Final reminder—webinar tonight!

Estate Planning Doesn’t Have to be Spooky

You're invited to join Anisha Murphy and Just Law for a webinar about estate planning. You'll learn tools and strategies to help you preserve your home, assets, and future. 

Wednesday, October 29

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Virtual only - register here

RSVP today!

Homeowner Family Night

Thursday, November 13, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Minnesota Children's Museum

10 W. 7th St.

St. Paul, MN 55104

Join other Habitat homeowners and their families, along with Twin Cities Habitat staff, for a fun, family-friendly evening! Learn more and RSVP here.

Voting 101

Election Day is next Tuesday, November 4. Be sure to visit our Elections Resource Center to ensure you're registered, review your sample ballot and our Candidate Conversation Guide, and make your voting plan. 

Monthly Maintenance

Home Heating Overview

We’ve all felt the changing in the air as summer has given way to fall and sooner than we know it winter will be here. Making sure that your home is both warm and keeping heat in efficiently will make your winter much easier to handle, even in our colder climate. Save money and keep yourself warm during the winter storm

Weatherizing Windows

It’s beautiful to look out through your windows to see the leaves changing colors and eventually the snow falling, but those same windows can be a place where hot air can leak out and cold air can leak in. Make sure your windows are weatherized either through proper caulking or by sealing with kits you can find at any hardware store. How to install a window insulation kit

Draft-Free Doors

As the entry and exit point for your home your door is where a lot of your heat is going to be lost. Make sure your doors seal properly when you close them through weatherstripping and proper alignment. How to install weatherstripping

Thermostat Tips

Your thermostat is your primary tool for keeping your home comfortable in the winter months. There are many ways to use a thermostat, but one thing we recommend is that if you’re going to change the temperature for whatever reason try to only change it plus or minus ~5 degrees to keep your furnace from working harder.

How thermostat setbacks save money 

Furnace Filter Fundamentals

Your furnace is a big engine that powers the heat of your home, but one of its most important components is also one of the cheapest and smallest: the furnace filter. We recommend changing your filters every 2-3 months to make sure your furnace continues to run smoothly and that you don’t have a costly repair in the middle of winter.

Winterize Your Lawn Mower

You may not think of your lawnmower as something that needs to be winterized, but did you know that if you have a gasoline powered mower you will need to take some additional extra steps to make sure it survives the winter and is ready to go for the spring? Our valued sponsor Toro has a guest post on our blog detailing what you’ll need to do to avoid any trouble with your mower.

Money Minute

PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance—which are the four pieces of your mortgage puzzle.

The principal is the money you borrowed, and interest is what the bank charges you to borrow it. Those usually stay the same when you have a fixed-rate loan.

Taxes and insurance can change if your city raises property taxes or your insurance company updates your rate. If those go up, your monthly payment will too, even if your loan itself didn’t change.

Federal Government Shutdown

Learn about the impact of the federal shut down on SNAP and other DCYF programs here. As of Oct. 29, 2025: Due to a lack of funding caused by the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) food benefits will not be issued for November until the shutdown ends or the federal government issues further guidance. The cash portion of MFIP will be issued. 

Community Partner Spotlight

Anisha Murphy (she/her) is a proud Twin Cities native and the Founder and Managing Attorney of Just Law LLC, an asset protection law firm focused on business and legacy protection. At Just Law, the mission is to equip individuals with the legal tools and knowledge they need to thrive.

Anisha is deeply driven by a sense of duty and impact. Her work is grounded in the belief that legal empowerment can be a catalyst for change—helping to close disparity gaps, eliminate the racial wealth divide, and dismantle systemic and institutional barriers that hinder access to opportunity, particularly for Black and brown communities.

You're invited to join Anisha and Just Law for a webinar about estate planning. You'll learn tools and strategies to help you preserve your home, assets, and future. Register here.