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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

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100 Words On: What You Should Always Do Before Buying Stuff Online

By Len Penzo

It's estimated that online sales in the United States was $870 billion in 2021 -- that's a lot of people clicking on website "Buy Now" buttons. I recently saved $25 on a $100 online purchase simply because I spent two minutes searching the ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: What You Should Always Do Before Buying Stuff Online

May 5, 2022

4 Ways to Purchase Your Dream Car While Being Financially Responsible

By Sabado Domingo

A dream car can be a great way to show off your success, and it's a fun perk of being successful. There's no doubt about it; cars are a major expense. In addition to the car's purchase price, there are also costs for registration, insurance, and ...

Continue reading 4 Ways to Purchase Your Dream Car While Being Financially Responsible

April 1, 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

The Great Paper Towel Test: What Brand Is Your Best Value?

By Len Penzo

The paper towel is one of the greatest inventions ever and, frankly, I think too many of us take them for granted. Think about it: They're not only invaluable for cleaning up spills and other messes, but the best ones can also handle tough jobs ...

Continue reading The Great Paper Towel Test: What Brand Is Your Best Value?

March 28, 2022

Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves

By Len Penzo

In the US, tipping is as American as apple pie. As a kid I remember going to restaurants with my folks and figuring out the tip for Dad. And he obliged me almost every time simply because he knew I loved to do that sort of thing. His rule was 10% ...

Continue reading Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves

February 14, 2022

19 Tips for Saving a Bundle of Cash on Home Appliances

By Len Penzo

We recently replaced our old refrigerator. It's not that the appliance was on the verge of breaking down; it's just that I am very risk adverse and I figured that, with the recent spate of supply chain issues, I figured we'd get a jump on any ...

Continue reading 19 Tips for Saving a Bundle of Cash on Home Appliances

January 17, 2022

How to Know If You Should Buy an Extended Warranty

By Len Penzo

The conventional wisdom out there is that it's virtually never advantageous to get an extended warranty for anything, which I believe is a bit extreme. I remember an old article in Consumer Reports that said, as a general rule of thumb, extended ...

Continue reading How to Know If You Should Buy an Extended Warranty

January 3, 2022

Shocking! 10 Everyday Items That Are More Expensive Than Gasoline

By Len Penzo

I drove by the corner gas station today, as I do everyday on my way home from work, and I couldn't help but notice that the price of gasoline rose another few cents over the weekend. This time the sign was unapologetically advertising a price of ...

Continue reading Shocking! 10 Everyday Items That Are More Expensive Than Gasoline

December 27, 2021

6 Things That Are Better to Buy Than Rent

By Mikey Rox

I recently wrote a post here that highlighted things that are better to rent than buy. Now it's time to flip it and reverse, a la Missy Elliot. Here are a few items for which you should always shell out full price -- even if you don't want ...

Continue reading 6 Things That Are Better to Buy Than Rent

December 14, 2021

My Peanut Butter Taste Test: What 8 Choosy Mothers Really Chose

By Len Penzo

Before the average American kid gets his high school diploma he or she will supposedly eat 1500 peanut butter sandwiches. That being said, most Americans' passion for peanut butter doesn't stop after childhood. And in case you're wondering, a ...

Continue reading My Peanut Butter Taste Test: What 8 Choosy Mothers Really Chose

December 13, 2021

Do Prices Ending in 9 Really Affect Our Buying Habits?

By Len Penzo

My dad, who passed away in 2020, was a real comedian. The guy seemed to have a story or a joke for every occasion and I'm pretty sure I heard 'em all. That never stopped Dad from sharing his repertoire over and over again anyway. What I really ...

Continue reading Do Prices Ending in 9 Really Affect Our Buying Habits?

December 6, 2021

100 Words On: A Really Sneaky Way to Reduce Your Restaurant Bar Tab

By Len Penzo

According to the National Restaurant Association, 88% of all adults say they enjoy going to restaurants. It's really no wonder. Dining out is considered a relaxing treat by most folks; a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of a hectic day. ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: A Really Sneaky Way to Reduce Your Restaurant Bar Tab

December 2, 2021

4 Presumptuous Gifts that Can Strain the Recipient’s Budget

By Len Penzo

I remember the worst gift I ever received. It was a vacation to the Bahamas that an old girlfriend of mine gave to me. It was one of those too-good-to-be-true ultra-low-cost package "deals" that was exactly that -- too good to be true. Our "hotel" ...

Continue reading 4 Presumptuous Gifts that Can Strain the Recipient’s Budget

November 29, 2021

6 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for Black Friday Deals

By Sabado Domingo

Making online purchases during Black Friday is a great idea, especially if you don't have a car or hate fighting crowds -- but if you're not careful, there are shopping mistakes you can make that are just as bad. In fact, there are plenty of online ...

Continue reading 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for Black Friday Deals

November 17, 2021

15 Things That Are Better to Rent Than Buy

By Mikey Rox

Want to enjoy life's finer things without the big investment? Then instead of spending cash to own them outright, consider renting -- especially if you'll only use them infrequently. Renting can often fill a temporary void without creating a new ...

Continue reading 15 Things That Are Better to Rent Than Buy

November 16, 2021

True Story: What Happens When You Can’t Pay the Restaurant Bill

By Len Penzo

I didn't eat out too often as a kid, but when I did, you can bet I almost always enjoyed it. I remember Dad always used to joke that he didn't have enough money to pay the restaurant bill. "Well, it looks like they're going to make us go into the ...

Continue reading True Story: What Happens When You Can’t Pay the Restaurant Bill

October 18, 2021

9 Things We Routinely Overpay For

By Len Penzo

Nobody likes overpaying for stuff. Even so, many people do it without even realizing it. The good news is, by getting the urge to splurge under control, it's possible to save significant amounts of cash that can be used to stretch your household ...

Continue reading 9 Things We Routinely Overpay For

October 11, 2021

Buyer Beware: Here Are the 6 Biggest Consumer Electronics Markups

By Andrea Woroch

What do a grocery store, a funeral home and a college bookstore have in common? They each sell products with some of the highest markups in retail. While we dont want to think of a funeral as a financial transaction, the reality is that we all pay ...

Continue reading Buyer Beware: Here Are the 6 Biggest Consumer Electronics Markups

September 28, 2021

4 Good Reasons Why You’re Overspending (and How to Stop It)

By Tex Freitag

During the second quarter of 2021, household debt in the United States jumped from $313 billion to $15 trillion. Credit card debt, in particular, rose to $787 trillion -- $17 billion higher than the previous quarter. This spike shows that it's more ...

Continue reading 4 Good Reasons Why You’re Overspending (and How to Stop It)

September 15, 2021

The Trick to Making Smarter Spending Decisions

By Tex Freitag

We all have our own ways of justifying purchases, whether we're trying to convince ourselves that a new car is essential, or that new boots are a just requirement with winter around the corner. However, what if there was a way you could look at your ...

Continue reading The Trick to Making Smarter Spending Decisions

September 1, 2021

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