Entering Sweepstakes and benefits like Public Assistance, Disability, and SSI

*Disclaimer:  This is not professional advice.  I am giving an overview so you can know how to talk to your accountant or tax professional and hopefully make some wise decisions regarding what you enter to win.*

I often heard when I was big into using coupons, "I can't use coupons because I am on Food Stamps."  That is a myth, and it upset me so much to hear it because coupons could help stretch the amount of groceries that could be bought with the amount of assistance the person receives.

Unlike using coupons, which is considered a DISCOUNT, winning a sweepstakes is considered INCOME!  And technically, just because you don't get a 1099-MISC form reported to the IRS for every win, you technically are to report every win.  An example wold be going to McDonalds and finding a free fries instant win game piece on your cup.  Unlike in previous games, the 2018 Trick. Treat. Win! sweepstakes gives an ARV (average retail value) on each game piece.  Reality says you need to report that $2 prize to the IRS at the end of the year, but I don't think many people know that, and I seriously doubt anyone is going to be audited for leaving off a Big Mac win on their income taxes.

How "They Like You" becomes "Hate Speech"

"You don't matter. Your voice doesn't matter. You are perceiving things all wrong"

That's what I was told time and time again in junior high and the year I went to public high school. Not in those words, but I heard the message LOUD and CLEAR.

Yesterday, someone come on to my Facebook page, find a post I had open to the public, and said things about my weight, how much my ***** stinks, etc. Some of it was not as bad as when I was in high school and the things that would be said to me in high school was much worse.

A friend reported it to Facebook. It was removed for hate speech.

In 2018 it's considered 'hate speech'. In 1988 it was "They only say those things because they like you.