DVD player, you are helping employ the salesman at Best Buy, the manufacturer of the DVD Player, and the makers of DVDs. That is what it means to stimulate the economy. If all most people did was clear credit card debt that would have no net effect. It might be nice for the individual bottom line, but it doesn’t help the economy.
Angel says:
February 11th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I don’t agree with bailing out these big corporations and banks, while these same entities are raising our APR. and not allowing the general public get loans to consolidate any debt they have. I agree that people should be more aware on how they spend their money, but the majority do it because it is a way of life. If the bail out is around 800 billion dollars, by relieving most of the consumers debt or by a good stimulus of a few thousands, they can ask for proof of debt payments, this will not even reach the 800 billion they have plan now. How can that lower the value of the dollar?
Angel says:
February 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
We must also understand that this stimulus is not free money, because on tax day, we must report it, and it will be added or deducted from our tax returns. Again I mention, THIS IS NOT FREE MONEY. And these big companies can have all these guidelines in place but they will not comply to them. That is how this country works, it always has and always will. The bottom line is that the middle class is the one that will always suffer these presedents.
jb says:
February 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
What does a $1000 do for a family? Don’t spend it all in one place! Obama is no different than GW. Im glad everyone voted for this guy to save mankind as we know it. LOL! I cant wait for my huge check So I can stimulate the economy. Im sure some will stimulate their local drug dealer, grocery store, gas station, and local bar of coarse.
beth says:
February 11th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
well if everYone would get there check and go get drunk that will be funny no money to help the banks LOL LOL
RG says:
February 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
To respond to average Jane. No I will not send the check back to the government but over the coarse of a year I gave far more than the amount the government will send me to charity. It took me 10 years to pay off my college loans, I continue to pay my mortgage and only buy what I can afford. My problem with all of this is that people do not live within there own budget. I feel bad for those who have lost their jobs, but for every person who struggles and works hard to get ahead there are 5 who exploit the system using food stamps or those who continue to have children even though they cannot afford it. The bailout is a joke, but people expecting money for nothing is an even bigger joke. I am sorry people struggle. I struggled for several years when I was young. I ate cheap food didn’t go out to dinner and didn’t except handouts.
spence says:
February 12th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
most people that get the money that are like me that work hard and live with in there budget are just going to stick it in the bank an leave it. but the people who live beyond their means that are already in credit card debt are just going to blowit and keep their debt or go into more debt and thats the problem the debt there shouldnt be a stimulus check sent it should be debt relief and instead of releiveing the debts of those that the banks take advantage of. they releive the banks. this is just ignorant.
elessar3434 says:
February 12th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
o.k. instead of sending out stimulus checks of any amount. have the banks turn in all credit card unpaid debt to the goverment and let them cut checks to pay off all of the taxpayers debt up to say $20,000? That way the value of dollar won’t be damaged but unneeded spending by people who wouldn’t use the money to pay off their debt. But what about those who don’t have credit card debt?
Titan771 says:
February 13th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Some of the comments here make me laugh, maybe you people dont realize that the money the government is giving us is our money in the first place. We earned it payed our taxes and now billion dollar companies are getting the majority of it and we get a measly $500. Many people work their asses off just so we can finance many of the governments nonsense. We finance billion dollar projects in Iraq while our country crumbles right under our feet. Now we also bail out corporate giants that give their ceo millions in bonuses. And now we are getting a little $500 check? I hope everyone puts it under the matress…….because $500 isnt going to help anyone. They should have given ligitimate taxpayers $10,000-$15,000 per family and cut the corperate bailouts by half……..this way the companies get some money to continue for a while and then the taxpayers boost the rest into the economy. The way it is now the companies get a free ride…….when that money runs out then what?? More bailouts?
jeff says:
February 14th, 2009 at 4:01 am
the problem is with the average person who a few years ago, went out and bought a house that was barely in there budget. they counted on there overtime and future pay raises to make there house payments. they could not afford to go out once a month, but they were happy that they had that nice big house! gas went way up in price, and then the economy went bad and now they lost there overtime and pay raises and then they lose the house! my wife and i both have good paying state jobs, but live in a trailer house because of the student loan payments and we do not want to go into major debt. yet we have money left over to go out to eat, take the kids to a movie, or just enjoy a night out a couple times a month, plus put a little away in savings for that down payment on a house when we have our student loans paided off. if people would have bought what the could afford instead of buying that huge house to make them look better, alot of this would not be happening now. the banks are alot to blame for this but he people who overspent should take most of the fall! give the stimulus to the people who spend accordingly and not to the ones who spent beyond there means.
Tilly50 says:
February 14th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Very few of these posts make any bit of sense. Nobody . . . corporation or individual, should receive a bail out. Our free market should be allowed to work and those banks or corporations that faltered should fail. People who spent too much money on houses or credit cards shouldn’t be bailed out either. Housing values may have plummetted, but so did my 401K. Nobody is bailing me out. People have bad luck in their life, but our parents didn’t have anyone bailing them out if something bad happened. They pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and started anew. The only stimulus that should be put in place is tax cuts to businesses so they can hire more people and to individuals and families so they can keep (or spend) their own money.
Dallas says:
February 14th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
For the 2008 tax year 156,297,000 individual tax returns were filed in the US. If the government would give the 780 billion to the taxpaying, working, normal people….it would be roughly $5000 per person. Then consumers (the people who really stimulate the economy) would be able to put that money to use. This would be way better than giving to greedy corporations, or banks who just waste it.
Phil says:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Hows about this for an idea? Follow very closely for you might get lost! What if the government were to send each American-tax paying family a gift card (like a pre-paid debit) if you will. Now, what they do is post this card with say 20K for single and 50K for for a family that filed jointly. The reason for this difference is that 75% of the time joint filers have children. Now they send you this card…..BUT…..there are some strings attached to the spending abilities it holds. Let me list some of them now, and this would surely get this economy flowing fast and hard like my you know who at what time! #1- You can purchase a new or used car with it but it has to be and American made Big 3 model. It would have to get a min. 22mpg hwy. #2- You can devote only 25% of it to credit card debt, the reason being that if you pay off all that debt you’ll just rack it up again and BAM your in the crap again. #3- Your limited to buying gas with it from places that get at least 50% of their oil from the US companies (Philips-Amoco is one of them, Shell gas is NOT!). #4- You can use 100% for your mortgage as long as it would pay off the note so you can use that money on items every month there after. The banks would get their money and you would save interest to pump back in to other stuff. My mortgage is $600 a month, that could mean a new living room set in about 2 months which would help out the economy. Or I could build a new garage which would help alot of companies…concrete, shingles, siding, lumber, electrical….well you get it. There are many more things that can be done but these are what I came up with just now.
