The Stash
Plain-English guides to saving, buying a home, mortgages, investing and getting out of debt.
Index Funds 101: How They Work and Where They Fit Alongside a House Fund
A beginner's guide to index funds, expense ratios and diversification, and why money for a near-term home purchase usually belongs somewhere safer.
Latest guides
Index Funds 101: How They Work and Where They Fit Alongside a House Fund
A beginner's guide to index funds, expense ratios and diversification, and why money for a near-term home purchase usually belongs somewhere safer.
How Much Down Payment Do You Really Need?
The 20% rule isn't a requirement. Here's what different loan types actually require, what a smaller down payment costs, and how to pick your number.
5 Automatic Savings Habits That Build a Down Payment Faster
Five set-and-forget habits that grow a down payment fund without relying on willpower, with worked examples using this week's mortgage rates.
Paying Off Debt Before Buying a Home: Avalanche, Snowball, or Save First?
How debt affects your mortgage approval, the avalanche and snowball payoff methods compared with worked examples, and how to split money between debt and a down payment.
How to Compare Mortgage Rates (and Actually Save Money)
Why the advertised rate is only part of the story, how to read a Loan Estimate, and a simple process for shopping lenders without hurting your credit.