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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Black Coffee: Par for the Course

By Len Penzo

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. I’ve got another busy weekend ahead of ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: Par for the Course

Leave a Comment February 4, 2023

Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake

By Len Penzo

Should you pay off the mortgage early? That question is, without any doubt, the most popular question posed by my readers. And sure enough, the other day I received this note from Lauren regarding the wisdom of paying down the mortgage early: Len: ...

Continue reading Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake

21 Comments January 30, 2023

The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 7

By RD Blakeslee

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage: When I graduated from The High School of Commerce in June of 1952, Dave was home on furlough and he went with me to a ...

Continue reading The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 7

Leave a Comment February 2, 2023

Three Reasons Why Credit Unions Are a Great Choice for a Car Loan

By Sabado Domingo

Are you in the market shopping for a new car? If so, then this article is for you. After you've selected your dream car, the next step is to secure a way to finance your purchase. Don't know where to start? We're here to help. Consider getting a car ...

Continue reading Three Reasons Why Credit Unions Are a Great Choice for a Car Loan

Leave a Comment February 1, 2023

Bad Habits That Make You a Target of Credit Card Fraud

By Len Penzo

Credit card fraud is much more common than you might think. In fact, it is a multi-billion dollar industry for the criminals who choose to undertake such nefarious work. Of course, there are two big reasons why credit card fraud is so widespread: 1) ...

Continue reading Bad Habits That Make You a Target of Credit Card Fraud

8 Comments February 1, 2023

Lessons In Tax Law: Why You Should Never Try To Bribe The IRS

By Corazon Gritar

It's no secret that Americans hate taxes. In fact, pretty much all people from all places would prefer not to pay their taxes. There are even stories from the bible about how much Jesus' peers hated tax collectors. Since the creation of the IRS, ...

Continue reading Lessons In Tax Law: Why You Should Never Try To Bribe The IRS

1 Comment January 31, 2023

Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House

By Len Penzo

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. I hope everybody had a wonderful week. ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House

25 Comments January 28, 2023

A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print

By Corazon Gritar

We're all guilty of it. We see an alert that tells us we can't continue through an online signup before reading the fine print. But they're often 12 pages of user terms and agreements, if not more. So we roll our eyes and scroll to the bottom. We ...

Continue reading A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print

9 Comments January 26, 2023

Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense

By Len Penzo

The conventional wisdom out there is that it's rarely advantageous to consider an extended warranty unless it's for an automobile. Don't believe it. The truth is, when it comes to extended warranties, things aren't always quite so black and white. ...

Continue reading Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense

20 Comments January 26, 2023

10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference

By Tex Freitag

Do you often come away from business conferences feeling like you just wasted a lot of time? Of course, the events themselves could be to blame. But it could just as easily be that you're not making the most of them. So, if you're struggling to ...

Continue reading 10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference

1 Comment January 25, 2023

36 Amazing Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags

By Len Penzo

I've been a big defender of plastic grocery bags for a long time. In fact, last year I challenged readers to tell me why the humble plastic bag is still maligned by so many people. Now I may be just a wee bit biased, but I think I made a very ...

Continue reading 36 Amazing Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags

93 Comments January 23, 2023

Black Coffee: A Ponzi for Your Thoughts

By Len Penzo

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. Well ... another busy week is behind ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: A Ponzi for Your Thoughts

26 Comments January 21, 2023

Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6

By RD Blakeslee

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage: Dave had traded the wrecked ’36 Chevrolet on a nice used 1946 blue-green Desoto, and that’s the car we used for going to ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6

13 Comments January 19, 2023

What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

By Edward M. Bernstein

More Americans are filing medical malpractice suits in the US -- but not because doctors are doing a worse job. In fact, they're doing roughly the same quality job. However, consumers today are more savvy and informed about how to find a malpractice ...

Continue reading What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

January 18, 2023

Million Dollar Neighborhoods Are Still Popping Up Across the US

By Corazon Gritar

Across the United States, more than 800 neighborhoods have a median home value that exceeds $1 million, according to a report by Trulia. This new data means that the number of US homes costing $1 million or more has doubled since 2012. While the ...

Continue reading Million Dollar Neighborhoods Are Still Popping Up Across the US

8 Comments January 17, 2023

Why Extended Warranties for New Tires Are A Waste of Money

By Len Penzo

A while back I bought four new tires for my old car. The tires came with a pro-rated 65,000-mile guarantee and were $74 each, or just under $300 for the entire set. As the salesman was tallying the bill he asked if I'd like to purchase the ...

Continue reading Why Extended Warranties for New Tires Are A Waste of Money

96 Comments January 16, 2023

Black Coffee: Walking on Eggs

By Len Penzo

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. I hope everybody had an enjoyable week. ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: Walking on Eggs

25 Comments January 14, 2023

Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 5

By RD Blakeslee

The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage: Our "Goodbye Date" and the Trip to Washington, DC and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia Belle Isle in the Detroit River is where Dave ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 5

6 Comments January 12, 2023

How Video Conferencing Reduces Small Business Costs

By Enero Febrero

Saying that running a small business is a difficult task is like saying the ocean is a little wet. Such understatements aside, the fact of the matter is that any organization have to make the most of its limited budget if it wants to remain viable in ...

Continue reading How Video Conferencing Reduces Small Business Costs

2 Comments January 11, 2023

4 Ways Social Media Use Makes You Vulnerable to Identity Fraud

By Anum Yoon

Most of us use at least one form of social media to stay in touch with friends and family we don't get to see every day. Whether it's Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram, social media gives us the ability to share updates with all our friends ...

Continue reading 4 Ways Social Media Use Makes You Vulnerable to Identity Fraud

3 Comments January 10, 2023

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Recent Posts

  • Black Coffee: Par for the Course
  • The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 7
  • Three Reasons Why Credit Unions Are a Great Choice for a Car Loan
  • Bad Habits That Make You a Target of Credit Card Fraud
  • Lessons In Tax Law: Why You Should Never Try To Bribe The IRS
  • Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake
  • Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House
  • A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print
  • Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense
  • 10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

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