It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe…
Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance. Here’s what caught my attention over the past week…
Happy Halloween everyone!
This week I found out that the December edition of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance was kind (or crazy?) enough to honor this little ol’ blog as one of eight personal finance blogs that “stand out for the valuable personal finance advice they offer.” Hooray! The issue hits newsstands on November 9th.
I know what you’re thinking: “Clearly, Len, you are the unwitting victim of an elaborate hoax.”
Normally I’d agree with you, but this time I’m pretty sure everything is legit, folks.
Len Penzo dot Com was selected by Kiplinger contributing editor Cameron Huddleston as the “best off-beat blog.” Thank you so much for the kind honor, Cameron!
I’d like to note that Kiplinger also honored, among others, my pal J. Money, over at Budgets are Sexy (best blog for twentysomethings) and my friends at Wisebread (best blog for frugalistas).
Okay, on to more important stuff. This week I’m short on time so we’ll have to settle for the lightning round commentary. Give me sixty seconds on the clock, and here we go…
Blogs I’ve Been Following This Week
Kiplinger – 13 Financial Frights. In honor of Halloween, here are a baker’s dozen of some of the more-haunting personal finance scenarios you may run into – like a lost wallet – and how you can make those demons go away.
Millionaire Nurse Blog – Are YOU Part of the Problem, or Part of the Solution? You can’t expect your personal finances to remain in great health if you are afraid to invest in – to use a doctor’s term – a little “wellness prevention.” Speaking of wellness prevention, let me just say that if I was female, Dr. Dean would definitely be my gynecologist. Heck, I have half a notion to just schedule an appointment anyway. (That’s scary, isn’t it?)
Punch Debt In the Face – Would You Get Naked for $500,000? Are you kidding? Of course I would. (That’s scary too, but it’s true.)
Control Your Cash - What do Numbers and Humans Have in Common? The Irrational Ones Predominate. This was one very entertaining read with a terrific message at the end, as satisfying as the soft Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.
Smart on Money – Retiring Wealthy on an Average Salary: The Story of the Sensible Social Worker. Not only is this a great story, but I give Mr. Money 50 bonus points here for not spelling “sensible” as “centsible.”
Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance - How to Cope With Failure and Personal Finance Persistence. I seem to cope with some kind of failure on this blog every day. All kidding aside, I found this post to be inspiring and extremely helpful to me.
…And Here’s Some Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
Hope to Prosper – The Economic Crisis Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us.
Financial Samurai – The Comfortable Lifestyle Business or the Big Payout?
The Simple Dollar – The Two Types of Procrastination
Wealth Pilgrim - Home Remodeling Construction Tips.
Live Richly - Stranger in a Strange Land.
Ultimate Money Blog – What’s the Strangest Online Purchase You’ve Ever Made?
Everyday Tips and Thoughts – Tax Avoidance, Double Irish and Dutch Sandwiches.
Deliver Away Debt – Focus on What’s Important.
The Way-Back Machine: Past Posts Of Mine You May Have Missed
From September 2009:
Killer Asteroid? Personal Finance Strategies for the End Times. – If you knew the exact day the world was going to end – for example, perhaps a killer asteroid was discovered that would strike Earth with near certainty ten years fro now – how would that change your personal finance strategy? In this post I tell you what I’d do.
Credits and Debits
Debit: ABC News is reporting that in the closing days of the election, Republicans are campaigning hard on the issues while the Democrats are focused like a laser beam on, er, um, well, personal attacks. That is being reported as news, not opinion.
Debit: Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry (D – Massachusetts) lambasted the American public this week – well, at least those of us who are upset with the current state of the Union. “It’s absurd. We’ve lost our minds. We’re in a period of know-nothingism in the country, where truth and science and facts don’t weigh in. It’s all short-order, lowest common denominator, cheap-seat politics.”
Credit: Election day is Tuesday, November 2. I just hope all you know-nothing complainers remember to vote.
