I believe that I have mentioned before on this blog that one of our favorite ways to pick up some extra money and/or comps is by participating in casino check-cashing promotions. Although many local casinos have these, our favorite for many years has been the one at the Palms. We have each regularly cashed 3 or 4 checks a month and scored a variety of benefits: free play from $10-$50; food comps from free buffets to $25 for various restaurants ; $50 spa or salon credit; and occasionally instant cash, from $100 to a couple recent surprises of $1,000 and the top prize of $10,000!
Even discounting those last two very lucky hits, we have found it a significant addition to our casino profit down through the years, worth planning our schedule so we can be there most Fridays, which is the only day the promotion is offered. It also has been worth the effort we put in several years ago to change all four of our government checks from direct deposit to mailed paper checks.
However, I have some current news that the government is going to cut off this benefit we have by requiring that we receive all our retirement payments (SS, VA, and civil service) by direct deposit or a debit card. Fortunately, existing beneficiaries who currently receive payments by paper check will have until March 1, 2013 to switch to electronic payments. For new enrollees, the start date is March 1, 2011.
I really can’t complain about this change. It is supposed to save the government about 300 million in the first five years – and I’m all for saving taxpayer money. And we will still have some non-government checks to cash once in awhile. But we will certainly miss this “government benefit”!