St. Thomas Stimulus Initiative

Hello all - we've heard from a couple people how once their checks came in they gave to the stimulus initiative and then something came up a day later which they knew they would have spent the money on.  Conversely, others have confided that they sat on the checks and the money was whittled away with other expensis.

Susannah Haddad designed and installed a fantastic bullentin board for the Stimulus Initiative.  Please note the "SI" envelopes decorated by Ellie and Ada Rigsby and Erica Cummings.  Please also use those envelopes to drop your overly generous SI checks into the offetory plate. 

The bulletin board has a pen attached to it - with ample space to write encouraging notes, to opine on any subject or to rant on the silliness of this program.  Please do so with abandon...

Cheers,

Dela

I do our taxes with one of the tax software programs and its company sent me an e-mail informing me that my stimulus package check was not coming this week even though i had my refund direct deposited.  The reason cited was because I opted to have the tax preperation fees deducted from my direct deposit.  So because i have a large number for the last two digits of my social security number my check will not be coming till July.  No matter - that will just mean my stimulus package check takes us over the $20K mark! Hooray for me...

This is sort of a self-reflexive post that has little to do with encoraging you to get insane and give big from your stimulus check. if you google "stimulus initiative"...well go check it out.

...oh, and if you get your check this week. Give! Give! Give!!!!

Cheers,

SC

Instead of trying to rehash all of this information, if you are interested in the timing for recieving your stimulus package check read this great article by Andrea Coombes from Marketwatch here.

Happy Easter to one and all...

You have probably gotten the letter from the IRS (always a little scary for just a moment, eh?) confirming the stimulus package check and details on the amounts being sent.  Of course, you knew all this info because you are an avid reader of this blog.  

Breaking news! According to those in the know, a parishoner has gotten a jump on their stimulus package check and already given $300 to the church.

Linc found an article by Lisa B. Hamilton on Episcopal Life Online that summarizes the appeal by Bishop Andrew D. Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut to consider giving a portion of the stimulus package check to the Diocese.

Click here....

Great ideas on ways to give.

Cheers,

Dela

According to the following post by ConsumerReports.org blogger/reporter Tobie Stanger, the stimulus checks will NOT be taxable income for 2008. So, if you thought you'd need to save 1/3 of your check that means you'll never miss it going to St. Thomas'. Hooray!

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2008/02/tax-stimulus--1.html

Marketwatch.com has a great write-up on the stimulus package that can be found by clicking here...

One thing to note, for any parishoners who are not required to file taxes (typically low income) they will need to file a tax return this year to get their checks. Obviously we won't hit them up for a donation, but we should look into helping them file their taxes so they get their checks

Any ideas on how we should go about doing this?

Cheers,

Dela

Here are ten helpful tips to save some money for other, more divine, purposes - hint, hint.

10 Ways to Save Money at Starbucks - on TheStreet.com written by Jeffrey Strain.