Peanut Butter Prices Going Up + Amazon Deals

Well, would you look at that?  Two days ago there was an article on the Wall Street Journal about the prices of Peanut Butter and how they are going up as much as 30% at the end of the month.  But the internet didn’t catch up to it until today.  So, now that you know too you can get the following deals to stock up before prices go up:

Skippy Peanut Butter, Creamy, 16.3-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6) $11.75 when you order using susbcribe and save

Jif Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter Spread, 18-Ounce (Pack of 6) $14 when you order using subscribe and save.

For an in store deal check out this one at Target:

Planters Peanut Butter $1.99 (regular price)
Use $0.75/1 Planters Peanut Butter Target printable coupon
Pay $1.25 each after coupon

If you see any other deals at stores near you, you may want to stock up.

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Out With The Old, In With The New: Find Out What’s Going On in your Community

Throughout the month of December, The Simple Dollar is posting a daily series focusing on specific activities you can do right now to set the stage for a great 2011. Out with the old, in with the new.

21. Find out what’s going on in your community.

I am constantly astounded as to the wide variety of activities going on in my own community and in surrounding communities. Quite simply, there are more interesting activities going on than I possibly have time to participate in or attend. Ultimate frisbee leagues. Free concerts. Free golf. Free lectures.

Once upon a time, I always felt like there was either nothing to do or that the only activities I could do outside of the home were expensive – go to a movie, go to a club, or something like that. In truth, though, most communities are teeming with things to do.

You just have to find them.

Here are some of the techniques I use to keep abreast of the events going on in my own community.

Use the internet Search the internet for your town name (and nearby communities, too) and the words “community calendar” or “activities” and see what you find. Many cities maintain a web site that includes some sort of community calendar and, beyond that, local newspapers often have similar pages as well that note upcoming local events.

That, of course, leads right into my second tip…

Check the local newspaper Local newspapers are usually treasure troves of event listings of all kinds. Browse through a local newspaper or two to see what sort of events are mentioned. Some newspapers – like the one my parents subscribed to as a kid – actually have a “community calendar” section loaded with interesting stuff.

Visit the websites of nearby colleges and universities If you live near a large university, you’re in luck – most of them have an abundance of activities available to the wider community. I live fairly near Iowa State University, so I regularly attend lectures and other events held there in the Union. You can find out what’s going on there by simply visiting the website of those universities and colleges and reading their calendar of events.

Stop by the post office Many activities are posted on the bulletin board at your local post office. At the same time, the local postmaster will often have great ideas as to where to go to find more event listings.

Visit the parks department In many towns and cities, the parks and recreation department runs ongoing activities of all kinds, from sports leagues you can participate in to youth leagues you can coach and referee in.

Stop by city hall The city hall in many towns often has a community calendar on display, listing activities in the town. Even if such a calendar isn’t available there, asking the people working at city hall for further ideas can be a great boost to your search.

Stop by the library The library in many towns offers group meetings, lectures, and activities of various kinds. Stop in there, check out their calendar, and see what’s on offer.

If you do all of these things, I virtually guarantee you’ll have a giant list of low-cost entertainment and activities in your community, most of them free and most of them completely outside of your bubble of awareness. From that list, I’m willing to bet there’s quite a few activities you will enjoy.

View the original article here

Going Into Debt Can Be Awesome

We often talk about the dark side of credit, but it is actually a wonderful invention. In a world where nothing is free, being able to borrow allows anyone to pursue their otherwise impossible dreams.

Borrowing startup capital allows entrepreneurs to become important business owners with just an idea. Borrowing to go to school allows those who grew up with under less priviledged situations to pursue careers that require expensive training. Borrowing, when executed properly, can help achieve the impossible.

But nothing is free in our world. The cost of borrowing is much more than the monthly payment. It's an obligation that demands sacrifices in other parts of one's life. A recent New York Times article discussed the common scenario of bringing debt into a relationship. It was easy to call the fiance that ended his engagement with Ms. Eastman in the story cruel when he found out all the money she owed, but who could blame him if the debt loan was $170,000 with no real way of paying it back?

Or what about the other couple in the story? It's admirable for Mr. Kogler to make the sacrifices for Ms. Tidwell, but if you are in serious debt and expect anyone to give up running his family business, move to another country, possibly forgo career opportunities in the future, and alter plans for their children, you are just as cruel -- if not a little delusional to expect that's the norm.

Borrowing money takes sacrifices. The student would need to live modestly in order to pay off all the student loans that she took out, but her children may be able to start off their life with a more solid footing.

The business owner may strike it rich, or he may be servicing the loan he took out for the next decade. At the very least, he has a chance, and he was able to do what he really wanted.

Money is money. There are no emotions involved. Credit won't guarantee success, and it is up to us to make it happen. Borrowed money opens up possibilities, but it is up to us to make sure the sacrifices are worth it. Taking out a loan is a big decision, but it is our duty to run the numbers and make sure we can afford the consequences.

Next time you decide that it's okay to borrow money to make a purchase, you ought to think of Ms. Eastman.

Debt is powerful. It could be an enabler or a destroyer. Which one it becomes is totally up to you.

What are you willing to go into debt for?

View the original article here

Going Into Debt Can Be Awesome

We often talk about the dark side of credit, but it is actually a wonderful invention. In a world where nothing is free, being able to borrow allows anyone to pursue their otherwise impossible dreams.

Borrowing startup capital allows entrepreneurs to become important business owners with just an idea. Borrowing to go to school allows those who grew up with under less priviledged situations to pursue careers that require expensive training. Borrowing, when executed properly, can help achieve the impossible.

But nothing is free in our world. The cost of borrowing is much more than the monthly payment. It's an obligation that demands sacrifices in other parts of one's life. A recent New York Times article discussed the common scenario of bringing debt into a relationship. It was easy to call the fiance that ended his engagement with Ms. Eastman in the story cruel when he found out all the money she owed, but who could blame him if the debt loan was $170,000 with no real way of paying it back?

Or what about the other couple in the story? It's admirable for Mr. Kogler to make the sacrifices for Ms. Tidwell, but if you are in serious debt and expect anyone to give up running his family business, move to another country, possibly forgo career opportunities in the future, and alter plans for their children, you are just as cruel -- if not a little delusional to expect that's the norm.

Borrowing money takes sacrifices. The student would need to live modestly in order to pay off all the student loans that she took out, but her children may be able to start off their life with a more solid footing.

The business owner may strike it rich, or he may be servicing the loan he took out for the next decade. At the very least, he has a chance, and he was able to do what he really wanted.

Money is money. There are no emotions involved. Credit won't guarantee success, and it is up to us to make it happen. Borrowed money opens up possibilities, but it is up to us to make sure the sacrifices are worth it. Taking out a loan is a big decision, but it is our duty to run the numbers and make sure we can afford the consequences.

Next time you decide that it's okay to borrow money to make a purchase, you ought to think of Ms. Eastman.

Debt is powerful. It could be an enabler or a destroyer. Which one it becomes is totally up to you.

What are you willing to go into debt for?

View the original article here