So as you can see, there are some people that have better ideas than the government in the world. Like I tell the engineers at work all the time, if you want the best way of doing something…ask the people that run the jobs and screw that paper ideas!
Jen says:
February 15th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
America…. the land of opportunity- ha! It’s more like the land of opportunists!!! My husband and I earn over 100g’s per year, own one vehicle, have a small modest home, rarely eat out. I clip coupons every Sunday plus we always look for a bargain wherever possible. Are we struggling? YES! Why? Because things beyond our control have caused financial haavoc in our household. Depsite the salary- throw in thousands of dollars in lawyer fees to modify an old child support order, medical bills not covered by insurance, new tires for a car, replace a hot water heater, etc., This is reality, the stimulus plan is a joke. The $1000 for a married couple does not cover any of our extra expenses. I think the politicians are completely out of touch with the average cost to run a household. Some people wrote we should not complain- LIKE HECK!!! It’s our money these politicians are spending!!! Give it back to MAIN STREET NOT WALL STREET!!!!!!!!!
Blake says:
February 16th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Oh thank god someone with some sense lol. Thank you tilly50. I doubt people know much about realy economics in this whole thread. But that implies that I know no more lol. Anyways we have a 48% tax on businesses. Thats horrible!!! Now now, I know that everyone thinks this is stupid (why should we give more money to businesses? they are the reason we are in debt! They don’t care about us!) very untruthful. Businesses care more about us than the government ever will. We have the second highest corporate tax in the world, reducing this would give the companies the headroom to hire the excessive people that they don’t need in the first place. But hey the average joe is hired and has a job now. Bailouts are not in any way American. In history everyone came here to make it on their own. Not get paid to live in an apartment that they couldn’t pay for unless the government paid for it. People are getting the “American Dream” mixed up completely. Please please think about where this money is coming from! And a huge huge NO to ANY money to the average person. It’s funny that people are asking for more and more money from the goverment. I’d like to know where they spent the last check…
P.S. I am only 18 and only graduated high school and doing an EMT class at a community college next fall. Don’t give me that I have a college degree crap. It’s people with their college degrees who make the same mistakes lol. But I should say that mostly your statements hold true but not entirely.
Dont_know_much says:
February 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Im just an average joe recently laid of because of the state of the economy. I am over my head in debt just like everyone else. One thing I cant help but notice however is how many people are posting comments about more money to get us out of debt. Does anyone even know why the last bailout didnt work? It failed because people used the money to pay off bills, and although that is the sane and practical thing to do, lets not forget the whole purpose of a STIMULUS check is to STIMULATE the economy, spend it! pay for stuff you dont need help create jobs for the warehouse workers making $8.00 an hour, thats what the stimulus checks are meant to do. By the way i wont be doing that because of my recent layoff. (sorry to sound so hypocritical) Anybody know places that are hiring?
Cry_Me_A_River says:
February 17th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Everyone crying about their debt should be happy if you get one penny. I have debt too, but no one held a gun to my head when I CHOSE TO TAKE THE LOANS. And I’m sure you’ve all eliminated your cell phones and large cable t.v. packages… I thought the last stimulus was a waste. It should have gone towards our national debt to help the value of our dollar, so we’re not paying three to four dollars for wheat bread and milk.
admin says:
February 17th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Hi,
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Here’s the companies banner
If you decide to give it a try post back on here with your feedback.
DustyR says:
February 18th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
The question is, would people actually use that money to get out of debt? Some or even most people might, however, I could see others who aren’t wise with their money using the stimulus to buy a new wardrobe or take a trip. If there was a way to take that $30,000 and instead of just handing it over to the “average joe” to do with however he pleases (just like they did to the housing lenders in the bailout), maybe the government could regulate it so it could only go to paying off student loans, housing, credit cards and car loans. That way we know the tax dollars aren’t being wasted on someone getting breast implants or tattoos.
AJ says:
February 19th, 2009 at 4:25 am
What is up with a lot of you thinking this is free money??? It’s OUR tax money. They took it from us! If they want to give it back so be it. Take the time and find out whats in this HUGE bill. I voted for Obama and boy was I dumb for doing so! He never let us see what was in the bill {as he told us he would}. Our dollar will be worth zip in the next year or two if we keep printing money like this. Take the 2009 stimulus check and then start living on less than you make each week. Stay out of debt. Google Dave Ramsey.
Karen says:
February 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
The money is not going to be taxed , and the goverment is giving it to us, to try and help .Any money that comes in to the household is a help,! Stop complaining and be happy for what we are getting . Thats whats wrong with this country greed. Thats how we got this way to begin with.
karen dowell says:
February 19th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
i am wondering if people who are drawing social security will be getting a stimulus check
momma cher says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:31 am
Yep. People on SS will get a 250 dollar lump sum stimulus check..
dd says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
I don’t think the stimuls check is intended to get people out of debt. I think it is intended to be spent on frivelous things, and be put back into the economy. If you are so desperate for somebody to pay off your debt for you, I think you have not handled your money wisely in the past. I don’t believe that anyone is incapebable of living on a small income. I was a single mom 10 years ago, 23 years old, worked a full time job making $6.50 an hour. I lived in a low income home, paid a babysitter, car insurance, and still never aquired any debt. I ate on 20 dollars a week, and it was fine. You need to make do with what you have, work hard, and you will make it. I continued to work hard and get raises, now I even have a good amount of savings for me and my son. I pull money out immediately for bills and savings, then spend the rest. It’s not hard. If you budget you can live without credit cards and loans. As for this being our tax money and we’re just getting it back, tax money is to run the country and pay the service men who fight for your life. Don’t be greedy, and think oh poor me, there are people not even as fortunate as you.
robert says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Ive already received my taxes this year so will i get another check?
