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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

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How I Got Scammed at My Local Gas Station

By Len Penzo

People who believe in personal responsibility are often unfairly accused of being heartless and uncaring. For proof, all one has to do is look at my inbox. I usually get at least one scathing letter every week from a reader who mistakes my ...

Continue reading How I Got Scammed at My Local Gas Station

July 25, 2022

100 Words On: Why It’s So Hard to Beat a Homegrown Tomato

By Len Penzo

There's a reason why tomatoes are found in 85% of all gardens, topping the list of most popular homegrown produce: Biting into the fresh and juicy sweetness of a vine-ripened homegrown tomato is pure nirvana for the senses -- a savory treat unmatched ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: Why It’s So Hard to Beat a Homegrown Tomato

July 21, 2022

How to Secure Your Home on a Budget

By Sabado Domingo

We all want to provide a safe life for our significant others and children, but sometimes, it's just out of our price range -- or is it? Securing your home doesn't have to be super expensive to be effective. Protecting your property and home won't ...

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July 20, 2022

Dear Diary: How I Fixed My Water Heater Without a Plumber and Saved $400

By Len Penzo

The Honeybee alerted me to the fact that our hot water heater was making popping and cracking sounds that she had never heard before. This got me a bit worried because the heater was 12-years-old and I knew it was on its last legs. When a water ...

Continue reading Dear Diary: How I Fixed My Water Heater Without a Plumber and Saved $400

July 18, 2022

6 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Pickpocket Victim

By Mikey Rox

Imagine you're on vacation -- in a foreign country, no less -- and you've been the victim of a pickpocket. Cash, credit cards, passport -- all gone. What do you do? It's a nightmare scenario nobody wants to go through. Thankfully, you can lessen the ...

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June 21, 2022

The Embarrassing Anatomy of a Phishing Scam

By Len Penzo

You've got to hand it to scam artists. They often succeed in spite of themselves. If I had a nickel for every time I retrieved a message from my inbox warning me that my PayPal account has been limited, or that my credit card has been suspended, ...

Continue reading The Embarrassing Anatomy of a Phishing Scam

June 20, 2022

Dealing With a Deceased Person’s Money and Property

By Sabado Domingo

Not too many people know what to do with a person's estate when they die. What can make matters even worse is that filing paperwork, taking an inventory, and locating legal documents are going to be the last things you want to think about at such an ...

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June 16, 2022

Can You Afford a Home?

By Enero Febrero

Purchasing a home is one of the bigger moments in many people's lives, whether or not they have purchased on in the past. But with rising home prices and interest rates, it can seem less and less affordable to acquire your own home. There are a few ...

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June 16, 2022

4 Things Everyone Should Do After Buying a New Home

By Sabado Domingo

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting and expensive things you are likely to do within your lifetime. Spending time researching the area you want to move to, finding the dream property, and then actually getting an offer accepted feels like ...

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June 1, 2022

A Memorial Day Tribute from Aunt Doris: Shaken — Not Stirred

By Aunt Doris

Living in the heart of London during World War II and the Blitz, I came so near to "kicking the bucket" (or as we say, "falling off me perch") more times than I can count. When the war started, I was an 18-year-old civil servant working at a ...

Continue reading A Memorial Day Tribute from Aunt Doris: Shaken — Not Stirred

May 26, 2022

9 Indispensable Financial Tips for Teens & Twentysomethings

By Len Penzo

I hate to admit this, kids, but I used to think my parents were really dumb. A few peas short of a casserole. All foam, no beer. Dumber than a box of hair. I get it; most teenagers and young adults already know everything about anything. But as ...

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May 23, 2022

Yes, You Can Afford It!

By Tex Freitag

Do you ever ask yourself, when considering a major purchase: "Can I afford that?" It's a relevant question in an era when inflation is taking its toll on household income and people are finding it harder to get good jobs. However, the good news is ...

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May 20, 2022

100 Words On: Why It’s Not Poor Etiquette to Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog

By Len Penzo

There are plenty of food snobs out there who insist that it is sacrilegious to put ketchup on a hot dog. That assessment is echoed by The National Hot Dog Council which proclaims that ketchup should never be put on a hot dog by anyone over the age of ...

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May 19, 2022

The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products

By Len Penzo

When it comes to utility, not all grocery items are created equal. If value can be defined by versatility then, some grocery items offer a lot more bang for your buck than others. Sure, everybody knows about the incredible and legendary ...

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May 16, 2022

5 Pointers to Help You Pick the Right Home Loan

By Enero Febrero

Home loans are the only way that most people around the world today can afford to buy homes. This is especially true for real estate in expensive locales from San Francisco to New York -- and even homes in a city like Mumbai. With the high prices ...

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May 4, 2022

What Is a Home Warranty and Do You Need One?

By Sabado Domingo

Taking care of your home can be tough and many things can go wrong. Home appliances are the first to go and can take large amounts of money to repair and replace. This is where home warranties come in! Home warranties can provide you with the funds ...

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May 3, 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 ...

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April 28, 2022

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: The Same … But Different

By Aunt Doris

When I came to this country I said to myself, "At least I don't have to learn another language!" Well, yes and no. Just like there are difference between American and English hand gestures, our languages are slightly different too. There's the ...

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April 27, 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 ...

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April 14, 2022

House Hunting Tips: Finding The Perfect Starter Home

By Sabado Domingo

If you've just received approval from a lender for a mortgage loan and you're ready to buy your first home, there are several valid reasons why you should consider a starter home. Instead of battling to afford your dream home right away, choosing a ...

Continue reading House Hunting Tips: Finding The Perfect Starter Home

March 31, 2022

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