Credit: I’m a proud know-nothing who is only voting for candidates who are strong Constitutionalists, and support limited government, more individual liberty, and business-friendly policies.
Debit: Meanwhile, the smart guy, Senator Kerry, will be voting for more government, redistribution of wealth, and economy-constricting environmental policies.
Debit: Did you see this? A judge in Brazil ordered McDonald’s to pay an obese employee $17,500 because he gained 65 pounds while working there over a 12-year period. The guy claims he felt he was forced to “sample” the food on a daily basis for quality control purposes. I know.
Debit: First, McDonald’s gets sued by a lady who didn’t realize that hot coffee shouldn’t be spilled on her lap – and they lose the case. Then they get sued by a guy for an exploding chicken McNugget – and settle out of court. Now this. How does McDonald’s manage to find all these litigious morons?
Credit: One thing is for certain: McDonald’s needs to fire their current crop of McLawyers. I mean, come on. Where did the Golden Arches law office get their two-bit defense-attorney references from? Mayor McCheese?
Credit: By the way, it’s official; scientists have discovered there is a gene that is responsible for predisposing liberals toward their “redistribute the wealth” mentality. Now that we know liberalism is actually an affliction, I wonder if it is covered under Obamacare? Hey, now, I’m just sayin’.
By the Numbers
Halloween by the numbers, from The Week.com:
31 The percentage of Americans that believe in ghosts.
$66.28 The amount of money the average American will spend on Halloween this year.
$20.29 The average expenditure on candy.
22 The share of costumes purchased on-line.
40 The percentage of Americans who plan on dressing up this year.
2005 The last year the Honeybee and I dressed up for Halloween. She was the devil. I was a priest.
12 The percentage of Americans who will dress up their pets.
0 The odds of me or my dog putting on a costume this year.
Other Useless News
I believe Delaware is the second smallest state in terms of land area in the Union. But when it comes to Len Penzo dot Com, its readers were the most engaged here over the last 30 days, reading almost five articles and spending an average of just under 13 minutes per visit here. I would like to give a special shout out to the folks in Bear, Delaware, who have averaged a whopping 11 page views per visit. What’s truly amazing about that stat is I have no relatives living in Bear, folks. Here are the top 10 states that spent the most time per visit here on average for October:
1. Delaware (12 minutes 58 seconds)
2. Wyoming (4:36)
3. Montana (4:35)
4. Tennessee (4:22)
5. Missouri (4:16)
6. Alaska (4:06)
7. Michigan (4:02)
8. New Hampshire (3:59)
9. New Mexico (3:54)
10. Alabama (3:44)
Here’s a friendly reminder for ya: if you happen to enjoy what you’re reading – or not – please make sure you follow me on Twitter. And, if you’ll be so kind, don’t forget to subscribe to my RSS feed too! 
Letters, I Get Letters
Crystal from Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, staying true to her promise to write in every week, observed:
“Have you seen the new Scott’s tubeless toilet paper? You load the rolls the same, but there is no tube. Good to the last tp square…”
I have seen it! We’ve come a long way from the days of corn cobs and old Sears catalogs. By the way, how many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper? Nobody knows; it’s never happened.
If you have a question you’d like to ask, or a comment you’d like to make regarding some of my irritating opinions, please feel free to drop me an e-mail at: Len@LenPenzo.com
I’ll feature the most interesting question or comment I get each week here on Black Coffee – assuming I get one, that is.
If you’re lucky enough to be the only question in the mailbag I’ll highlight your letter, whether it’s interesting or not. 
Carnival News
This week I had articles featured at the following carnivals:
Carnival of Personal Finance @ CashMoneyLife (Editor’s Pick – Hooray!)
I’m Len Penzo and I approved this message.
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via Email 
12 The percentage of Americans who should have their pets taken away.
Thanks for the inclusion Len, and congrats on your Kiplingers honor.
By the way, I am contributing to those great numbers you posting from Michigan!
