• About
  • Credit Card Basics
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • Insiders
  • Features

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

A Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

By Len Penzo

A Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

There are those who steadfastly insist that credit cards are evil, and that credit card companies are greedy heartless scalawags that care only about one thing: making a profit. I've got news for them: Credit card companies aren't evil. Neither ...

Continue reading A Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

81 Comments March 12, 2018

100 Words On: Why Many ‘Rich’ People Are Only Fooling Themselves

By Len Penzo

100 Words On: Why Many ‘Rich’ People Are Only Fooling Themselves

Pablo Picasso said, "I'd like to live as a poor man, with lots of money." Sage advice. That's because doing the exact opposite is a recipe that's guaranteed to eventually bring financial trouble to anybody brazen enough to try it. Still, that doesn't ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: Why Many ‘Rich’ People Are Only Fooling Themselves

26 Comments November 16, 2017

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

By Len Penzo

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

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

33 Comments November 2, 2017

5 Must-Read Personal Finance Books

By Kostas Chiotis

5 Must-Read Personal Finance Books

If you take time to focus only on the most important things, living a comfortable life will no longer be a vision but a reality. If you think that it is difficult to create their own strategy, then you can look for practical financial advice that can ...

Continue reading 5 Must-Read Personal Finance Books

5 Comments October 25, 2017

An Easy Way to Stop Junk Mail That Marketers Don’t Want You to Know

By Len Penzo

An Easy Way to Stop Junk Mail That Marketers Don’t Want You to Know

Like most people concerned about identity theft, I occasionally gather up any documents with sensitive personal information I've accumulated over time and run them through the paper shredder. It's one of those fun little household rituals that goes a ...

Continue reading An Easy Way to Stop Junk Mail That Marketers Don’t Want You to Know

25 Comments July 17, 2017

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

By Len Penzo

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

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

76 Comments July 5, 2017

100 Words On: Why Tracking Your Net Worth Is So Overrated

By Len Penzo

100 Words On: Why Tracking Your Net Worth Is So Overrated

Many people dream about reaching the million-dollar net worth milestone, as if that lofty benchmark somehow guarantees a strife-free financial life. Preposterous! Net worth -- the value of your total assets minus your total liabilities -- is ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: Why Tracking Your Net Worth Is So Overrated

48 Comments June 22, 2017

5 Nuggets of Financial Wisdom from The Thomas Crown Affair

By Roshawn Watson

5 Nuggets of Financial Wisdom from The Thomas Crown Affair

The Thomas Crown Affair is a fun movie that grants the viewer permission to imagine a world where money is not a concern. It transports viewers to a world where private planes, yachts, European luxury cars, tropical excursions, fine art, and mansions ...

Continue reading 5 Nuggets of Financial Wisdom from The Thomas Crown Affair

23 Comments June 21, 2017

9 Indispensable Financial Tips for Teens & Twentysomethings

By Len Penzo

9 Indispensable Financial Tips for Teens & Twentysomethings

I hate to admit this, kids, but I used to think my parents were really dumb too. A few peas short of a casserole. All foam, no beer. Dumber than a box of hair. I get it; Matthew, you're 20 and, Nina, you're 17 going on 30, which, by default, means ...

Continue reading 9 Indispensable Financial Tips for Teens & Twentysomethings

36 Comments May 15, 2017

True Story: My Spouse Skipped Town and Left Me Penniless!

By Spedie

True Story: My Spouse Skipped Town and Left Me Penniless!

I'd always considered myself pretty street smart. You know, the kind of girl that didn't have an easy life and had learned many lessons via the School of Hard Knocks. Then I married my Prince Charming. He didn't make much money, but we shared the ...

Continue reading True Story: My Spouse Skipped Town and Left Me Penniless!

64 Comments February 13, 2017

19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You

By Len Penzo

19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You

That's right. Although having a million bucks isn't as impressive as it once was, it's still nothing to sneeze at. In fact, CNBC reports that in 2015 there were 10.4 million millionaires in the United States alone. That's a lot of people, ...

Continue reading 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You

141 Comments October 10, 2016

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: How to Make Ends Meet

By Aunt Doris

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: How to Make Ends Meet

This is a reposted article in an occasional series from my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. When it comes to staying out of debt and making ends meet, I can only tell you what's worked for me. I was left a young ...

Continue reading A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: How to Make Ends Meet

14 Comments September 14, 2016

Is It Okay to Eat Foods Past Their Expiration Dates?

By Len Penzo

Is It Okay to Eat Foods Past Their Expiration Dates?

This weekend I was pouring a little half-and-half into my cup of coffee (no, not Folgers) when I noticed something extremely disturbing: the creamer was 34 days beyond the expiration date printed on the carton top. Yes, 34 days. I know. Of ...

Continue reading Is It Okay to Eat Foods Past Their Expiration Dates?

