Two Pennies Earned

Photo: David Wright
Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is often bad-mouthed as a terrible deal for consumers.
But without PMI, you might not be able to get a conventional home loan at all.

When you're just starting out and buying your first home, where do you get the cash to fix it up if it's not already in great condition?
Lots of first-time homebuyers find themselves in this situation: They're ready to own and they have enough income and savings to qualify for a mortgage, but they can barely afford the type of home and/or neighborhood they want to live in, and the home...

Graze raspberry and coconut muffin snack
Would you like to get a free box of interesting, tasty snacks in your mailbox?
If so, you should try Graze. It's a snack company that will send you a box of four individually and attractively packaged snacks twice a month. I tried Graze after hearing an ad for it on Spotify and using a promo code to get my first box free. At the...

Kevin Quinn's 1866 home, before restoration
Have you ever been watching an episode of House Hunters where a young couple with a modest homebuying budget finds a fixer upper that's under budget and says they can use the savings to repair the house?
I've always wondered where they get that money from, since they probably barely have enough money for a down payment. Where would they find the cash to fix the hideous kitchen and the outdated bathrooms, or to replace the dingy carpet with gorgeous hardwood...