HOW TO USE YOUR REBATE CHECK

[Rosemary2205]

I've never posted an email chain letter before - first time in 10 years of having email - guess it was bound to happen.




HOW TO USE THE REBATE

As you may have heard, the Bush Administration said each and every one of us would get a nice rebate to help boost our economy. But................

If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If we spend it on gasoline it will all go to the Arabs.
If we purchase a computer it will all go to India.
If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will all go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.
If we purchase a good car it will all go to Japan,
If we purchase useless stuff it will all go to Taiwan.

,,,and none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. But how can we do that when the only businesses still in the US are alcohol and cigarette manufacturers.

[Clear Blue Sky]

1. What rebate check?

Assumes that one actually gets a check. They are not for everyone. Income cap on who actually gets a rebate.

[lpbk2713]

2. Super size your next Value Meal at McDoodoo's

:shrug:

[Captain Angry]

3. On computers and useless stuff.

If we purchase a computer from HP, Dell or Gateway, the profits come here, the component costs are sent to Taiwan, and an extremely thin piece, and I mean THIN heads to India. Most computers have about $3.00 worth of support costs built in to them, and only a little of those $3.00 will see India/China/Costa Rica. The rest is internal cost at the Company itself.

And Taiwan is where a lot of design is done.

If people buy local food, they're ok. If people buy certain gasolines, the money goes to Wyoming or Venezuela, if you buy the right car, the money stays here.

So, there are ways to shop locally still. But I get their point.

[CTyankee]

18. We're using it on services provided right here in the community.

Since my spouse and I are getting older, we're finding lawn and landscape care (even for our little house) too big a burden. So we're putting our money in a household account for those expenses, along with money for replacing an appliance that breaks down.

My new lawn/landscape person is a young man going to community college, living at home and needing money to start out. If I need a new appliance or some repairs done around the house then I have a local person do the installation or repair.

Next repair is a plumbing job. Now THAT can't be outsourced!!!

[live love laugh]

4. Thought provoking but needs a cap/summary. Vote for change in America, or something

like that is needed. I will be sending it and will probably add that to the end.

[Nederland]

5. This is a common misconception

The common misconception is that if something is "made" somewhere else, that's where all the money goes. Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, a $299 iPod is assembled in China, but fully $160 of that purchase price stays here in the US. China actually only takes in $4 for the assembly, while other more developed countries like Japan and Korea get larger pieces of the action for supplying the parts (memory chips, processors, LCD screens, etc.). In other words, the money isn't in manufacturing, it's in engineering, design, advertising, and sales.

[RebelOne]

6. Well, I drink wine and I smoke,

so I'll not have a problem with keeping the money from my rebate check in the U.S.

[goodgd_yall]

7. Spend it

at local businesses---your local donut shop, used book store, any shop that looks like it can use the cash inflow. Give some of it to a panhandler---that's contribution is likely to stay in America. Donate to your local shelter or clothes closet....just some ideas.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Is it an advance or a rebate?

[frebrd]

23. It's my understanding that...

it's an advance on a one-time credit to be created for the 2008 tax year (the tax return we file in 2009).

Sorry I don't have a link.

On edit: Also, as I understand it:

If it turns out next tax time that you received less than you should have, you can file for the rest. However, if you received too much you won't have to repay the additional amount.

[BlooInBloo]

28. Ok - so just like the last "rebate" that was really an advance...

... but everybody kept calling it a "rebate" up until the time when they finally caught on.

Everyday is a brand-new day for the genius American population - heh.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

9. Support your local economy.

I'm thinking of <<If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will all go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.>>

Where do you live that no produce is produced locally? See if you can get a farmers market started or a CSA (Community supported Agriculture) farm to join.

Likewise, there are craftspersons at work in many U.S. communities making gifts, furniture, art.... My rural area has someone who makes furniture and housewares from wine bottles that don't get recycled here. (bluemoonbottles.com)

Solutions don't have to be handed down from On High. That chain e-mail tacitly accepts and perpetuates assumptions about the relationship between the citizen-consumer and the corporate economy. Let's revive the American spirit of innovation and independence!

