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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade an Outdated Bathroom

By Anum Yoon

A wise man once said, "You go to take a shower with the bathroom you have -- not the bathroom you might want or wish to have at a later time." Perhaps we're paraphrasing, but how happy are you with your current master bathroom? This should be your ...

Continue reading 5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade an Outdated Bathroom

5 Comments May 17, 2022

10 Frugal Ways to Unwind, Relax and Have a Little Fun

By Anum Yoon

Ever reach the end of the work week, and you literally just can't handle any more? The days spent at the office can leave us feeling tense and wound so tight that you can almost feel your bones grinding together. So how do you unwind without ...

Continue reading 10 Frugal Ways to Unwind, Relax and Have a Little Fun

9 Comments April 26, 2022

7 Questions You Should Always Ask Yourself When Buying Clothes

By Anum Yoon

Investing in new clothes is a process that takes several steps. While splurging on yourself can be fun, you should always keep in mind how practical your new purchase will really be. Keep your inner shopaholic in check by asking yourself a few ...

Continue reading 7 Questions You Should Always Ask Yourself When Buying Clothes

6 Comments April 19, 2022

How Much Should Parents Spend on Education Technology?

By Anum Yoon

Back to school shopping isn't what it used to be. Not too long ago, the most technologically advanced product that a parent would buy their kid was one of those bulky graphic calculators. Now, that almost seems quaint compared to the devices ...

Continue reading How Much Should Parents Spend on Education Technology?

4 Comments November 30, 2021

6 Ways to Avoid Becoming Small-Minded About Money

By Anum Yoon

Right now, at this moment, how much money do you have? Before you answer: does the mere question begin to stress you out? If so, you're not alone. According to the number crunchers at the American Psychological Association, the top three causes of ...

Continue reading 6 Ways to Avoid Becoming Small-Minded About Money

3 Comments November 23, 2021

How to Find a Low-Cost Pest Control Company That Won’t Rip You Off

By Anum Yoon

Eventually, pests happen. Whether it's a rat or rodent infestation, a serious bug problem or something more serious like termites, you will need to hire a professional pest control company. In most cases, you can rely on them to rid your home of a ...

Continue reading How to Find a Low-Cost Pest Control Company That Won’t Rip You Off

70 Comments November 9, 2021

The 5 Major Money Personalities: Which One Do You Have?

By Anum Yoon

Although researchers disagree on just how much of our personalities are dictated by our genetics and how much comes from the way we were raised, one thing is clear: Your personality has a huge effect on how you relate to money. In terms of ...

Continue reading The 5 Major Money Personalities: Which One Do You Have?

1 Comment October 26, 2021

3 Easy Ways to Minimize Your Monthly Smartphone Bill

By Anum Yoon

Smartphones are ubiquitous these days, but they aren't always cheap to use. A typical plan-based contract could set you back $100 a month or even more. Plus, since many of those agreements span across years, you're stuck if it turns out you don't get ...

Continue reading 3 Easy Ways to Minimize Your Monthly Smartphone Bill

7 Comments October 5, 2021

4 Alternatives to Traditional Banking Many People Overlook

By Anum Yoon

You might be one of many people who is getting tired of increasing and tricky bank fees. Perhaps you're at the point where you're even looking at switching to a "new" way of banking that's different from the typical big-name bank you've used for ...

Continue reading 4 Alternatives to Traditional Banking Many People Overlook

1 Comment August 24, 2021

6 Ways to Cut the Costs of Raising Children

By Anum Yoon

Even if you do your best to be frugal and find deals, the cost of raising children isn't cheap. Infants need special equipment, such as car seats, strollers and carriers. Older children come with education costs. The US government's most recent study ...

Continue reading 6 Ways to Cut the Costs of Raising Children

5 Comments August 17, 2021

5 Clever Ways to Save Money on Pet Care

By Anum Yoon

If you're like most pet owners, you consider your animal companions part of the family. But pet-care costs can strain a household budget -- so it's important to evaluate how we care for the animals we love without dropping our hard-earned money into ...

Continue reading 5 Clever Ways to Save Money on Pet Care

5 Comments July 27, 2021

Worried About Hospital Bills? Consider Medical Tourism!

By Anum Yoon

You need to undergo a medical procedure, pronto. So you look around for the best, and most affordable, hospitals in your area. You even check out the ones across the country. Unfortunately, none of them fit your requirements -- especially your ...

Continue reading Worried About Hospital Bills? Consider Medical Tourism!

6 Comments June 15, 2021

5 Ways to See Disneyland or Disney World on a Budget

By Anum Yoon

For most people who don't live in California or Florida, a trip to Disney is a rare treat. Even if you only do it once a year, or once every few years, a full Disney vacation can be expensive; sometimes prohibitively so. Thankfully, it is possible ...

Continue reading 5 Ways to See Disneyland or Disney World on a Budget

5 Comments May 25, 2021

10 Tips for Making Your First Budget

By Anum Yoon

Landing your first real job and bringing in a steady paycheck each month is an exciting time. However, if you're like most people, that's shortly followed by a myriad of expenses. It's difficult to keep track of all your bills and expenses -- and if ...

Continue reading 10 Tips for Making Your First Budget

1 Comment May 11, 2021

6 Not-So-Conventional Ways to Own a Home

By Anum Yoon

Homeownership is part of the American dream, but buying a house today is not what it used to be. Fortunately for modern homebuyers, there are many nonconventional ways to become a homeowner. When you think outside the box, home buying becomes more ...

Continue reading 6 Not-So-Conventional Ways to Own a Home

7 Comments April 27, 2021

12 Ways to Save Money on Your Sushi Order

By Anum Yoon

Does your stomach growl at you when you drive by your favorite sushi place? Chances are your wallet growls right back once you splurge on that indulgence. So ... How do you save money on your sushi order and still manage to satisfy your stomach ...

Continue reading 12 Ways to Save Money on Your Sushi Order

4 Comments April 20, 2021

A Guide to Retirement Budgeting on a Fixed Income

By Anum Yoon

So you're planning to retire soon? First of all: congratulations! Now, it's time to ensure that your money outlasts your life and that there's some left over for your children. You can do that by setting up, and following, a realistic ...

Continue reading A Guide to Retirement Budgeting on a Fixed Income

12 Comments March 24, 2021

6 Good Habits You Can Employ to Improve Your Finances

By Anum Yoon

Did you make a new year's resolution to improve your finances this year? Fortunately, it only takes a few good habits to meet that noble goal. Even better, most good financial habits are so easy to implement that it's just a matter of getting ...

Continue reading 6 Good Habits You Can Employ to Improve Your Finances

3 Comments March 9, 2021

5 Ways Smoking Negatively Affects Your Personal Finances

By Anum Yoon

It's not likely you'll be able to find anyone in the United States who has escaped the message that smoking is hazardous to your health. After all, there's a Surgeon General's warning on every pack. And children learn about the negative effects of ...

Continue reading 5 Ways Smoking Negatively Affects Your Personal Finances

3 Comments February 16, 2021

7 Great Careers That Don’t Require Much Experience to Start

By Anum Yoon

Are you looking for a career that doesn't require many years of experience? It can be discouraging to look at job postings where all you see is "five years of experience needed" or "experienced personnel only." Fear not, though. It turns out there ...

Continue reading 7 Great Careers That Don’t Require Much Experience to Start

4 Comments February 9, 2021

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Recent Posts

  • 5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade an Outdated Bathroom
  • The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
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