Bail-me-out says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I have no doubt that people will buy a PS3 with the $500 or couples can now get that 47″ LCD they’ve had their eye on for the past several months. The chances of that happening are more realistic. People with credit card debt will use the money to free up their max credit card only to charge that amount back up again. If you’re bad with money then this stimulus credit will not do much for you. We Americans live in a society of waste. Wasting food, money, and time. I’m just as guilty as anyone and I can’t pass judgement on anyone. All I’m saying is that be thankful for whatever you get and grateful for living in America. There are many people in other countries that $500 would be a life saver.
Lisa says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I have no credit card debt, but I do have bills and could use the stimulus check to help pay bills and buy my diabetic meds (that I can’t get due to no insurance). I have worked from the time I was 15 yrs old and now due to my health I can’t work. I’m waiting on SS, but it takes forever to get on, so I say send me my check. Especially since I paid the government taxes, even after according to the laws, income tax was suppose to be only active during the war time…..seems the government over looked that part. So I’ll gladly take the money and any of you that don’t want it, you could always find a family as big as mine (there’s 2 adults and 3 children in my household) that could use it just to survive.
barelymakingit says:
February 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Funny to me how the government expects people to receive $500.00 to just blow it when we can barely eat, pay for medicines, keep lights on, put gas in the car to either get back and forth to work or to look for work. No one is shopping these days, we’re all too busy trying to survive. I work every day and have gone from living pay check to pay check to just getting paid and trying to make it to the next day. The first thing any responsible person does is pay their bills. You have to have shelter (rent), lights, water, food, extra’s, like phone, insurance for your car and home, gas for your car, heat for your home. Is any of this extravagant? I think not. C’mon people $500.00 is not going to stimulate the economy. Give the money to the people. $30.000.00 for every american and you will still have money left over out of the billions you’re giving to banks and other corporations.
ohsograteful says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Gratitude is the word of the day. Whatever you do with your stimulus is your prerogative. Because whenever it comes, I guarantee you it will be right on time. We all have something to complain about, all I want to know is when can I expect my check?
robert says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
ya 500.00 is not going to do any thing for the economy now 30 or 50k will fix it . that would be enough to pay bills buy cars make & billed houses it would definitely stimulate the economy & me lol.
Cynthia says:
February 25th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
You know if this money had gone to the people who need to be bailed out, then they could pay off their debt therefore getting these banks out of debt. Instead the government wants to get the banks out of debt, while the American people struggle to pay their bills and feed their families. What good would $500 dollars do for my family not one thing, maybe pay interest for one month on my house. Pay on months worth of utility bills, but then it’s the same old thing the following month. We need to stimulate the economy from the bottom up, not try to do it from the top down. Those people don’t know what it’s like to trying to make ends meet.
TONY says:
February 25th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
So are we getting 500 for sure? or what is the deal?
Danielle says:
February 27th, 2009 at 6:20 am
As I filed my taxes already; how does that work? I did receive an extra stimulous for having a baby last year. But when are we supost to recieve (if we are???) any sort of stimulous check? I would love to pay my bills and not buy a ps3 or tv.tyvm!
Jill says:
February 27th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I seriously digressed from the topic in my previous rampage …the stimulus is not much at all, but I’m not looking for a handout, just a little breathing room until things get better. In my house, every extra penny gets us through to the next pay period. Even if it is only 50-60 bucks a month, that means some small salon owner might get a visit from a customer they haven’t seen come in for a while b/c of the hard times. And if it helps that salon owner, she may go out and get some supplies she’s been needing in her salon, and that distributor of……”salon products” will get a boost….and it dominoes…only this time in a positive direction.
poor-man says:
February 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
lets face it there has to be low in come people so there is a work force if every one was wealthy no one would work not that 30 k would make any one Rich. maybe less troubled for a while. help the people & the people will fix the economy. win-win for all.
Mike says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hey folks, call it STIM-U-LESS! Is everyone being fooled by this?, and by the way, I happen to like Obama. Someone should do the math, I mean really compute this out. Divide the 800 billion by all taxpayers over 18 in this country and EVERYONE gets about $475,000. Mortages would be paid off, banks would be happy, new cars would be bought, college loans paid, college tuition paid in advance, so on and so on. BUT, $500 each. Oh come on. Bush brain did this not long ago, and it had no effect on anything. Think of it this way, if you bail out a criminal from jail, they are still a criminal. Bail water out of a boat without fixing the leak and we still have the leak…we sink. Oh well, whatever. When will Americans figure it all out. I’m just glad I can plant a garden.
Opinionated Mom says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:26 pm
The stimuless check isn’t going to do anything for the people of this nation or for the economy… if I get something- I plan on paying off some debt and put a some a way in savings… not blowing it on junk I don’t need!
What I want to know is why the banks and big companies are getting bailed out when it was their decisions that got them some messed up to start with… the head guys are still making millions a year, sitting at a desk and using OUR nations money to buy their 5 million dollar homes, 6 cars they have parked in the 8-car garage and taking their vacations to exotic places while they lay off thousands of employees left and right! All of those bailouts for banks and companies shoud come with STRICT laws about how it is used within the company…. just my opinion! My 2-cents, take it or leave!
boop says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 am
Advise for every one here I’d like to share. I have read a lot about debt and I’d like to share how I have succesfully avoided it. We try to avoid financing whenever possible (home is an essential for financing, at least for us). Yes we saved enough money to buy a new vehicle in full. Yes you will have to drive the used 1998 vehicle for a long time in order to afford it but it’s realistic. And it’s worth it. If you want new beautiful furniture then save to buy it if you can’t then you stay sitting on your old furniture. Yes it’s a neccesity to build credit but we have a 300 dollar limit on our card so we buy groceries or gas and are able to always pay it. And no I’m deffinately not an over payed rich person if anyones thinking that. So I have no debt and live a happy life and p.s me nor my husband have a college degree. And for my opinion on the stimulus check – I’m looking forward to receiving it : )
wanting to know says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
So, does anyone know when these stimulus checks are supposed to make there way to our homes???? I like most of you would like to pay my car and health insurance bills!
charles says:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:28 am
look i agree with the first guy you want to save peoples houses boost the economy then give us all 10,000 a family then you will see a economy back at work but 30,000 a little crazy nicholas your funny you know nothing just giving americans a 1,000 seems more funny then you wtf will 1,000 dollars do for a family not a dam thing and it will not stimulate anything but trust me on this 10,000 a family then were talking cause almost every family that gets that will dump it back into the economy its simple.yes were in debt but by the time we do this 4 more times wouldnt it save trees just to cut the check right the first time lmao
EP_Hansen says:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
First of all, I know I’m a bit late here, however I’m curious how many of the people here suggesting $10k (or more) *PER PERSON* are earning a steady income. How many people demanding more of OUR (i.e. the taxpayers’) MONEY are willing to accept ANY job that comes along, so as to make ends meet? How many of you have not even tried to get a job as a plumber, or waitress, or whatever low-paying job that may be out there, merely because you feel that it’s beneath you? How many people here have snubbed the “HELP WANTED” adverts and signs at Fast Food restaurants (as an example), because you used to manage a team at a high-end business prior to getting laid off, and now certain jobs are just out of the question? How many are unemployed and are waiting, fingers crossed, for that more “dignified” job, the one you feel you “deserve” based upon your qualifications, to come along?