[DS1]

10. I'll be buying camera gear from Japan, so they'll have money to buy our F16s

woot!

[IowaGirl]

11. A couple of suggestions for buying American.....

Buying produce at your local farmers' market is one way to get local produce and those will open up in May. Do a search on ebay or the internet for Made in the USA or America and you can come up with some items. Eating dinner out will stimulate the local economy and I'm always in favor of eating out, LOL. But, actually, this is a good topic to bring up to get people thinking. Thanks. :patriot:

[Sherman A1]

12. To pay my estimated taxes for the year

so it will come in very handy. Saving me the trouble of sending a check in Sept and December so I will save 2 stamps and that is about 82 cents.

[Javaman]

13. Invest it in Euros. nt

[Subdivisions]

14. I'm using mine to finance a trip to DC. n/t

[SidDithers]

15. Might I suggest a weekend in Toronto?...

I mean, if you're gonna be sending your money out of the country anyway, why don't you go along for the ride?

Sid

[margotb822]

16. I'd rather that they keep the measly $300

and put it towards their debt. Mine's nowhere near as out of control!!!!!!!

[OwnedByFerrets]

17. IF we get one, it will go to paying bills....end of story. nt

[pitohui]

19. been out of the country, a question

how do we go about receiving the check? does it come automatically? WHEN is it coming?

[MissB]

21. Automatic if you file taxes.

If you're retired and don't normally file, you have to file in order to get one.

They're supposed to start coming in May.

[uppityperson]

22. I got the notice yesterday and my cynically mind started working...

noticing how they focused on making sure that in order to get this, or to find out if you get it, to make sure that everyone, every child, has a social security number. Supposedly you get money for each adult and each child, so long as each child has a ss#. I have a cynical mind.

[uppityperson]

20. Huh, ALL the money I spend on gas goes to the Arabs? Bunch of hoohaw.

ALL I spend on fruit and vegetables will go to Mexico,Honduras, Guatemala? The only business still in US are alcohol and cigarette makers?

If you want to send on stuff like this, it would be best to remove the "all"s and other inaccuracies as otherwise it reads like the other tripe going around the internets.

[Lance_Boyle]

27. 'zackly.

This spam, like almost all spam, is misleading.

Your computer purchase dollars go to India? Who knew? Most of my components are made in China, and assembled in the US. The fruits and veggies I buy grow in NC soil, so how is that money getting to Guatemala? And goddamit, I smoke Gauloises - my tobacco dollars go to FRANCE!

Message to the OP - never forward spam. Not even to DU.

[Rosemary2205]

35. I believe you may have missed the point

My point in posting it was not that each exact point is exact perfect correct. My point in posting was two fold -- to point out the frustration amongst Americans regarding how difficult it is to find everyday products that are genuinely manufactured in the US and to agree with the mantra that rebate checks won't do anything significant to help the US economy.

But I'm always glad here on DU that there is never any nit too small to pick (not sarcastic - I really do appreciate that aspect of DU).

[frebrd]

24. It's going into my Savings....

assuming I actually get one. I'm not counting those chickens until I see them!

:)

[Mountainman]

25. Pay down some debt, screw buying something. If you don't get a refund next year

you'll have to pay it back with your return. If you pay down credit card debt at least you will get out of some interest expense during the year. That will leave a little money in your pocket.

[aikoaiko]

26. ak-74 plus 10k rounds in prep for the revolution -- best deal out there

:)

[ileus]

33. Not American Made...LOL see my post below.

[Postman]

29. Buying gasoline in America doesn't put the money into the hands of ARABS.

Most gasoline consumed in America comes from Canada, Mexico, Venezuela or the United States itself.

[guitar man]

30. not true

what about spending it on weed and hookers, that's keeping it local, right? :D

[ileus]

31. Remington, Ruger, S&W, ect...

[MasonJar]

32. Send it to your favorite democratic candidate! Then write Bush a thank you letter

for allowing you to support the dems.

[scarletwoman]

34. Not going to spend it. It's going straight into my savings account. (nt)