Economy | Saving to Invest

Financial Reform Bill Summary – What it Means to Your Future. Free Credit Score, Bank Stocks and Consumer Protection Measures

[Updated] Approved! Congress and the President have approved the financial reform bill (detailed below) that would revamp the nation's financial regulatory system. It will allow for the creation of a consumer financial protection bureau at the Federal Reserve, give regulators new powers to liquidate failing financial firms whose collapse would threaten the economy and…

New 2010 Stimulus Package Tax Breaks – Focused on Economic Aid For Middle Class Families via Increased Child Care, Student and Aged Care Credits

[Updated following SOU speech] President Barack Obama has proposed a new round of stimulus spending in 2010, focused on middle class families struggling to pay bills and care for their families. The initiatives in the new stimulus package are a product of a middle class task force headed by Vice…

$600 Extra Unemployment and 13 Week Unemployment Extension Status and Payment Schedule

Under the recently enacted $2 trillion Coronavirus stimulus bill (CAREs act), federal funding will be provided to extend existing state administered unemployment insurance (UI) coverage for up to 13 weeks (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) and will be bolstered by up to $600 per week (FPUC) over current state maximums over the next four…

No Increase, but Congress to Extend $8000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit into 2010 and Make Available to More Home Buyers and Owners

[Updated Nov] - See this post for details on the home buyer credit extenstion approval and new provisions: 2010 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension Approved and Expanded to Existing Home Owners. New Provisions Not Retroactive A number of would-be home buyers and the real estate industry are anxiously wondering if…

Weekend Review: Dude – Where Are The Stimulus Jobs Gone?

When the $787 billion Economic Stimulus Bill – known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – was signed, there was a promise to provide full transparency on it’s expenditure and to ensure that every dollar is tracked. Like so many earlier government promises, this one also is starting to…

2024 Update on Stimulus Check & $900 grocery Benefit for Seniors, Retirees, Veterans and the Disabled

[Latest Stimulus Check Update for Seniors] While multiple rounds of stimulus payments have been made over the last two years, many are asking if the government will make another (4th round) of payments to help folks cope with higher inflation and the rising costs of basic goods and services. $900…

Employer Tax Credit Stimulus to Create New jobs and Lower Unemployment – Good Idea or Bad Policy

The Labor Department reported recently that unemployment reached 9.8 percent in September, the highest level since 1983, and that 10% unemployment is likely by early next year. With record unemployment and a need to ensure the economy doesn't fall back into a recession, the Obama administration is considering the addition…

Shrinking FDIC Fund Signals More Economic Pain Ahead

Some worrying commentary from FDIC chairman Sheila Bair indicating that the economy and housing market are still a long way from recovered and that the potential run up in financial shares of late could just as easily reverse course in the later half of this year. The remarks were prompted…

Cash for Appliances Stimulus Rebate Program – Covering Air Conditioners to Refrigerators to Washers; And How to Claim the Rebate

The Federal energy-efficient appliance rebate program or Cash for Appliances program as it is more commonly known is now live in a number of states. The program will provide $300 rebates for Energy Star electric heat-pump water heaters, $100 for super-efficient clothes washers and $50 for super-efficient refrigerators. The program…

No Cash for Clunkers (CARS) Program Proposed to Support Auto Industry

2021 Update - Given the chip shortage and surge in new and used car prices, no government programs were put in place as part of the various stimulus packages to support the Automotive industry. There are however Electric Vehicle (EV) credits and tax breaks in the bi-partisan infrastructure bill. [2020…

2013 Home Energy Tax Credits Extended

[2013 Update] As part of the deal to avert the fiscal cliff, legislated under the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012, certain energy tax credits were extended into 2013. You can read this article for an overview of these credits and other 2013 income tax related changes. The$500 tax credit for installing…

COBRA Health Care Premium Subsidy in Biden ARP Economic Stimulus Package

Under the Biden administration’s nearly $2 trillion stimulus package, also known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP), provisions have been added to provide relief for many Americans to save on private health Insurance if they are out of a job, and on COBRA benefit from their employer or getting insurance via…

Will Biden’s Budget Plans Help the Poor by Taxing the Rich?

One of the corner stones in President Biden's recently announced $3.6 trillion budget was to raise taxes on the rich in order to cut the budget deficit and fund many of his ambitious programs over the next decade. The prime focus of his tax reforms were the richest 2% of…

Help for Unemployed and Under Insured Workers in the Latest Economic Stimulus Package

See the latest on unemployment benefit extensions. [2008 Stimulus Package] Continuing with my in depth coverage of "Your Money in the Stimulus" series, it is was good to see that the final version of President Obama's economic stimulus package retained benefits for the unemployed, disabled and under insured. With millions…

Category: Economy