Michelle_Williams's Blog

What could be better than that?  The check is in the mail!  The government's economic stimulus payments are on their way.  Remember you must file a 2007 tax return in order to receive the payment.

Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions: 

Q. I received a check in the mail from the federal government. How can I tell whether it is my stimulus payment?

A. Look for the words, “2008 Economic Stimulus Payment” on the front of the check, below your address.

Q. I received my stimulus payment, but it was less than what my friends and neighbors received. Why?

A. Your economic stimulus payment will be based on information provided on your 2007 income tax return.

Many, but not all, taxpayers qualify for the maximum basic payment of $600 for singles or $1,200 for married couples. Many parents are also receiving an additional $300 for each qualifying child, born after Dec. 31, 1990.

Your payment may be less than the maximum for one or more of the following reasons:

• You are single and your net income tax liability is less than $600. If you file Form 1040 net income tax liability is the amount shown on Line 57, plus the amount on Line 52.
• You are married and your net income tax liability is less than $1,200.
• You are single and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $75,000. On Form 1040, AGI is the amount on Line 37.
• You are married filing a joint return and your AGI is more than $150,000.
• You owe back taxes.
• You have non-tax federal debts such as unpaid student loans or child-support obligations.

Around the same time you receive your payment, you will receive a notice from the IRS explaining how your payment was figured. It is important to keep this notice as a record of your economic stimulus payment. In addition, you’ll get a separate notice if you owe back taxes or non-tax debts.

Q. The notice I received shows that I should have gotten more than the government actually deposited into my bank account. Did something go wrong?

A. It could be that the amount deposited into your bank account was what remained of your stimulus payment after it was offset for money you owed on back taxes or other debts such as a student loan or child support. If this is the case, you’ll receive an additional notice, providing details on the offset.

So when will you receive yours? 

Economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer's Social Security number. For joint filers, the payments will go out based on the person listed first on the return. Payments will be made by either direct deposit or paper check, consistent with how people filed their 2007 tax return. 

People who use direct deposit also will be among the first to receive the payments starting April 28. Direct deposits will be made daily and completed by the dates listed in a schedule the IRS just released.  Click here to find out when you will get your check:

http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=180250,00.htm
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People who file a return after April 15 will receive their economic stimulus payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment this year.

Organic food is one of the fastest-growing categories in the industry but can cost twice as much!   So is it worth it?

You decide!

Here's what organic means:

Animals have NOT been treated with: antibiotics, growth hormones or feed made from animal byproducts.

Animals must have been fed organic feed for at least a year.

Animals must have access to the outdoors.

Food hasn't been genetically modified or irradiated.

Fertilizer does not contain sewage sludge or synthetic ingredients.

Produce hasn't been contaminated with synthetic chemicals used as pesticides.

'100% Organic' means the product must contain 100% organic ingredients.

'Organic' with the USDA label means at least 95% of the ingredients are organically produced.

'Natural' or 'All Natural' does NOT mean organic.  There is no standard definition for this term except with meat and poultry products. 

It's costing you more to feed your family, the price of the basics like milk, cheese and bread continue to go up. So you can't afford to waste money at the grocery store!

You can't afford to waste time either!  Have you ever walked out of the grocery store with a huge bill and even though you spent all that money when you get home you realize you didn't even get what you really needed!?!  With gas prices the way they are, you definitely don't want to turn around and drive back to the store!

Well now there's a gadget that will make sure that doesn't happen again. The SmartShopper will definitely save you time and aggravation and maybe money too!

SmartShopper is a voice recorder with voice recognition software that attaches to a refrigerator with magnets or mounts onto a wall. It keeps your shopping list stored, just press the button and say the item you run out of as you go about your week. Then, when you're ready to go shopping just press print and the list prints out by categories (deli, meats, frozen foods, vegetables, baking goods, etc), which saves you time and makes for a faster shopping experience. You can indicate quantity, mark it with a coupon to remind you that you have a coupon for that item. It operates on standard AA batteries, uses thermal paper which doesn't require ink cartridges or replacements.

Here's the catch - it costs $149.

Is it worth it? Depends on how you use it. Experts say you are destined to overspend on groceries if you don't shop with a list but the SmartShopper could help pay for itself if it helps you stick to your list and only buy what you need (not what you're hungry for at that moment!)

Check it out for yourself at www.smartshopperusa.com

There are some 13 million errors in credit reports every year so it's in your best interest to check yours for any mistakes!  You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the big three credit agencies but you have to know where to go.  There are plenty of companies that say "free" but they can end up costing you money, big money! 

You've probably seen the catchy ads for freecreditreport.com but the site doesn't necessarily spell savings.   If you click on freecreditreport.com's web site to order your credit report you can be billed $14.95 a month for a credit monitoring service after a free trial.  So essentially your "free" credit report ends up costing $180 a year!

Experts say www.annualcreditreport.com is the site you should be using.  It's the only site that is truly free and run by all three credit reporting agencies and the government.  Keep in mind, the credit reports are free but your score is not.

