Len Penzo dot Com

This weekend, I was pouring a little half-and-half into my cup of coffee (not Folgers) when I saw something extremely disturbing: The creamer was 34 days beyond the expiration date. Yes, 34 days. Of course, the first thought that immediately ...

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When Consolidating Debt is a Bad Idea

Debt consolidation is one of those financial tools that sounds perfect on paper. Take all your debts, roll them into one easy payment, and hopefully enjoy a lower interest rate. For a lot of people, this approach works and can make managing debt feel ...

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5 Reasons Freelancers Outgrow Free Accounting Tools – and Next Steps

You start small. Maybe a couple of clients. A few invoices each month. You snag a free accounting tool like Wave or ZipBooks and it works. It's easy. It's free. But then something happens: You grow. More clients. More projects. Higher earnings. ...

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Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 70

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: My Piano Lessons at the Detroit Conservatory of Music I don’t remember how long our church organist came to our flat to give me ...

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5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Be Scared to Take Out a Loan

By Enero Febrero

For many, the word "loan" carries a negative connotation because it is often associated with financial struggles, endless payments, and even stories of debt spiraling out of control. As such, many individuals are hesitant to take out a loan, even ...

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A Tried-and-True Wealth Creation Guide

You work hard day after day. However, you feel that instead of working for your money, you could make money work for you. It's likely that you know people with lots of free time and can afford to take an occasional day off. They may have the same ...

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Starting a Side Hustle? Ask Yourself These Questions

By Corazon Gritar

iWhen starting a side hustle as a small business, there will be many ways to potentially invest your money. From packaging to shipping to marketing materials, and it can be hard to determine what is and isn't worth it. This post will help you ask the ...

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Black Coffee: Market Mayhem

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. ...

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A Realistic Price Breakdown: How Expensive is California?

Many people dream of living in California. Considering it’s one of the most expensive states, however, some fear their dream may never come true. However, the average cost to live in California depends on the numerous financial aspects of making the ...

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5 Mortgage Truths That Can Save You From a Lifetime of Regret

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make – and for many, it's also one of the most misunderstood. From confusing loan terms to seductive payment plans, mortgages can be a minefield of long-term commitments ...

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Time to Market in Insurance: How Rule Engines Enable Faster Product Launches and Modifications

Insurance products are defined by hundreds of variables and business rules covering everything from risk packages and pricing to eligibility and legal clauses. Managing this complexity with traditional, static systems often leads to chaos, slow ...

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How to Make Travel Cheaper with a Credit Card

Credit cards are a necessity for most travelers. Best of all, having the right card in your wallet can actually save you money. With that in mind, here's how to make travel cheaper with a credit card: Get an airline card Many airline cards offer ...

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Investing 101: The Advantages of Trading Commodities

Trading commodities is another way to try and increase your monthly investment returns. Most forex and online trading brokers offer commodity contracts alongside currency pairs, stocks, indices, and other assets. Even better, the advantages of ...

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8 Ways to Save on Dental Care Without Insurance

By Mikey Rox

Do you need to get your grill fixed, but don't have dental insurance? You're not alone. More than 100 million US consumers are without access to dental care because they can't afford it. The bad news is that's nearly one-third of the nation's ...

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The 5 Most Misleading Grocery Products Shoppers Waste Money On

By Mike Dolen

If there's one thing I spend way too much time on in life, its the process of grocery shopping. As someone who blogs about personal finance all day long, it's probably predictable that I waste a bunch of time obsessing over which stores qualify for ...

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Black Coffee: Live By the Card, Die By the Card

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 ...

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Bad Credit, Big Decisions: A 2025 Loan Guide