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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Lessons In Tax Law: Why You Should Never Try To Bribe The IRS

By Corazon Gritar

It's no secret that Americans hate taxes. In fact, pretty much all people from all places would prefer not to pay their taxes. There are even stories from the bible about how much Jesus' peers hated tax collectors. Since the creation of the IRS, ...

Continue reading Lessons In Tax Law: Why You Should Never Try To Bribe The IRS

January 31, 2023

Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake

By Len Penzo

Should you pay off the mortgage early? That question is, without any doubt, the most popular question posed by my readers. And sure enough, the other day I received this note from Lauren regarding the wisdom of paying down the mortgage early: Len: ...

Continue reading Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake

January 30, 2023

Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House

By Len Penzo

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. ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House

January 28, 2023

A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print

By Corazon Gritar

We're all guilty of it. We see an alert that tells us we can't continue through an online signup before reading the fine print. But they're often 12 pages of user terms and agreements, if not more. So we roll our eyes and scroll to the bottom. We ...

Continue reading A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print

January 26, 2023

Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense

By Len Penzo

The conventional wisdom out there is that it's rarely advantageous to consider an extended warranty unless it's for an automobile. Don't believe it. The truth is, when it comes to extended warranties, things aren't always quite so black and white. ...

Continue reading Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense

January 26, 2023

10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference

By Tex Freitag

Do you often come away from business conferences feeling like you just wasted a lot of time? Of course, the events themselves could be to blame. But it could just as easily be that you're not making the most of them. So, if you're struggling to ...

Continue reading 10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference

January 25, 2023

36 Amazing Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags

By Len Penzo

I've been a big defender of plastic grocery bags for a long time. In fact, last year I challenged readers to tell me why the humble plastic bag is still maligned by so many people. Now I may be just a wee bit biased, but I think I made a very ...

Continue reading 36 Amazing Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags

January 23, 2023

Black Coffee: A Ponzi for Your Thoughts

By Len Penzo

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 ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: A Ponzi for Your Thoughts

January 21, 2023

Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6

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: Dave had traded the wrecked ’36 Chevrolet on a nice used 1946 blue-green Desoto, and that’s the car we used for going to ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6

January 19, 2023

What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

By Edward M. Bernstein

More Americans are filing medical malpractice suits in the US -- but not because doctors are doing a worse job. In fact, they're doing roughly the same quality job. However, consumers today are more savvy and informed about how to find a malpractice ...

Continue reading What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

January 18, 2023

Million Dollar Neighborhoods Are Still Popping Up Across the US

By Corazon Gritar

Across the United States, more than 800 neighborhoods have a median home value that exceeds $1 million, according to a report by Trulia. This new data means that the number of US homes costing $1 million or more has doubled since 2012. While the ...

Continue reading Million Dollar Neighborhoods Are Still Popping Up Across the US

January 17, 2023

Why Extended Warranties for New Tires Are A Waste of Money

By Len Penzo

A while back I bought four new tires for my old car. The tires came with a pro-rated 65,000-mile guarantee and were $74 each, or just under $300 for the entire set. As the salesman was tallying the bill he asked if I'd like to purchase the ...

Continue reading Why Extended Warranties for New Tires Are A Waste of Money

January 16, 2023

Black Coffee: Walking on Eggs

By Len Penzo

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 an enjoyable week. ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: Walking on Eggs

January 14, 2023

Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 5

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: Our "Goodbye Date" and the Trip to Washington, DC and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia Belle Isle in the Detroit River is where Dave ...

Continue reading Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 5

January 12, 2023

How Video Conferencing Reduces Small Business Costs

By Enero Febrero

Saying that running a small business is a difficult task is like saying the ocean is a little wet. Such understatements aside, the fact of the matter is that any organization have to make the most of its limited budget if it wants to remain viable in ...

Continue reading How Video Conferencing Reduces Small Business Costs

January 11, 2023

4 Ways Social Media Use Makes You Vulnerable to Identity Fraud

By Anum Yoon

Most of us use at least one form of social media to stay in touch with friends and family we don't get to see every day. Whether it's Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram, social media gives us the ability to share updates with all our friends ...

Continue reading 4 Ways Social Media Use Makes You Vulnerable to Identity Fraud

January 10, 2023

Tips for Budgeting a Wedding

By Corazon Gritar

Budgeting for a wedding can seem like an overwhelming task. Most people need help figuring out where to begin. However, it doesn't have to be stressful. This article will help you break down every part of budgeting a wedding into manageable parts. ...

Continue reading Tips for Budgeting a Wedding

January 9, 2023

Debt Elimination: The Pros and Cons of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps

By Len Penzo

Many folks looking for a way to get out of debt and achieve financial freedom eventually gravitate to financial expert Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps program. One thing is certain: Regardless of the pros and cons, there is no denying Ramsey's seven-step ...

Continue reading Debt Elimination: The Pros and Cons of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps

January 9, 2023

Black Coffee: The Future of Money

By Len Penzo

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've got another busy weekend ahead of ...

Continue reading Black Coffee: The Future of Money

January 7, 2023

Why It Doesn’t Always Pay to Do It Yourself

By Len Penzo

With the current economic malaise continuing to strain household budgets, it's no wonder that a growing number of people have decided to stretch their incomes by taking on more do-it-yourself tasks. As a result, thrifty folk from all walks of life ...

Continue reading Why It Doesn’t Always Pay to Do It Yourself

January 5, 2023

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Recent Posts

  • Is a Master’s Degree in Education Worth It? 7 Key Questions to Ask
  • Comparing the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, and Progressive Tax Systems
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  • Black Coffee: Pushing the Panic Button
  • The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 10
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  • Common Financial Mistakes in Manufacturing (and How to Avoid Them)
  • Blind Taste Test: Does Bottled Water Really Taste Better Than Filtered Tap?
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  • Behind the Science of Defining What’s Truly Priceless

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.

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