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Paying down a mortgage isn't necessarily the end all be all. In fact, by increasing our mortgage, we could end up further ahead in the long run. And in the short term, well, we're finally getting relief from the financial pressure we've been feeling for the past few years.

We are always looking for ways to save a buck. But it's a fine line between cutting costs and cutting corners and often saving a buck now will cost you more in the long run.

So what do you get someone who already has everything?

As homeowners, we have more information and resources available to us than ever before. In this episode I complain about mostly complain about contractors who refuse to acknowledge that we do know what we're doing and know what we're talking about.

Someday. Eventually. In the future. Whether talking about debt repayment, retirement, or home renovations, it's all so abstract. In this episode, I talk about figuring out how realistic a goal is and creating the road map to achieve it.

John from AZDIYGuy.com returns to talk about kitchens, kitchen design and IKEA. And why it's a bad idea to step on the back of a farmhouse sink. John shares his experience from planning to design to execution, why IKEA was the right choice for him and why it pays to hire a designer.

We have all seen those articles about the home improvements that give you the biggest return on your investment. But what about the ones that can actually decrease the value of your home?

She's back! I am happy to welcome Vickiann, from MyCrappyHouse.com back to the podcast. We talk about how she has been making her crappy house less crappy and answer some very important questions. What has she been up to? What's the deal with Schmoopy? What's changed thanks to the pandemic? There are knots and bows to be tied and maybe, someday, a tome about her home to be written(?) and she talks about all of it on this episode.

Before Netflix and other streaming services, some of the only entertainment available in the wee hours of the morning was the infomercial. In this episode of the podcast, I share with you some of the purchases I made over the years either directly from, or inspired by these advertisements.

In this episode of the podcast, I share a handful of tales of nature and the nature-adjacent, along with a bit of advice if you happen to live adjacent to nature (hopefully the title doesn't give too much away).

This first episode back after a long hiatus does not have a central theme. It is more of a mish-mash of assorted ideas that you may find interesting including a bit of plumbing, a new (to me) table saw and some real estate news.

The Thumb and Hammer Podcast will return in September. I had actually contemplated sun-downing the podcast and the website but after a lot of thought, and some encouragement from unexpected sources, I am pleased to announce that the podcast is coming back. Expect the first new episode Thursday September 3, 2020. New episodes will be released every other Thursday.

A brief explanation about the podcast schedule and a request for your help to make the Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast the best it can be.

Until you can afford a major renovation, do you live with what you have or can you justify spending money on something destined for the landfill?

This is the tale of our new front door, from the sale to installation to service and the mistakes that were made along the way by the parties

A response to an article on Mashable "11 DIY videos absolutely no one asked for." So, why do makers make what they make the way they make anyway?

Spending too much money, pricing yourself out of the market, or not spending enough money, hurting your property value. And whether it really matters.

In this episode of the podcast, we look at two popular waterproofing methods plus the steps you can take to avoid such drastic measures to solve your wet basment problems.

Making sense of the different types of drywall, drywall compound, mesh vs paper tape and drywall tools.

An election, a TV show and a board game. Looking back at news topics that as a homeowner, I found to be significant or interesting.