What to do with that TAX REBATE?

[maxpower]

OK, President Bush and the leaders of congress yesterday announced an economic stimulus package that includes tax rebates that would give single tax payers up to $600, working couples $1200, plus $300 per child.

I'm married with 2 kids (and one on the way), so that's $1800. Hooray!

Anyone planning (like me) to use that rebate to upgrade their SageTV solution?

My plans include:

2 HD Extenders
Core2 Quad Q6600 processor, motherboard and memory
1TB SATA drive

Of course my wife, no doubt, has other plans.

[stanger89]

If "SageTV system" includes the display, then I'm looking long and hard about getting a BenQ W20000

[lovingHDTV]

Originally Posted by maxpower

OK, President Bush and the leaders of congress yesterday announced an economic stimulus package that includes tax rebates that would give single tax payers up to $600, working couples $1200, plus $300 per child.

I'm married with 2 kids (and one on the way), so that's $1800. Hooray!

Anyone planning (like me) to use that rebate to upgrade their SageTV solution?

My plans include:

2 HD Extenders
Core2 Quad Q6600 processor, motherboard and memory
1TB SATA drive

Of course my wife, no doubt, has other plans.

You should take a look at the Woot today:

http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=1906527

[maxpower]

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

You should take a look at the Woot today:

http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=1906527

Holy Crap! I don't have the money yet. What to do? Put it on a credit card and fight with my wife now? Or wait and fight with her when I get the money?

Update: As tempting as that deal is, there are no free PCI slots, so I wouldn't be able to use the two HVR-1600s that I have now and would need to probably get HDHRs instead. I believe I'll wait. But it is tempting to get just to pull the parts (CPU, Fan, memory and those SATA drives).

[lotusvball]

Originally Posted by maxpower

I'm married with 2 kids (and one on the way), so that's $1800. Hooray!

I thought I read that as a cap of $1200. Single get $300 + 300 per kid and couples get 600 + 300 per kid. Max 1200

[IVB]

I don't want much.

HD Extender: $200
58" 720p Panny Plasma: $2,200
Ferrari: $220,000

But, I'm a reasonable guy, I know the wife may not go for the whole list. Hence, i'm willing to knock the ferrari off the list if the wife objects...

[maxpower]

Originally Posted by lotusvball

I thought I read that as a cap of $1200. Single get $300 + 300 per kid and couples get 600 + 300 per kid. Max 1200

All of the stories I've read stipulate that the couple max is $1200 PLUS $300 per kid.

Here are some examples from the AP

[JUC]

after some quick calculations looks like i will be owing around $1000 in federal taxes so looks like i will be using this to either offset or reduce it. So-nothing fancy for me. I'll take it though!

[lotusvball]

Originally Posted by maxpower

All of the stories I've read stipulate that the couple max is $1200 PLUS $300 per kid.

Here are some examples from the AP

I hope that is true. That would be 1800 for me also.

[[JiF]Mike]

$1800 bucks here too. The wife is already on board with upgrading our htpc. It's 3 years old so is due!!

[MeInMaui]

I'll believe it when I see it, but $2,100 sure would be nice.

Aloha,
Mike

[lotusvball]

Anyone have a couple of kids I can use for a month or so. Let see with 10 kids that would be $4200. Now were talking. guess that would be cheating.

I have read a couple more articles and it looks like it is 1200 for couples + 300 per kid.

[mattdcknsn]

Originally Posted by JUC

after some quick calculations looks like i will be owing around $1000 in federal taxes so looks like i will be using this to either offset or reduce it. So-nothing fancy for me. I'll take it though!

Your not doing your taxes right then With enough "creative accounting" you should always be getting a refund.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by mattdcknsn

you should always be getting a refund.

I'm quoting a bit out of context, but why would anyone want a tax refund? That means you paid too much and you are giving the government an interest free loan. I would rather put the money in the bank & earn interest until I have to pay my taxes.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Opus4

I'm quoting a bit out of context, but why would anyone want a tax refund?

Personally I'm aiming to have as small a refund as possible next year.

[IVB]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Personally I'm aiming to have as small a refund as possible next year.

Hell, that's easy. Forgo the itemized deductions, and just stick with the standard one.

You guys will find yourselves owing mega-$$ in no time flat

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by IVB

Hell, that's easy. Forgo the itemized deductions, and just stick with the standard one.

I'm going with option B:

Tweak my withholding to minimize my refund

[Morgan111]

I get $2100 for free!

Some of that goes to the new Hauppage A. Hole HD-PVR (and STB rental fees)

[briands]

Originally Posted by Morgan111

I get $2100 for free!

Some of that goes to the new Hauppage A. Hole HD-PVR (and STB rental fees)

Not so much free, since it is really our money to start with, but I'll take my $1800 as well... Some stories said it will be almost mid year... wonder if the credit card lobby had something to do with that? What percent of people do yo think will wait until they get the money before they spend it?

[Jesse]

Not so much free, since it is really our money to start with...

Actually, since we run a deficit, we will be borrowing the money for the rebates from the Chinese, the UAE and the Saudis. I wonder how much my rebate will end up costing me with the interest...

Man, now I am bummed. Guess I will point my browser to newegg and do a little shopping to make myself feel better.

Jesse