63 Comments August 29, 2016

100 Words On: The Science of Defining What’s Truly Priceless

By Len Penzo

100 Words On: The Science of Defining What’s Truly Priceless

Some things are utterly impossible to put a price on. For example, regardless what's offered, no rational person would ever sell their family. It's also impossible to put a monetary value on good health -- let alone human life. Even so, that didn't ...

Continue reading 100 Words On: The Science of Defining What’s Truly Priceless

13 Comments June 3, 2016

The 50 Biggest Money Mistakes Household CEOs Make

By Len Penzo

The 50 Biggest Money Mistakes Household CEOs Make

I'm not ashamed to admit I make mistakes. After all, everybody screws up occasionally; for us humans, mistakes come with the territory. For example, I remember the time I decided it would be great fun to play Wii golf for eight consecutive ...

Continue reading The 50 Biggest Money Mistakes Household CEOs Make

47 Comments April 11, 2016

I’m Not Rich, But I Am Financially Free — And Here’s How I Got There

By Len Penzo

I’m Not Rich, But I Am Financially Free — And Here’s How I Got There

Let's face it, the more choices we have in life, the richer and more rewarding it becomes. Fortunately, I'm currently in that coveted sweet spot where I can do pretty much whatever the heck I please, whenever I want. Don't get me wrong. I'm not ...

Continue reading I’m Not Rich, But I Am Financially Free — And Here’s How I Got There

45 Comments March 21, 2016

Overwhelmed? Here’s How to Downsize Your Life in 9 Easy Steps

By Mikey Rox

Overwhelmed? Here’s How to Downsize Your Life in 9 Easy Steps

When you're feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, and can't seem to strike the right balance, it might be time to downsize. But that doesn't just mean getting rid of tangible things. Sometimes you need to eliminate other variables that are holding you ...

Continue reading Overwhelmed? Here’s How to Downsize Your Life in 9 Easy Steps

7 Comments October 28, 2015

The Best Personal Finance Book I’ve Ever Read

By Len Penzo

The Best Personal Finance Book I’ve Ever Read

It seems like every week I get at least one note in my inbox asking me about personal finance books and a suggestion for which one to buy. Well ... The other day somebody asked me to recommend a personal finance book they could give to their ...

Continue reading The Best Personal Finance Book I’ve Ever Read

4 Comments October 27, 2015

50 Personal Finance Habits Everyone Should Follow

By Len Penzo

50 Personal Finance Habits Everyone Should Follow

I have a lot of bad habits. For example, I tend to bite my nails when I get stressed out. I also have a penchant for opening the cupboard to get a drinking glass -- then walking away and leaving the door wide open. I know. I can't explain it either, ...

Continue reading 50 Personal Finance Habits Everyone Should Follow

26 Comments September 28, 2015

How I Survived Two Armed Robberies (and How You Can Too)

By Len Penzo

How I Survived Two Armed Robberies (and How You Can Too)

We tend to take for granted that the terrible misfortunes we see on the nightly news befalling people every day will never ever happen to us. Perhaps that is so for the majority of folks. But it is not certain by any means. By the time I was 30 I ...

Continue reading How I Survived Two Armed Robberies (and How You Can Too)

58 Comments July 28, 2015

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

Question of the Week:

Which would you rather find?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Black Coffee: And … It’s Gone
  • How to Get the Most for Your Money on a Gaming Vacation
  • Grandfather Says: A Lesson on Real Estate Development
  • 4 Things Everyone Should Know About the Cost of Growing Old
  • Fun Things to Do in New York City for Free
  • Powerful It Is: How Compound Interest Is Like the Force
  • Black Coffee: Credit Stiffs, Corporate Zombies and the Walking Dead
  • U.S. Credit Card Debt Surpasses $1 Trillion
  • Falling for This Tax Scam Will Have You Singing an Unhappy (i)Tune
  • 3 Ways You Can Save Money by Spending It

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Ultimately, 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.

Popular Now:

  1. 1. A Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived
  2. 2. 4 Ways Duct Tape Can Fix Your Personal Finances
  3. 3. 7 Skills My Immigrant Parents Taught Me
  4. 4. 6 Good Habits You Can Employ to Improve Your Finances
  5. 5. How Choosing Credit or Debit Is Like Picking Salad Dressing
  6. 6. 8 Ways to Make Money on Your Morning Commute
  7. 7. 7 Awesome Reasons Why You Should Use a Roth IRA for Retirement Savings
  8. 8. 8 Really Useful Money-Saving Tips Every Family Should Consider
  9. 9. Why Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Concierge Doctors
  10. 10. 7 Great Careers That Don’t Require a Lot of Experience to Start

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. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  7. 7. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  8. 8. The Great Paper Towel Test: Which Brand Is Your Best Value?
  9. 9. 12 Good Reasons Why You Should (and Should Not) Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
  10. 10. 9 Great Gifts for People Who Have Everything

 

Copyright © 2018 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

7ads6x98y