You probably only think of haggling at the car dealership but this slow economy means you should try your luck at the big box stores too! Although stores like Best Buy and Home Depot don't have official policies that allow haggling, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Amanda Walker, editor of Consumer Reports 'Shop Smart' magazine tells me you can even bargain on big ticket items, "Those items probably have been marked up so there's a bigger margin so they've got more wiggle room, mattresses, refrigerators big tvs, expensive computers as well."

So how do you haggle successfully and with dignity? First, be polite and make it seem like a team-effort, ask the salesperson to "work with you" on the price Also, be discreet, don't broadcast to other shoppers that you're getting a deal and ask for a manager if the salesperson isn't empowered to make a decision about a sale. Finally, ask to match the lowest price. Many stores, including super markets, will match other stores' prices or coupons as long as you have a circular to prove what the competitor is charging.

The web really give shoppers the upper hand. A quick Google search before you leave the house can tell you if there's a better price out there.

Or check out www.review2buy.com The website and text message service lets you access product reviews and price comparisons and have them sent right on your phone when and where you need it most, in the store aisle! So doing your homework before you haggle is easier than ever!

Teri kicked my butt when it came to saving money at the grocery store!

Use her advice to save your family cash too!

Check out www.TheGroceryGame.com and are more smart shopping suggestions from Teri Gault, the CEO and Founder:  

Stockpiling vs. Need Shopping - Buy more than you need of a fairly priced item to save the most.  Stockpile those items that are useful to your family, even if you don't yet need them.  If you don't have certain items in your stockpile that you must have right away, you may have to purchase them as Need Items, and will have to pay a higher price.  Your Need List gets shorter as your stockpile grows.

Two Different Supermarkets - Determine which market is good for stockpiling and which one is good for Need Shopping.  If you have a market that doubles coupons, that market will be your Stockpiling Market.  Whether or not you have a market that doubles coupons, your stockpiling market will most likely be a market with higher over-all prices, because they will probably bottom out lower than other markets when they hit their Rock Bottom Sales.  As for Need Shopping, go to a market with no frills, just the lowest everyday prices.

Categorical Sales Trends - Sales Trends run in categories in the supermarkets.  This week may feature paper goods and deli products, and next week sales may be only on frozen foods and toiletries.  Stockpiling properly will eliminate over-paying on categories that are not on sale in any given week.  Categorical sales trends typically cycle through all product categories within a 12-week period, so stockpile more than you need while the price is right, purchasing enough to last until the next Rock Bottom Sale.

Grocery Hopping - Going to a number of markets to use coupons each week is not productive.  Each major supermarket will run most of the same sales on the same items within a few weeks of one another.  If you choose the right market for stockpiling, all the best deals should eventually come to you in one weekly stop.

The Coupon File - Less is more!  Get your coupons from the Sunday paper and supplement it with some  online coupons.  Don’t forget to toss out expired coupons, as well as those that you will never use.  Use a simple cancelled check file to organize your select coupons.

Coupon Redemption - Be careful to read everything on the coupon.  You don't want surprises at checkout.  Also, look for phrases like "good on any..." of that manufacturer's products, not just the pictured item featured on the coupon.  Some of the best deals are found when a coupon may be honored for an item less extravagant than the featured item.

Shopping Days and 72-hour Sales - In most areas, the best days to shop are on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  Most markets' sales weeks begin on Wednesday and end on Tuesday.  Since new coupons arrive with the current week's sales on Sunday, wait until then to shop.  Also, from time to time, markets run special 72-hour sales, most often on Sunday through Tuesday.   Please note, some grocery stores are changing their sales cycles.

Smaller Package Equals Better Value - Do the math.  Most often when a smaller package and a larger package of the same name brand product are both on sale, the better deal is the smaller package, if you have a coupon. 

Warehouse Club Stores - The only Warehouse Club Store items that are beneficial to stockpile are eggs, butter, and cheese.  If you have a market that doubles coupons, you can easily beat Warehouse Club Store prices on other categories by using your coupons at your stockpiling market in conjunction with a Rock Bottom Sale. 

Buy a freezer! – Freezers are the first items members buy from their $1 Trial so that they can stockpile the meats that are on special, as well as other great freezer items. Teri has other great uses for the freezer, “When my fruit gets ripe, I press it into ice trays. Then once frozen, I empty the frozen fruit cubes into ziploc baggies for storage in the freezer. When my kids want a great healthy treat, I put them in a blender with juice or yogurt, for delicious smoothies!” The ice cube method also works for preparing healthy and time-efficient baby food.

I can't believe how enthuastic, friendly and awake our Good Day Philadelphia viewers are so early in the morning!

I had the pleasure of reporting on Good Day this morning with Steve and Sue to explain what a 'Vumber' is and it turned into quite an experience!  So many Good Day viewers called in to put it to the test and to say hello!

Let me explain Vumber.  Vumber is a virtual phone number or think of it as disposable calling service.  Here's how it works you subscribe to the service and you're given your own phone number in the area code of your choice.  That number is connected to your existing cell but doesn't affect your cell number.

Following?

All calls made to your Vumber will ring on your regular phone giving you an extra line.  Ifyou call out from your Vumber, that's the number that will show up on caller ID. 

