Your Money

I'm not sure if this falls under the category no good deed goes unpunished or the law of unintended consequences.  But with interest rates falling to the lowest level on record, the mortgage market has tightened up substantially.

• tougher income criteria
• higher credit scores
• larger down payments

Congress offered relief to let homeowners suspend mortgage payments for up to a year but provided no way to pay for it.  This puts the burden on the lenders so banks are accordingly reluctant to lend under these rules.

Mortgage Credit Tightens, Creating Drag on Any Economic Recovery
by Andrew Ackerman and Nick Timiraos, WSJ

Your Life

Yes, the world continues to battle COVID-19.  However, nature goes on.  Spring arrived and with its arrival came, among other things, the annual gardening to make your home more beautiful and/or to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor in the summer.

It might even be a more poignant planting season this year since, if you opt for an edible garden, you can actually provide sustenance for you, your family, and friends.

In this time of limited resources, there will be no more trekking to the grocery store to pick through and pay for, quite possibly, inferior fruits and vegetables, as compared to something you grew.  I assure you that the feeling of growing your own food is far superior to buying it.  Plus, if you’re like me, it’s a way to give the middle finger to COVID-19.  It might be a small victory, but it feels so great!!
 
Five Common Gardening Mistakes--and How to Avoid Them
by Bart Ziegler, WSJ

Complexity Simplified

Trivia