How many of you have ACCEPTED a job (or more than one) such as the ones I mentioned, so that you can make ends meet and make sure there is food on the table? How many have bit the bullet and slept soundly at night knowing that although the job you may have is of a lower standard than you’re used to, that at least you can feed yourself and your family? And finally, how many of you have PAID IN TAXES the $10,000 (or $30k or $75k, etc.) that you are now demanding you have some right to? If you have paid that much in taxes, then go ahead and rant, however if you have NOT, then it is not YOUR money to begin with, and you have NO RIGHT to complain.
As it is, I was a single mom starting at 17. I was kicked out of my parents’ house, and worked two jobs to support my daughter and myself, for several years. We had an apartment, we ate healthy (if not fancy) meals, and we made ends meet, all without ANY hand-outs WHATSOEVER. No welfare, no stimulus checks, NOTHING. I eventually managed to put myself through school so that I could obtain a better job (and therefore receive higher pay and benefits). I am now 30 and married, and I HAVE paid enough in taxes to demand a ridiculous amount in return… but I WOULDN’T because it would be exactly that: RIDICULOUS. That would vaporize our economy!! Crikey people, turn off the TV and READ A BOOK OR TWO and EDUCATE yourself about this before making illogical demands!!
As for the banks, yes, they made some extremely unsound business decisions. But why are so few people placing blame on the greedy SOBs who KNEW they could not afford their mortgage and yet accepted the loan ANYWAY?! There are SO MANY PEOPLE who had intended to apply for a loan for a new house, for an amount they could afford, who then later (upon applying) heard that they SOMEHOW qualified for a loan that was 3-4 times MORE than they were going to apply for to begin with. Being the greedy parasites that they were, their eyes lit up with dollar signs and they said, “Oh, well why ask for a loan for $250k when I can obtain a loan for a half mil?!” Why are SO MANY PEOPLE only blaming the BANKS for offering these people the loans, instead of (rightfully) asking the people who OBTAINED the loans WTF they were thinking?!
As one example of many: My next-door neighbor just lost her house. She’s a nurse and makes $36k per year (and has been making approximately this amount for the past 7 years). She applied for a loan for $150k to purchase a house, and was approved for $600k. WHY the bank would offer her this, knowing she only brought home around $30k per year, is beyond me, as is the reason she accepted it. When I asked her, she said she figured she could purchase a house that was in the $400k-$500k price range (which she did) and still have money left over (which she did, and which was used to purchase NEW and EXPENSIVE home furnishings for her home). Lo and behold, she was unable to pay her mortgage, and she is now where many others are. YES I blame the bank, however I also blame HER for being an idiot and ACCEPTING the loan for more than she could afford. The bank did not hold a gun to her head and demand she accept more money than she could pay back.
My husband happens to work for the bank previously known as WaMu, and he is now working for Chase, attempting to help put things back together. He was the first to tell me about the insane loans that were being approved, long before this even reached the ears of the common people in America. He also would ruminate on how bizarre it was that people who were making so little were actually ACCEPTING the loans, without thinking through exactly HOW MUCH they would have to pay back per month (or if they were, then disregarding it). This was not his dept., so he was unable to affect any changes as this was happening, however if people had been more RESPONSIBLE and told the banks to put their financial traps where the sun don’t shine (instead of being greedy and saying “Oooh! Money!! Gimme!!” …just as people here are doing now…) we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Hmm… now that I think about it, I wonder how many people complaining that they’re receiving $500 or $1000 (instead of tens of thousands) are some of those same people who accepted loans they could not afford.
To the people who keep using the tag line “the rich get richer”, consider this: Perhaps the people with money are the people who have paid all of this “free” money into the system that you are so eagerly demanding, and thus THEY deserve it back (if I give you $100, and you give $1 to me and 99 other people, I would be the only one who could rightfully complain that I didn’t receive $100 from you, and NOBODY could demand more money than what you had given them, unless they had also given you money).
Also, before anyone asks or rants at me that I must be some rich yuppie, my husband and I have 4 children and we are currently living in an apartment. We are middle class, we do not eat out or order in (money is tight; sacrifice the extras and the stress decreases… it’s an easy, win-win situation), we’ve cut out cable and own one mobile phone for emergencies, which has had a $20 pay-as-you-go card on it for nearly a year (due to my health I need one on me at all times), and we spend money on necessities (food, bills, etc.) and SAVE THE REST. I’m sick of people demanding $10k to pay off the debts they accrued due to their own greedy, materialistic ways, when I could rightfully do the same, and yet I have NEVER made a frivolous purchase on a credit card (and neither has my husband).
Few of you know what debt truly is. Due to my cancer treatments and surgeries, my son being born with many health issues, the subsequent battles with our health insurance company, AND the months my husband took off from work in order to stay by my side as I fought for my life (during which time he obviously did not receive pay, and we lived off of our savings, thanks to our having put money into it for 10 years) we are now struggling with $30k debt, in medical bills ONLY. Never ONCE did I (or my husband) purchase something on a credit card, choosing to only use money that we had in the bank, yet now we owe THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS because I chose to fight for my life (and I won the last battle; I am still fighting this but I’m healthy, all things considered).
I don’t want to hear more parasitic whining until some of you have been in my shoes. How about this: if you all need something to rail against, try demanding improved health care, instead of TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS that you only want in order to (a) spend on more frivolous things, or (b) pay of debt that is your own fault in the first place.
