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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

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

Leave a Comment November 27, 2017

8 Tips for Keeping Your Thanksgiving Meal as Inexpensive as Possible

By Anum Yoon

Thanksgiving is filled with family, friends, good food and football. But it can also be filled with expenses -- especially if you're having Thanksgiving dinner at your house. No need to worry, though. The Thanksgiving holiday also offers ample ...

Continue reading 8 Tips for Keeping Your Thanksgiving Meal as Inexpensive as Possible

1 Comment November 20, 2017

5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week

By Anum Yoon

For many people, the grocery bill is one of their largest monthly expenses. Fortunately, you can easily save money on groceries this week -- and every week after that -- with a little pre-planning and a lot of creative frugality. Nix the ...

Continue reading 5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week

2 Comments November 15, 2017

6 Costly Mistakes People Make with Their 401k Plans

By Anum Yoon

If you're interested in saving for retirement, a 401k plan can't be beat. These employer-sponsored plans let employees save tax-free and choose from a range of investment options. The tax-free savings effectively lower your taxable income, which may ...

Continue reading 6 Costly Mistakes People Make with Their 401k Plans

4 Comments October 23, 2017

Is Pet Insurance Really Worth It?

By Anum Yoon

Pets enrich our lives by providing welcome companionship and loyalty through our toughest days, as well as our happiest ones. What would you do if yours got sick? Are you prepared to bear the financial burdens of veterinary visits and the associated ...

Continue reading Is Pet Insurance Really Worth It?

10 Comments October 16, 2017

5 Frugal Tips for Family Fun During the Fall Season

By Anum Yoon

Just because summer is over doesn't mean you have to stop having family fun. With the kids back at school, bills due and a chill in the air, it feels hard to find affordable activities the whole family will enjoy. We all know that fall heralds a ...

Continue reading 5 Frugal Tips for Family Fun During the Fall Season

5 Comments October 3, 2017

4 Really Dumb Ways to Pay Down Your Debt

By Anum Yoon

Debt may be a part of life, but that doesn't make it suck any less. If you've got lots of debt, you're probably always looking for ways to pay it down, either in its entirety or at least enough to make your credit report look better. Whatever the ...

Continue reading 4 Really Dumb Ways to Pay Down Your Debt

5 Comments September 26, 2017

8 Things Employers Are Looking for Beyond a College Degree

By Anum Yoon

You're about to graduate from college, or maybe you already have your degree and are looking for employment. Be proud of your degree -- you earned it through several years of hard work. Hopefully, that translates into a good job in your field of ...

Continue reading 8 Things Employers Are Looking for Beyond a College Degree

2 Comments September 12, 2017

Comparing the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, and Progressive Tax Systems

By Anum Yoon

If you dread filing your taxes every year, it's good to know there are multiple taxation systems besides the current progressive one here in the United States. If you've heard the terms "flat tax" or "Fair Tax" then you may be wondering what they ...

Continue reading Comparing the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, and Progressive Tax Systems

3 Comments June 27, 2017

5 Basic Chores Your Kids Can Do to Earn Money

By Anum Yoon

When did you learn the value of money? For many of us, it begins the day our parents dole out chores for the first time. A week's worth of completed chores meant we earned allowances that we could spend right away or save for something we really ...

Continue reading 5 Basic Chores Your Kids Can Do to Earn Money

Leave a Comment May 31, 2017

How to Get a Higher Credit Score No Matter How Bad Your Finances Are

By Anum Yoon

Imagine being so rich you never had to borrow money! If you're wealthy enough to pay cash for any car or home you like, then you have no need to read about how credit scores are determined -- but most of us have to borrow money from time to time. ...

Continue reading How to Get a Higher Credit Score No Matter How Bad Your Finances Are

2 Comments May 16, 2017

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. From Facebook to Snapchat, social media gives us the ability to share updates with all our friends and followers at once. But ...

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

2 Comments April 11, 2017

Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons That Every Homeowner Needs to Know

By Anum Yoon

The reverse mortgage is a financial option that has been around for decades, but relatively few people ever use them. However, the truth is, many people in their sixties and older end up with a majority of their wealth tied up in their home, while ...

Continue reading Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons That Every Homeowner Needs to Know

Leave a Comment January 31, 2017

What’s the Best Way to Give a Financial Gift?

By Anum Yoon

When it comes to gifts, we all know it's the thought that counts -- which is why there are certain self-described gift-giving mentors who don't encourage financial gifts. Of course, those same folks have probably been on the receiving end of monetary ...

Continue reading What’s the Best Way to Give a Financial Gift?

2 Comments January 24, 2017

An Introductory Guide to Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

By Anum Yoon

What happens when people die -- or are dying -- is a subject of intense debate. For you it might be a matter of faith or science. What's less debatable: if you prepare properly, the people you leave behind will have an easier transition. Several ...

Continue reading An Introductory Guide to Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

1 Comment January 10, 2017

7 Obamacare Alternatives that Could Save You a Lot of Money

By Anum Yoon

Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), has worked to get more Americans insured. But it has some snags -- a large number of people are facing problems like rising premiums and cancelled policies. These challenges make coverage ...

Continue reading 7 Obamacare Alternatives that Could Save You a Lot of Money

1 Comment November 15, 2016

How the ‘Pink Tax’ Ensures Women Pay More for Goods and Services

By Anum Yoon

Ladies: Watch out for the Pink Tax. You probably won't see any news about it in the papers, as it's nothing Congress has passed or proposed. If you're a woman, though, chances are you've experienced it or maybe even noticed it creeping up on your ...

Continue reading How the ‘Pink Tax’ Ensures Women Pay More for Goods and Services

1 Comment October 18, 2016

Is It Time to Consider Investing in Marijuana Stocks?

By Anum Yoon

The debate over the merits of legalizing marijuana won't come to a close anytime soon. At the same time, the merits of investing in marijuana also have their share of proponents and detractors. While more and more states are moving toward either ...

Continue reading Is It Time to Consider Investing in Marijuana Stocks?

7 Comments September 27, 2016

Is It Better to Borrow From Your 401k or Take an Early Withdrawal?

By Anum Yoon

In the case of a financial emergency, you might have to dip into your 401k plan to find the money you need. This is never an ideal scenario, as taking money out of such accounts can severely set back progress you've made in saving for ...

Continue reading Is It Better to Borrow From Your 401k or Take an Early Withdrawal?

1 Comment September 6, 2016

How to Stop FOMO from Creating a Gaping Hole in Your Monthly Budget

By Anum Yoon

FOMO -- the fear of missing out -- is a powerful feeling. It's defined as an anxiety that something exciting is happening somewhere that you're not. It may sound like a benign and harmless feeling, but FOMO controls us more than we like to ...

Continue reading How to Stop FOMO from Creating a Gaping Hole in Your Monthly Budget

1 Comment July 13, 2016

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