OK so why would you want something like this?  Well let's say I'm at a bar and I meet steve and he asks for my number but i'm not 100% sure I trust him.  I can give him my Vumber instead of my real number that way, if he turns out to be crazy, I can just drop my vumber and him!  That's the bottom line - you can change your vumber or drop it at any time!

Thanks so much for your calls and for chatting with me this morning! 

If you want to check out Vumber log onto www.vumber.com  The service is about  $10 a month.

Another service will transfer your voicemails into text messages or emails - check that out at www.Spinvox.com

Here is the bottom line: To receive your tax stimulus rebate check ($300-$600 for individuals, $600-1200 for couples) all you have to do is file your 2007 taxes!

That's it!

There are no forms to fill out and there is no need to give out any personal information.  If you filed your taxes, the government knows how to find you, so anyone who calls asking for personal infomation is a scam artist!

People who don't typically file tax returns can still receive a rebate.  Starting Saturday the IRS is opening locations around the country for anyone filing a tax return soley to get a rebate.  The IRS is calling it 'Super Saturday.'

To find a location near you, click here:

Super Saturday Locations for March 29

Here's what you need to bring if you're planning to request assistance with your tax return at one of the Super Saturday locations:

• Picture ID or identity document
  
  
• Verification of Social Security number of the taxpayer, spouse (if applicable) and qualifying children (if applicable), such as:
  • Social Security Card or
  • Letter/Notice from Social Security or
  • Veteran's Administration document reflecting Social Security number
    
    
• Form SSA-1099 from Social Security or Form RRB-1099 from Railroad Retirement Board, or if 1099 is not available, a monthly statement and/or the amount of monthly benefits
  

• Monthly statement from the Department of Veteran's Affairs showing payments you received in 2007 for veterans disability compensation, disability pension and survivor benefits and/or the amount of monthly benefits
  
  
• W-2 showing your non-taxable Qualified Combat Pay
  
  
• Proof of any other income, taxable or nontaxable
  
  
• Bank account information if they wish to choose direct deposit for their stimulus payment, including:
  • For checking account: check showing the bank routing and account number, or 
  • For savings account: deposit slip showing the bank routing and account number

If you signed up for Verizon's triple bundle service and believe you qualify for the free '19 flat screen TV and have not yet received it - check out the following message from Verizon for answers to any questions you might have:

When the Blu-ray / HD-DVD war was over did you find yourself on the losing team?  Now Best Buy wants to ease the sting by giving you a free $50 gift card!

Here is the bottom line:  Best Buy will Send $50 Gift Cards to Customers Who Purchased an HD-DVD Player from Best Buy in the U.S.

With Blu-ray declaring victory over HD-DVD in the high definition movie format war, Best Buy is giving $50 gift cards to customers who purchased an HD-DVD player or HD-DVD attachment from its U.S. stores before February 23, 2008.

"The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven't seen since Betamax took on VHS more than 20 years ago," said Brian J. Dunn, president and chief operating officer for Best Buy. "At Best Buy, we understood and shared our customers' frustrations as they were being asked to choose one format or the other.

Most Best Buy customers won't have to do anything to receive their gift card.  Best Buy will proactively mail cards to all customers that the company can identify as having purchased an HD-DVD player. Members of the Best Buy Reward Zone program, customers who purchased Performance Service Plans (PSPs) or who made their purchase on BestBuy.com should look for their gift cards in the mail by May 1.

Other customers who may not be easily identified can call (888) BEST BUY to receive their gift cards with proof of purchase through a credit card or their Best Buy receipt. "The beauty of this offer is that it doesn't require our customers to give up their HD-DVD player," said Barry Judge, chief marketing officer for Best Buy.  "We know that many people who purchased these players have HD-DVD movies that they would like to continue to watch. We're telling our customers they can keep their players to play these movies as well as their older DVDs and use the $50 to treat themselves to anything else in our stores." HD-DVD players can actually deliver greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting the video resolution.

Customers who do want to get rid of their HD-DVD players can visit Best Buy's Online Trade-In Center at www.bestbuytradein.com

Visitors to the site will receive instant estimates of the value of their HD-DVD players and movies. Those who agree with the estimates can then ship their goods to the Trade-In Center free of charge by downloading a prepaid shipping label and will receive an additional gift card as payment for their trade-in. This service is open to HD-DVD owners regardless of where they bought their player. For more information visit www.bestbuy.com/hddvd

You've seen them before - wild, wacky and weird products that are advertised at 3am!  Then, due to your sleepy state you actually consider dialing the 800 number to order one just to see if it actually works!

We want you to save your money (even if it is only 3 easy payments of $9.99) and let us answer the age old question - does it really work?  That's where our new segment 'Deal or Dud' comes in.  We are putting products to the test to see if they are really worth your money or if they are simply entertainment for insomniacs.

If you have seen a product you want us to test, whether it’s from a high-end store or a cheesy infomercial, let us know!  Then ‘Deal or Dud’ gets interactive.  We invite any Fox 29 viewer or blogger who wants to test it for us, to let us know!  Just email me your ideas at therealdeal.fox29@gmail.com or blog about it right here!