Be grateful you’re getting any money at all. It will be $500 or $1000 that you didn’t have prior to receiving your check.
And from those of us who HAVE paid an enormous amount in taxes over the years, and are also only getting $500 or $1000 back, YOU’RE WELCOME. Consider this our gift to you, and be thankful you’re getting anything at all.
laurie1963 says:
March 9th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
to who ever i wish we could get the stimulis check now because i got my pink slip due to the economy and need to pay my bills.unemployment is on delay by a month and a half and i was living pay check to pay check and really close to being homeless, foodless,etc. are they really sending another stimulis check or is only for people on ss?
John says:
March 12th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Why hasn’t anyone brought up the flat tax again? Tax everyone from the poorest to the richest at the same rate. Any percent increases would be slight on the payers side as compared to what we have now.
Alli says:
March 18th, 2009 at 1:24 am
i have no idea what all of you are complaining about! A stimulus check unless used directly to stimulate the economy with the purchase of goods or services or buying into the market will not stimulate our economy at all. Everyone wishing for a 30-60K is completey disallusioned and completely selfish. If you receive any stimulus you need to reinvest not pay off your debt. Personally my husband and myself have about 50K in debt with student loans and cedit card debt. But that is our debt. And we have never considered using a stimulus check to play off debt. The purpose is not for the individual but for the greater good. You all have put yourselves into debt and its not up to the government to bail you out! Stop complaining about what the government should do for you and do what you can for the American people by investing instead of being greedy!! This is the saddest site that I have come across and a very sorry collection of American citizens. Shame on you!
Yuri S says:
March 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Is this a recent change to the stimulus credit for individuals? As I recall it was a $400 credit for individuals and $800 for couples. Also, where can I find the exact details of everything that is in the 2009 stimulus package?
chris says:
March 21st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
ok this really doesnt have to do with the stimulus checks but first if everyone wouldnt of got their selves in debt u wouldnt have to worry if the govt gave any money out. dont buy stuff,crap, you dont have the cash for, and if u dont need it! also they need to take the money they are giving out an use it for our veterans an to fix our own problems in america. like giving however many millions to gaza. those retards shouldnt of started messing with isreal an they wouldnt of gotten their asses wooped. also put the money into health care to lower prices for the working america an use it to bring jobs back by not importing crap from overseas let the millions of americans not making decent money get a good job. im just tired of people being such pussies an trying to help everyone else an saying that certain things are too inhuman or not fair. grow up an wake up or your going to be the one who lets our country go to crap an become weak.
Are*you*serious says:
March 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I cannot believe we actually vote these morons into office! Pres. Obama and his staff are quick to send money to the banking industry who abuses it by paying bonuses of millions to idiots who don’t even need it! Mind you..this is OUR tax dollers at work…We ultimately are paying for the yachts, homes in the Hamptons, fancy cars…etc…! We continue to suffer on minimum wage, in debt, while these losers are livin’ the good life! It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out that the trillions of dollars being shoved to big business corporations would do better in the hands of the American citizens! Take the billions/trillions of dollars, divide it among the hard WORKING Americans and send them all a check! Want to see your economy grow and prosper? Send checks to the Americans who need it. How many people could then pay off debt, buy new homes, purchase cars, tv’s, clothing, furniture?!? Wouldn’t this money being put into the economy make it prosper? I can’t speak for the entire working class, but if President Obama sent me a check I can guarantee the majority of it would be put back into circulation in the economy! I am sure this is the case for most of us working class folks! Instead he gives corporations like Citi Group and AIG a shit load of cash that doesn’t even help us “Average Americans” ! All I have to say is “Stimulus my ass!” He can find some other sucker to believe his BS, but I am done listening and done thinking that he is working for US! He is like every other rotten politician! They talk a good talk, but they can’t, or should I say have no intention of, walking the walk!
I go to work every day knowing that my tax dollars are funding their ‘falling house of cards’ and it royally pisses me off! Maybe I should defect to another country…maybe then I can get some money from my ‘loving’ government!
Concetta says:
March 26th, 2009 at 10:15 am
When Bush was in the office there was no complaints about the stimulus….and we didn’t recieve $30,000 as many on here saying what they wanted. We got the same amount that Barack is giving out. And why should he really care about your debts??? You got in it you can get yourself out…Let’s say if he did give us that much to help out your debts ($30,000)…you would still complain about the amount and ask for higher. And it isn’t Obama giving out the amounts for goodness sake they didn’t want him to sign for the stimulus..they was beating around the bush with him..Did we have a problem with Bush signing a stimulus bill???? NO! But, now it is a problem? Last year my husband and I only recieved $900…. and Bush was in the office an extra $100 ’s would do better. So, you need to stop pointing fingers at the President and staff because they didn’t put you in this situation…YOU DID. And Alli girl you hit it right on the nail….I’m with you on this.
Jennie Marleau says:
March 26th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
If those trillions of dollars going into that stimulus pkg would go to the American people we’d stimulate the economy and get it going – let AIG and the other fat cats go down. You do realize that we are scaring the hell out of Great Britain and other countries across Europe with this new approach to wasting massive amts of money that we do NOT have, right?? Socialism hasn’t worked for them (it’s only ‘good’ in theory). Huge spending for a country in a depressed state makes no sense to anyone…unless you happen to be the head of AIG, Barack Obama and other like-minded solialists – or just insane. When the money runs out for the rest of us, we tighten our belts and economize, butt Obama is spending more than any other Pesident in US history! He’s behaving like a drunk with a blank check. This ’stimulus pkg’ will bankrupt our country and bring us to our knees. This tactic didn’t work for other countries…why does anyone think it’ll work for US??? Do the bulk of citizens in this country wish to wake up under the umbrella of either socialism or communisim??? I know I don’t. I also know that this is exactly where we’re currently headed.
Sally Sanders says:
March 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
The money Bush got for the stimulus checks and the money that President Obama got, they got a loan from China & we do have to pay every bit of it back. I think this is pretty scary seeings they could end up taking us over if we can’t pay it all back.
