Author: Len Penzo
Len Penzo's irreverent, eponymous personal-finance blog, Len Penzo dot Com, covers money with a strong emphasis on personal responsibility. It was honored by Kiplinger as a Best Money Blog in 2010.
How Much Should You Pay the Babysitter?
Len Penzo on April 5, 2012
Figuring out how to pay a babysitter is almost as confusing as having kids in the first place. So here are some guidelines that will help you set the right rate.
5 Crazy Ideas That Resulted in Million-Dollar Paydays
Len Penzo on March 29, 2012
Warning: You’re going to be mad reading these ideas, which any one of us could have dreamed up first.
$12 Million Underwear and Other Strange Online Finds
Len Penzo on March 22, 2012
You can find some great deals on Amazon and eBay – but you won’t find them in this post.
14 ‘Dubious’ Personal Finance Moves It’s OK to Do
Len Penzo on March 15, 2012
Justin Bieber can teach you a lot about smart financial moves that look stupid at first.
How to Splurge Without Breaking the Bank
Len Penzo on March 1, 2012
It’s never wise to sacrifice our passions simply for the sake of saving money – because it’s our passions that ultimately make life worth living.
When Reward Points Expire, So Does My Loyalty
Len Penzo on February 23, 2012
Hey, you can buy my loyalty. But if you become a cheapskate about it, you’ll lose that loyalty real fast.
9 Mistakes From the Personal Finance Anarchist Cookbook
Len Penzo on February 16, 2012
Follow these instructions, and you’ll blow up your finances in no time.
How to Trade a Paper Clip for a House
Len Penzo on February 9, 2012
In less than a year, one man took a 1-cent paper clip and turned it into a house worth tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s how.
Dirty Harry Teaches Us a Lesson on Opportunity Cost
Len Penzo on January 26, 2012
Go ahead, make my day – learn about “opportunity cost” from Dirty Harry movies. Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?
5 Ways I’m a Personal Finance Daredevil
Len Penzo on January 19, 2012
Sometimes, risks pay off – playing it safe can actually cost you instead of save you. Here are the money menaces I stare down without blinking.
How Misplaced Priorities Lead to Lame Excuses
Len Penzo on January 12, 2012
We can complain and make excuses, but our spending habits reveal our priorities in life. When we’re in a tight spot, it’s usually because we’ve misplaced our priorities.
How Being Absent-Minded Resulted in a $2,750 Year-End Windfall
Len Penzo on January 5, 2012
Can you really pay for your vacations by taking care of your health? I do!
Gee, Thanks: 4 Presumptuous Gifts That Can Strain a Budget
Len Penzo on December 29, 2011
Should you look a gift horse in the mouth? Yes, when it’s these awful gifts that’ll actually cost you money.
No Joy in Mudville: Teaching My Son About Payback Periods
Len Penzo on December 15, 2011
Saving money is no game. And teaching your children the value of money isn’t going to win their appreciation. But it’s still worth the effort.
Looking for Inflation? It’s Hiding in Smaller Package Sizes
Len Penzo on December 8, 2011
Good things may come in small packages, but they certainly aren’t good deals. Here’s how your favorite grocery-store items are shrinking before your eyes.
Why Marriage Makes It Hard to Control Remodeling Costs
Len Penzo on November 24, 2011
No, “requirements creep” isn’t a person you don’t want to be around. It’s a philosophy you don’t want to adopt. But we all do at some point.
A Simple Trick to Get Your Credit Card Interest Charges Waived
Len Penzo on November 17, 2011
It’s amazing what you can get when you just ask for it. But can it work even with greedy, heartless credit card companies? Sure – because they’re not greedy and heartless.
5 Ways to Avoid Paying a Mandatory Gratuity for Bad Service
Len Penzo on November 10, 2011
These tips about tips can save you not only money, they might even save you a trip in the back of a police car.
Why Pastry Chefs Are Financially Savvier Than the Common Man
Len Penzo on November 3, 2011
Cookies and cash have a lot in common, especially if you don’t follow their recipes for success.
18 Things You Didn’t Know About Social Security Numbers
Len Penzo on October 27, 2011
Whose Social Security number is 001-01-0001? Can you tell someone’s race from their number? And will we run out of numbers? Read on for the answers.
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