Dividend Day$

Valley Life editor

Tomorrow, that circled date on the calendar of every Alaskan finally arrives, and Oct. 13 means different things to different people.

The first direct-deposited permanent fund checks hit bank accounts tomorrow morning, and for some, that means big-ticket items can finally be bought, thanks to the $919.84 PFD.

For others, it means paying off some bills, while for still others it means nothing more than they've got a few extra bucks in the bank for the first time in months.

"I've already spent mine and my husbands -- he was in a car accident in August, and that money was spent on getting the car fixed then," said Sallie Hughes, who was shopping at Fred Meyer Sunday night -- but not for dividend deals. "We never really do much with our dividends. It's nice to get the check, but we rarely do anything special."

Hughes is in the minority, however.

While retailers love October -- for some, it rivals the Christmas season -- the consumers are the big winners.

"We look forward to getting the checks, yeah," said Tom Jones, a Fairbanks resident and another Fred Meyer shopper last Sunday. "Last year we bought a new TV at dividend time. This year we're probably going to use them to go on vacation later in the winter. It's nice to get that little boost."

The economic impact on Alaska's business is tremendous, thanks to instant consumer spending power. And in most cases, the consumers are more than willing to take advantage of the many sales and special deals Alaska's businesses offer during October, in anticipation of the permanent fund checks hitting bank accounts.

Jones' wife, Kerrie, said her two kids get to go on a mini-spending spree -- but their future is also being protected with each PFD check they receive while they are under 18.

"We give them each $100 of their dividends to spend, but the rest goes in their bank account so they'll have some money for college," she explained.

"College is so expensive now, their dividends won't even put a dent in that expense, but it'll help," Kerrie Jones said. "Last year, our son talked us into $200 -- he really wanted a Playstation2, and we told him all summer he'd have to wait for his dividend check. He did, too."

This year, the $919.84 amount is lower than last year. While everyone would like a larger check, there aren't many who will complain about a bump in their bank account, thanks to their PFD check.

Jared Wright, a Wasilla resident, said he will probably use his check this year on a new DVD player for his apartment, and then put the rest away. He was scouting out the electronics sales at Fred Meyer Sunday night, although he was waiting until the money hit his bank account to do any buying.

"I've got enough bills that I could use the money for, but I've got to buy at least one thing fun with it," he said. "Nine hundred bucks doesn't go all that far, really. I could use nine thousand bucks."