diff --git a/.zshrc b/.zshrc
index 943d5967..877927d8 100644
--- a/.zshrc
+++ b/.zshrc
@@ -83,6 +83,41 @@ then
     source ~/.zshprivate
 fi
 
+function home_help() {
+    echo "available commands:"
+    echo ""
+    echo "help:        show this help text"
+    echo "pull:        execute git pull in $HOME"
+    echo "sub:         update all submodules of $HOME"
+    echo "up:          pull and update submodules in $HOME"
+}
+
+function home() {
+    case $1 in
+        help)
+            home_help
+            ;;
+        pull)
+            cd ~
+            git pull
+            ;;
+        sub)
+            cd ~
+            git submodule update --init --recursive
+            ;;
+        up)
+            cd ~
+            git pull
+            git submodule update --init --recursive
+            ;;
+        *)
+            echo "command not found!"
+            echo ""
+            home_help
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
 # Some aliases
 alias ..='cd ..'
 alias ...='cd ../..'