Memyself says:
March 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Personally the stimulus check was a added bonus last year. I do hear most people wanting to get a bigger check to bring us individuals out of debt…That is not what the stimulus check is for. They were hoping that we would go buy items, in return keeping people in jobs, keeping business’s open. Did that work in 2008, nope…Most everyone I know that received a check, went towards bills….Yes that is nice, I have worked for the last 20 years. I am a single mother with 4 children and yes I spent my last check on bills, not buying anything extra. I myself have 100,000. in debt and mostly from medical bills. My employer only pays for my health insurance and does not cover my children. But I dont make enough money to purchase medical insurance for my kids. So if my kids get sick, then I am in trouble….my son got in a bad bike accident last year and was in the hospital for 2 days….Now I have 90,000. medical bill….But I make to much money to receive any medical from the state and now I am in debt. It wasnt because I spent to much, but life happens… And no I dont have cable, I have one cell phone and that is for my children to contact me at work, if anything happens. All this “extra” money that we are wanting, needs to be spent on other items then just giving it to the tax paying individuals. How about helping with medical costs, medical insurance, prescriptions…..How about buying these forclosed homes that are everywhere and letting us individuals that cant buy a home, rent them….Its sad that I can drive down one street and see 5 homes that went into forcloser just sitting there… Yes many individuals bought homes when they should not have but we need to get past that and look to the future and stop blaming….the government or people or banks,,,complaining and pointing blame is not going to help the economy at all….There is other ways that our government can spend this money to help our everyone that is a tax paying individual instead of us just handing money out…and have no clue where people will be spending it. If the government was to give “30,000″ dollars to people….really how is that going to help….Hhhmmmmm lets go buy more homes, that when the money is gone…I cant pay for. Let buy a new car…Why spend 30,000. on a new car when I can use the old car I have now. All I personally would do is pay towards my debt and that is not helping the economy at all, it is just helping my as a individual. Yes it would be nice, but I see where they can help more, because I know that I am not the only American is the same situation I am. I will still be living where I live, still not buying anything extra (because I cant afford it) and still in debt.
chris says:
March 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
whats wrong with people, before this stimulus check was passed last year no one worried, now that they’ve done something nice, people keep expecting the same treatment, take what you get, complaining isn’t making your pockets bigger we had one stimulus check, now you people are spoiled, the economy is jacked up and you still think about your self, your 10,000 debt is something you brought upon yourselves, grow up and deal with it, as soon as you get more money, you will buy more material things that gave you that debt balance in the first place, think about handling your money before you mess up your credit and expect someone else to fix it genius, believe it or not, except it or not, but businesses makes the economy, they provide jobs plus benefits for some, do the math giving 30-60 thousand per family will put the economy in a bigger jam, at least they know they’ll get paid back by these business, if things was as easy as you people try to make it seem don’t you think the people that been here as long as you would have took that solution a long time ago? think before you speak
patty says:
April 1st, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I love the $30,000 to people! Of course, $900 million divided by 30,000 is only 30,000. So only 30,000 people get a check. Will I be one?
Michael says:
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 am
The money might not help out each individual, but the hope is to see each of us use it wisely to stimulate the economy. I know he extra cash will help me take a trip later in the year that I might have waited to do or not of gone at all. Selfish but if they’re handing out checks, take advantage of it in your own way.
Crystal says:
April 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Ok, just looking for straight answers.
1. I filed already, when can I expect a check?
2. Is the amount $500 for all single filers with income of more than $3100?
sha says:
April 7th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I got a letter saying it will come out within 6 weeks……..that was march 2 nothing yet
sha says:
April 7th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I got a letter saying it will come out within 6 weeks……..that was march 2 nothing yet……….what the……… why are they giving us $13 more in our check. who’s bright idea was that my bills don’t have $13 intervals. How is this suppose to help the economy……….Yes i take back my earlier statement
Hilda Rivera says:
April 9th, 2009 at 9:38 am
If you are not working but was working last year and filed your income tax will you still recieve a stimulus checks and how will you recieve it
Chelsea says:
April 9th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I really can’t stand how everyone complains about the money not being enough or how the money won’t help you get out of debt. Guess What?! It’s not the government’s job to take care of the debt you created. It’s yours. Don’t overspend and you won’t have debt. I’m 25 years of age, I own a home, my mortgage is roughly $1,200. I pay all of my bills, and between me and my fiance we bring home somewhere in the range of $50,000-60,000. I remain in Houston, Texas because I understand that at this point I need the best and most affordable housing for our income. I don’t overspend…and my current checking account balance is $7,500. I have two nice, reliable vehicles. I have not made any children yet because I know that with children I would have no savings or cushion, and simply can’t afford them. I will have children when I know it is economically smart for me to do so, and until then I utilize means of birth control, and at this point I have no need for a stimulus check. Your debt unless you are handicapped, disabled or unable to find a job is simply a consequence of the circumstances that you’ve created for your life. Accept that, and stop blaming the government.
debbie says:
April 9th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I have to agree with those of you that believe that the regular joe should be given a decent stimulus check. Why are we bailing out these large companies that are in the position they are in mostly due to greed and poor decision making. If everyone that earned an income in 2008 was given $30,000.00 then we could let the money trickle up. If the trickle up money doesn’t save certain big corp. then so be it. I do not believe it is fair or just that so many families are being left with no income due to the mismanagement of these large corporations. Lets go with the trickle up method , it would certainly be less expensive than the trickle down method has become.
Richard says:
April 9th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
This whole stimulus check issue is confusing me. I just recently became unemployed a month ago and now I’m hearing that perhaps $13-$25 will be added to each pay-check. How is that going to help me??? I worked hard last year and earned every single dollar I got. Now, I’m hearing this non-sense!
At first I was led to believe that the amount was for $400 to $800 (single/married) respectively. What happened? What is the latest concrete news on the 2009 simulus payments AND why haven’t I read and/or heard it on the news recently? I want a straight answer.
Andy says:
April 10th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Some great information here and the comments show a lot of people are waiting for the stimulus (which is finally starting to flow through).
mark says:
April 14th, 2009 at 9:42 am
question for anyone who knows. when will i get my stimulus check?
Ken says:
April 14th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
actually the stimulus money is money i would have gotten anyway.
if you paid attention when you filed your taxes this year, they reduced the amount you got back by what you stimulus was last year. oh, and why should we have to pay for the banks and auto companies making crappy decisions. i know i couldn’t give myself a huge bonus and request the gov’t to bail me out only to file bankruptcy later anyway.
lisa says:
April 15th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
$500 in stimulus money is just a drop in an empty bucket. I need a job!