Happy Halloween!
Penzo, My nurses would be proud to have you. When they give me my flu shot, they get this scary look on their face, similar to Nancy Pelosi….
Yea, I know, pretty scary!!!
But anyway congrats again on your honor, and to all the other chosen few.
If gives us also-rans a little hope when they choose blogs like……
Seriously, good job, and I hope you send a copy to those folks who wouldn’t hire you as a writer in the past….
Hmm, so I just need to get a job at McDonalds and…just kidding. I hate these lawsuits that crop up over nothing, but they are amusing to read about sometimes.
Congrats, Len! And I love the election approved message.
@Greg: Is it just me, or do you have more ex-gravatars than Larry King has ex-wives? LOL
@Everyday: Thank you times two, Kris. And Happy Halloween to you too!
@Dr. Dean: Thanks, Dr. Dean. And I am definitely a good boy when I get my shots now. I’ll never get over the rubber glove treatment.
@WorkingPoor: What is truly irritating are that juries that hand out big awards to people who have no concept of personal responsibility.
@MoneyFunk: Thanks, Christine. I didn’t think anybody ever read these Black Coffee columns all the way to the bottom of the page. I tend to get long-winded.
Congrats, Len! I always thought the folks at Kiplinger’s were smart
Thanks, Wise Squirrel!
Congrats once again Len and thanks for the link.
I can’t believe no one else thought of the tubeless toilet paper roll before now. What a brillian idea. Now, people don’t have to recycle or throw away the tube.
Hi Len, congrats on being recognized by Kiplinger’s, that’s really cool! Also thanks for the link.
As far as the election goes, I’ve been avoiding thinking about the whole thing because of the nastiness. I guess I will have to track down a voter guide tomorrow and hope there are a few candidates worthy of my trip to the polls. The stuff I got in the mail was devoid of any information that might help me decide how to vote.
I read about that McDonald’s suit and I was floored. This was a while ago when I worked fast food, but most employees were skinny. We all ate there too because meals were half off. You can always eat a salad or something.
Len- Congrats on the mention in Kiplingers. Hopefully it’ll be in their online version too so that people can click instead of type and avoid misspelling like I always do….hello lenpezo.com!
btw- have you ever tried spelling “negotiation”? not so easy either…but quite as bad as “entrepeneur”…i can never get that one right without spell check.
Congrats on Kiplinger! And, as I commented at PDITF, I’d get naked for Playboy for $500k too…sadly, they won’t take me up on the offer…
@Bret: Thank you again, my friend. Yes, the best inventions are always the obvious ones aren’t they?
@Jennifer: Thanks, Jen. I remember when I was a teenager I could eat 4 McD’s double cheeseburgers a couple of large french fries for lunch and then be wondering what was for dinner a few hours later – and I was a bean pole at the time! Those were the days… And hey, you better get out tomorrow and vote!
@Coach: Thank you, sir! By the way, you misspelled “negotiation.” LOL As for me, I constantly have trouble with “occasional” and “personnel.” Go figure.
@BIFS: If I had a half-mill I wouldn’t miss, I’d pay you Mrs. BIFS! Really! LOL Getting naked for a large sum of cash like, say, $1000 or more, is really a no-brainer if you ask me.
I don’t know Len, for half a mil, I would probably say yes. Nobody I know reads those mags, or not that they admit anyway. Of course, they will never ask ME anyway. Too bad, I could think of, oh maybe half a million good things to do with it!
Hi Len, First CONGRATULATIONS on the Kiplinger nod. (Okay, it’s awesome, and if it weren’t that you were such a nice guy, I’d be really jealous, as it is, I’m only a tiny bit envious!)Thank you for calling my article “Inspiring” because that’s what I’m going for!!
@sewingirl: They’ll never ask me either.
@Barb: Thank you, Girlfriend! That article was badly needed, Barb. I really had a tough week and it cheered me up.
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