False rumors about the Div:
-You just have to be in Alaska one day a year.
-We all have to come up here to be counted.
-They give it to you when you show up.
-You have to be a native.
-It's different amounts based on how long you've been in the state.
The truth about the Dividend:
-Once you have been in the state for a whole calendar year, you are able to apply in March, to be paid in October. So, when I started in Aug of '04, none of that counted. I was here for all of '05, so that counted, and I got my first check the fall of '06.
-The amount being paid is based on the average of the last five years' profits of state investments.
-The first people to be paid are those with automatic payments to Alaska state bank accounts. The rest of us (who still bank at home), get our checks several weeks later.
-The first year, you have to have two people vouch for you, and after that, you can just re-up. However, you have to re-up, because they won't just send it to you.
Last year, the dividend was $1800, and we were given an additional $1,200 gas credit. A three thousand dollar bonus was very nice. It almost covered the extra cost of plane tickets, rent, and $8 a gallon for milk.
This year, it's $1,305. This will pretty much cover my plane tickets home for the summer. Yup, that's it. And people wonder why I don't come home for Christmas.
The key to getting a div is to remember that you can't get into the habit of spending the money frivolously, because then you get into the habit of spending that way.
Most of the people in the village have gotten theirs, and have already spent half of them. New shoes, iPods, and four-wheelers. Since parents aren't required to give their children the money until they're old enough (I want to say 16 or 18). That way, last year for example, a family with two parents and four kids would receive $18,000. Enough to buy a new boat, snow-machine, or other major purchase.
Everybody knows we're getting this money. Because of that, everyone is looking for their cut of our money. the following WONDERFUL DEALS are available right now:
-Car lots offer deals where you can get the car now, and can sign your div over to them later.
-Plane tickets are CHEEP this time of year, especially from Anchorage to Hawaii.
-Electronics in Nome are on sale, and we've all been given flyers.
Well, now it's just time to sit back and wait for my check to come in.
That must be nice to have, but it is well earned by you I'm sure. I wouldn't live in that much snow for any amount of money... Just don't spend it on Mountain DEW! :) How's that for supportive? eh?
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