I thought that my college degree and engineering job at AT&T was safe. But I was wrong……there are no jobs. I had to start my own business. A 2009 stimulus check would help create jobs if it were large enough.
Chelsea, you are very young…. you have no idea what the future holds. If you both lost your jobs, how long do you think that $7,500 in your checking would last? About 3 months! Then the bills would stack up and you’d understand.
Getting laid off means that a lot of others are also laid off. It is very difficult to find a job in your field when there are so many others applying for the same job.
Nalini Cohen says:
April 18th, 2009 at 1:43 am
I TOOK MY TIME AND READ EVERY SINGLE POSTING. I AGREE WITH SOME AND DISAGREE WITH MANY. YES, THE GOVERMENT IS BAILING OUT MANY CORPORATE COMPANIES AND YES IT ANNOYS MANY OF US (TAXPAYERS) TO SEE HOW THESE COMPANIES ARE SPENDING THE MONEY FOOLISHLY. IS THIS REALLY THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING THIS BAILOUT OR IS IT SOMETHING OF THE PASS WHICH JUST HAPPEN TO BECOME PUBLIC INFO? THERE MAY BE SO MUCH MORE WHICH GOES ON IN THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WE (TAXPAYERS) ARE NOT AWARE OF. IN ALL MY YEARS ON EARTH I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD… THE GOVERNMENT ISSUING STIMULUS CHECKS TO TAXPAYERS. MY CONSCIENCE TELLS ME THERE IS MORE TO THIS WHOLE BAILOUT ISSUE THAN WHAT WE WERE INFORMED….. TAKE THE MONEY, BE THANKFUL AND SPEND IT TOWARDS SOMETHING WHICH MAKES YOU HAPPY. THERE JUST MAY BE SOME UNHAPPY NEWS SURFACING SOMEWHERE AROUND THE CORNER………….
Alyssa says:
April 20th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Tim is fully right. If the government would not have spent billions of dollars bailing out the car companies and the banks….they could have gave every American a million dollar stimulus check and would not spent half the money they did bailing them out. Moral of this story the banks still wont give any loans…..AND car sales still arent up. Another thing WOW they came back to ask for more money. If that kind of money would have been given to the American people what would have happened um………….THEY WOULD HAVE PAID SOME BILLS!!! Congratulations that would have stimulated the ecomomy much much better.
Donna says:
April 29th, 2009 at 9:21 am
What good is it to bail out the banks so people can get a better interest rate? Does not matter if the interest rate is 2%. If you don’t have a job you can not pay the bill any way. I think it would be best to anyone who owns a home or has credit card debt for the government to directly pay the money to them in OUR name and then cancel the debt and not be able to get any more credit cards. I know a 30K stimulus check would help lower my house payment which has gone up because of Property tax ( what a joke) and now the insurance companies are raising there rates because of all the foreclosures and fires people are setting to their homes to have the insurance companies pay them off as a total loose. This has happened in my community 4 times this month april 2009.
katskyken says:
April 30th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
i really don’t want the money. to be honest i will just use it on my children and not even pay off my debt. i am married with five children. i need debt help. i need health insurance. i need help with finding a house i can afford. use my check to get me help in these areas. don’t put it in my hands. i don’t know how to get out of debt when i live check to check. help me?
Moni-Giraldo says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I believe that $500 stimulus check is like an offense to people in need. I am a single mother struggling, making 30,000 a year, going to college, not big credit card debt, taxes going up, quality of life getting worse than in (other countries). $500? You gotta be kidding, maybe for nerves medication! (and for the other people, that’s not free money) we pay taxes in every single thing we buy, they take hundreds of every paycheck! My $500, you can keep! it wont make a difference in my life!
LCM says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I really think that money should be given to the every day hard working americans. We could pay our mortgages which would stimulate the banks, but cars to help stimulate the car makers, and so not only would the auto industry and banks be doing well, but so would we. I really think our government is taking the wrong way about fixing our economy.
Bibi says:
May 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
After reading all these posting I’m confused with this whole stimulus check. I did not receive a letter saying that I will be getting a $500 check, but on the other hand my mother who is on disability did receive a letter and will be receiving a check for $250. What I did receive was an extra $13 bucks or so on my paycheck.
shelly says:
May 6th, 2009 at 9:02 am
there is no mention of anyone except the unemployed and retired getting any REAL checks just a tax break. So you tell me.
Joe says:
May 6th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Actually printing money will cause the dollar to collapse which is what will happen when the government has to pay down all this debt. How do you think the government plans to fund the $3.5 trillion dollar budget? But taking the money that government gave companies like AIG, Chrysler, etc and actually distributing it to people that will stimulate the economy (the consumer) would be a better use of the stimulus money. So what if people pay down their debt; this just puts money back in the hands of banks and allows consumers to clear up some possilbe credit issues. These same people will eventually be applying for loans to purchase new cars or buying new appliances, furniture, etc. The problem, our elected officials do not understand how to stimulate the economy. Most of them have never ran a business or worked in business. Lifetime public servants that have learned to use the leverage of the American Tax System to make themselves rich.
ANNA says:
May 7th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
One more thing if all American’s would turn around and give there stimulus check back to get our country out of debt then we might make. It is US AND WE NOT I AND ME!!!!!!!!!!
Eve says:
May 10th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
The only sad part is after i lost my childs father and went back to school. I barely had any income so even though i’m a single mother with two kids, I won’t receive hardly anything
Lynn says:
May 11th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Unless I’m reading this incorrectly, I won’t be getting a stimulus check at all – although I’m one of the faithful consumers stimulating the economy. I make more than $8,064 per year and filed my taxes properly and got the 2008 stimulus check for $600 and, to the best of my knowledge, do not have $3,000 qualifying income. So, I’ll continue to pay my taxes and stimulate the economy through my purchases, so that those who SOMEHOW sleep at night in America, “work the system” through welfare, workers’ comp and other spurious efforts can continue to NOT pay taxes, NOT stimulate the economy and take all my hard-earned dollars. I will continue to happily exist in my lower-middle income bracket.
