• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Grandfather Says: Croc Hunting in Mindanao

By RD Blakeslee

When he was in the army, Grandfather was detailed to the island of Mindanao, serving as cadre for a Filipino surveying company contracted by the US Government to survey and map the Philippines. The Southern part of Mindanao was Moro (Muslim) ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Croc Hunting in Mindanao

4 Comments May 12, 2022

Grandfather Says: Grandfather’s House and Custom Built Stairs

By RD Blakeslee

In the first article in this series, Grandfather talked about building your own house. Here's his during the build: And here's where Grandfather lived while his house was being built: When he was younger he and his friends (most now ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Grandfather’s House and Custom Built Stairs

18 Comments April 28, 2022

Grandfather Says: The Early Birds

By RD Blakeslee

The following is a true story, only names are changed to protect the guilty. Grandfather used to be visited by Clyde and his wife Penelope, from time to time. They always showed up early, before Grandfather was ready for them and Grandfather had ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Early Birds

10 Comments April 14, 2022

Grandfather Says: The Importance of Self-Confidence and Independence

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says self-confidence and independence go hand-in-hand. From his earliest days, Grandfather marched to his own drummer. In first-grade at elementary school -- a barracks-like structure with a classroom at each end and a coal furnace in ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Importance of Self-Confidence and Independence

17 Comments March 31, 2022

Grandfather Says: Introducing the Art of Grandfather’s Wife, Tatjana

By RD Blakeslee

His wife, Tatjana van Beckhoven Blakeslee, has been an inspiration and helpmate to him for the last twelve years. In addition to being a first-class gardener, interior decorator and gourmet cook, her career in fine art has been notable and is ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Introducing the Art of Grandfather’s Wife, Tatjana

13 Comments March 10, 2022

Grandfather Says: A Wintry View of My Raised-Bed Vegetable Garden

By RD Blakeslee

Today I thought I would share a photo of Grandfather's garden area, comprised of raised beds, a cold frame (far right), surrounded by an eight-foot-high electric fence (evidenced by the white poles). Behind the garden (farthest away in the ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: A Wintry View of My Raised-Bed Vegetable Garden

8 Comments March 3, 2022

Grandfather Says: A Big Secret for Doing Well in Life

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he used to work for the government. He was a patent examiner. In common with all other bureaucrats, he had the authority to tell folks they could or couldn't do this or that -- in Grandfathers authority, get a patent. Well, the ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: A Big Secret for Doing Well in Life

16 Comments February 17, 2022

Grandfather Says: A Few Words on Religious Conviction

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says religious conviction is a funny thing. Not ha-ha funny; wondrous funny. It propelled the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Spanish inquisition, the Knights Templar and Billy Graham's Crusades ... But its expression is uneven. And ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: A Few Words on Religious Conviction

10 Comments February 3, 2022

Grandfather Says: Only Clean Firewood Will Do

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he doesn't mind a little frumpiness indoors, but the missus wants only clean firewood in the house. Well, OK; Grandfather will have to abandon the woodpile and store the firewood under roof. No spare roof onsite? The missus ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Only Clean Firewood Will Do

8 Comments January 20, 2022

Grandfather Says: The Correct Way to Cope with Adversity

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says someone close to the past disastrous wildfires in California got him to thinking. "Older people know that everything heals," the man said. "Everything gets better if you just keep plugging away. But there are young people who are ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Correct Way to Cope with Adversity

17 Comments January 6, 2022

Grandfather Says: The Miracle of Birth

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather used to ask God to help him with this or that. He says he hasn't done that for quite awhile now, but he is moved to thank God when one of His gifts comes Grandfather's way. The miracle of birth is one of those gifts. For ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Miracle of Birth

19 Comments December 23, 2021

Grandfather Says: Holiday Wishes!

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! *** About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Holiday Wishes!

22 Comments December 9, 2021

Grandfather Says: Thanksgiving Greetings from West Virginia

By RD Blakeslee

Some folks hereabouts have wondered what Grandfather "at home" looks like. Well, here's a scene for you ... It occurs to Grandfather that he looks like a hick in that particular picture. But, as you can see, his living room looks quite ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Thanksgiving Greetings from West Virginia

24 Comments November 25, 2021

Grandfather Says: A Lesson on the Benefits of Working Smartly

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he has some experience working hard and working smart. In 1949, he worked for the Ford Motor Company on the 8N farm tractor assembly line. The 8N had a transmission cover that a hoist operator lowered onto the transmission as the ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: A Lesson on the Benefits of Working Smartly

9 Comments November 11, 2021

Grandfather Says: The Heyday of Art & Culture

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he has from time to time discussed how his country place is a refuge in this time of troubles and that he continues to enjoy the art of our culture as it was in our heyday. So, what cultural expressions does he enjoy, exactly? The ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Heyday of Art & Culture

15 Comments October 28, 2021

Grandfather Says: Headless Horsemen and Horseless Carriages

By RD Blakeslee

Horseless carriages and headless horsemen go together. Horses really don't pollute the green space much -- garden soil and sparrows make use of it, such as it is. But headless horsemen, in frantic search of money, use horseless carriages, ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Headless Horsemen and Horseless Carriages

10 Comments October 14, 2021

Grandfather Says: The Joys of Part-Time Farming

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he sometimes thinks back on his life as an odyssey out of the factories of Detroit into the mountains of West Virginia. About mid-way, he took a little side trip and did a bit of "offbeat" farming. He bought some old farm ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Joys of Part-Time Farming

20 Comments September 30, 2021

Grandfather Says: One Good Thing About Getting Old

By RD Blakeslee

One good thing about getting old -- and there aren't many -- is that you can blame a whole lot of things on your age: Miss your aim at the toilet ... Forget to pay at the gas pump ... Tell the cop you're staggering because of "the shakes" ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: One Good Thing About Getting Old

11 Comments September 16, 2021

Grandfather Says: What’s The Value of a Song?

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he doesn't have much use for a lot of modern stuff, but he likes electronic keyboards. He has a lovely Steinway grand piano in his living room; a relic of earlier times and people in his life. But he can't play it. A ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: What’s The Value of a Song?

7 Comments September 2, 2021

Grandfather Says: Never Underestimate the Utility of a Trebuchet

By RD Blakeslee

Grandfather says he built a trebuchet. They were used in the middle ages to fling smallpox-infected corpses over castle walls. Grandfather used his to launch model airplanes, although some of his colleagues suggested its utility for such things ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: Never Underestimate the Utility of a Trebuchet

19 Comments August 19, 2021

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5
  • Next Page »

The Question of the Week:

Are you a better or worse financial manager than your parents?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • 100 Words On: Why It’s Not Poor Etiquette to Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog
  • 6 Responsible Ways to Use Your Emergency Funds
  • 5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade an Outdated Bathroom
  • The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
  • Black Coffee: Out to Lunch
  • How to Set Up a Proper Gambling Budget
  • How to Guarantee a Social Security Disability Claim
  • Grandfather Says: Croc Hunting in Mindanao
  • How to Save Money on Dental Care So You Won’t Go Broke at the Dentist
  • 7 Big Reasons Why a Roth IRA Isn’t the Best Way to Save for Retirement

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.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The Great Paper Towel Test: Which Brand Is Your Best Value?
  2. 2. How a Broken Washing Machine Fixed My Finances
  3. 3. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  4. 4. Lottery Fraud: Don’t Get Caught Paying “The Stupid Tax”
  5. 5. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  6. 6. The Marriage Conundrum: Joint or Separate Accounts?
  7. 7. Why Time Is More Valuable Than Money
  8. 8. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022