AG says:
May 11th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
For the working class the stimulus is ONLY a tax break, for instance I received an extra $20 per paycheck I will continue to see that money until it reaches a cap of $400 for single and $800 for married couples. The actual stimulus check for $250 is for anyone receiving disability assistance and retirement assistance.
tray says:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Im confused theres checks for people on ssi which is anywhere from $250 to $400. then theres another stimulus check for which is in the range of 6.2% to $1000. And that all depends on how much u made and if you filed your takes jointly. So I sould receive 6.2% of $4,034 since thats all I made last year and its under $8,064. is that right? So Im guessing people on ssi will receive 2 stimulus payments since my neighbor today just got 2 checks one for 250 and the other for 338. and she only collects ssi. she doesnt work.
Jac says:
May 19th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Where is my stimulus? I work, have no bills except taxes on my house that’s paid for–because I have learned to live within my means….and yet I keep seeing everyone else getting bailed out and receiving checks—-I’m sick of it–and decided not to continue spending as I used to…….and to “put my money under the mattress” as they instruct you not to….
marc says:
May 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
This country has 100,000,000 tax payers… If the government truly wanted to stimulate the country, they would give a $500 check to every tax payer for for 20 months…. this would amount to $10,000 per tax payer, the amount given to the banksters who cause the malaise to begin with. I have been recently laid off by a temp agency, so i can’t file for unemployemnt; what the hell does a tax credit do for me right now if i have no income? of course, if i was a woman, i could simply have a baby for some deadbeat and i would get HUD housing and free money… then I would claim the child was disabled to my crack habit and I would get money to support my habit…plus, a stimulus check… this system only works for the extremely wealthy or the poor… how about a drug and criminal background check for everyone that wants HUD housing, SSI or food stamps? I have worked virtually my entire adult life, I am college grad and a combat vet, but I can’t get any help whatsoever… How about a stimulus check for those of us who actually work and produce as opposed to bankers and welfare cheats who have caused many of these problems? How about bringing our troops home, paying teachers and considering the causes of crime and dismantling the prison industrial complex?
April Little says:
May 21st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I wish they would make up there mind on if they are accually give out stimulas checks or not I am feed up with false hope of helping society. I am a housewife with a one income family and a 3 year old daughter, and in debt and I know it would really help my family much less alot of americans for a stimulas check . And yes $1000 would help but it is not mere enough to help real familys. Real people need help, we are on a downword spirel to destuction. People who can’t pay there bills much less take care of there familys will resort to much more destuctive ways to take care of things. I hope they eventually see what is right. For everyone’s sake.
mary says:
May 29th, 2009 at 9:52 am
my story is like others out there, not enough money to go around. barely able to my head above water . i live in one state ,work in another paid higher taxes so guess where my stimulus went to. so yes im in favor of another stimulus check of any amount
angie williamson says:
June 20th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
the thing that should have been done, instead of bailing out the big greedy companies, is to give the american taxpayers the money . then they could have paid for their cars and their homes. then the companies could have regrouped from that. no one told these companies to millions dollar jets, just so they could fly more comfortably, and not have to be around us peons. think about it. then the employees could have kept their jobs and unemployment would not have been so bad.
Marcy P. says:
June 21st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Wow, I am completely amazed by all the opinions on this stimulus for 2009. Both by those who want/need it, and those who believe ‘people should make their own money and not over spend’. Here are some truths that everyone should think about: Firstly, all that money that has been given, and is going to be given to bail out those large companies and banks, all of that ‘bail out’ money has come from the American tax payers, and most of that from the middle to lower class. So in essense, we, the American tax payers are the ones bailing out those companies and banks, not the government. The government is just the judge, jury, and executioner of where our money goes to. Secondly, the ’stimulus’ money that is slated as a ‘credit’ towards your/our taxes also comes from us, the tax payers. So to be truthful we would just be getting a small portion credited to our taxes (assuming we owe instead of due a refund). Then there are those of us who filed early. Do we also get that ’stimulus’? I filed my taxes early, and because of this, does that mean I won’t even get the credit? (btw, I was due a refund, so shouldn’t I, and people like me, get that ‘credit’ as a check instead?). Here’s another thought, if it’s our taxpayer dollars that has been bailing out those large companies and banks, then shouldn’t it be understood that any debt that we had to any of those entities be considered paid in full for those of us who never owed too much? And something else, my debt has resulted not from my misuse of my money, but from not having any medical insurance and having made emergency trips to the hospital due to sudden onset of high blood pressure that nearly killed me. So, not everyone has gained their debts due to over spending or misuse of their hard earned dollars.
voiceangel says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 am
I think they should be giving more, not for the fact that we are all in debt as everyone seems to be saying, but so we can all do our parts in donating to worthy causes…most of my money would be going to The Cancer Society, a college scholarship fund for needy children, and many other things. Yes, I would pay my bills, but I don’t have much in the way of debt, a mere $12k is better than most. I’ve always felt that the government is a little too hard on the middle-class as well as too soft on the lower and high classes. We get taxed so hard that we have to pinch pennies just to be able to buy our daily needs. Also, if they want to stimulate the economy, they could get rid of any gas stations that charge more than $2 per gallon of gas. Take them over and start asking for lower prices. If we are working on being so “green” all the money that we are able to save from gas and taxes should be used to speed up the green process and make those cars that use corn oil for fuel or electricity. Hell, let’s make cars that run on a fully renewable source, like salt water or dirt. The thing is no matter what we do, we will mess somthing up one way or other, so let’s just make sure we know what we are doing before we do it. Don’t promise something you plan not to give, and please for the sake of everyone here just be civil. Mother nature isn’t happy with us as it is and we are all gonna get shaken off one day. If we don’t treat each other with respect we are gonna end up being miserable and losing any kind of faith or trust in anyone.
Cody Brister says:
July 7th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
The only thing I see here that is truth without dispute is the fact that during the primaries Obama made a promise to the American people that they would recieve a stimulus check that was to be superior to the 2008 package. He is a two faced liar who has blown smoke up all our asses on almost every single promise he made! He is under qualified and should be removed immediatley before he does real damage! If anyone can honestly show me one promise that has been carried out and not “SHOT DOWN” ,as he puts it, I will bow before you… But hey, no one can…. Think about it…Research it… I did!
Lina says:
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I made less than 8,000 last year – filed my taxes – and still haven’t received my stimulus check… what happened to it?
zina m williams says:
October 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I would like to know how to go on line for a stimulus application