Congress Weighs Buyer Tax Credit Expansion

Legislation introduced in Congress Wednesday would expand the tax credit now limited to first-time homebuyers to any purchaser of a home and increase the maximum available to $15,000.

The tax credit passed earlier this year is limited to $8,000 and has income caps.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, introduced the legislation, and Senate Banking Committee Chair Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, quickly stepped up to co-sponsor.

The National Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of Home Builders have said they would like to see the tax credit improved.

10 Tips for Getting Good Sleep

There’s a lot of advice out there about getting good sleep -- and it's very important. We quickly adjust to being sleep-deprived, and don't notice that we aren't functioning at a normal level, but lack of sleep really affects us. If you're feeling blue or listless, try going to sleep thirty minutes earlier for a week. It can really help.

Here are tips that have helped me get good sleep:

Good habits for good sleep:

1. Exercise most days, even if it’s just to take a walk.

2. No caffeine after 6:00 p.m.

3. An hour before bedtime, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking. Addressing envelopes—okay. Analyzing an article—nope.

4. Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.

5. Keep your bedroom dark. Studies show that even the tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle. We have about six devices in our room that glow bright green; it’s like sleeping in a mad scientist’s lab. I have to put a pillow over the cable box.

6. Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.

If sleep won’t come:
7. Breathe deeply and slowly until you can’t stand it anymore.

8. If your mind is racing (you’re planning a trip, a move; you’re worried about a medical diagnosis), write down what’s on your mind. This technique really works for me.

9. Slather yourself with body lotion. This feels good and also, if you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re hot, it cools you down.

10. If your feet are cold, put on socks.

Home Accessories You Don't Need

Have you ever found yourself saying, "I just have to have that yogurt machine"? So did these designers, who confess they too bought home accessories that they've never used.

Steam Shower
"I just had to have a steam shower. My whole bathroom was torn up to install the pipes and the fittings, the glass door needed to be sealed in a certain way, the ceiling specially painted to resist mold. Unfortunately, I never have time for the spa day I fantasized about. I don't even take long showers. I've used it maybe two times. If you divide the amount I spent by two, I probably could have purchased a small interest in Bliss Spas." — Richard Mishaan

Commercial-Grade Stove
"When I moved into my home six years ago, I was sure I needed a commercial-grade stove in the kitchen. I had visions of dinner parties and guests gathering around for a home-cooked meal. I neglected to consider one important point — I don't cook. I have yet to turn the stove on." — Nate Berkus

Linen Cocktail Napkins
"Linen cocktail napkins. They're beautiful to look at and use, but I pass them up every time in lieu of paper because of the thought of having to iron them." —Victoria Neale

Cashmere and Mohair Throws
"As a shopaholic with a serious impulse-buying addiction, I buy things I don't need all the time. My ivory mohair throw and blanket were spectacular non-necessities. They looked great neatly folded, but shed more fur than a dog when I got them home. Still, I can't bring myself to part with them, and now they live under my bed. Sumptuous-looking antique wicker cat baskets never fail to seduce me — and have never once managed to entice a cat to go anywhere near them. Ditto the mini-cashmere blankets I thought would be adorable to line the baskets with." — Elaine Griffin

Lawn Games
"Lawn games: stainless-steel bocce balls, professional horseshoes, and a personalized croquet set. There they sit in the garden shed." — Dennis Wedlick

Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker
"I was at Canyon Ranch and fell in love with their soft yogurt machine. I wanted to re-create it at home, so I went out and bought a professional-grade soft ice cream maker. It was just too much trouble. And it was so bloody expensive. I'm going to sell it on eBay." — Carolyne Roehm

Improve your Iphone connection

Having problems with your connection on your Iphone? I just did this a few hours ago and I could tell a big difference in my signal strength, where I couldn't ever get full bars. I now have full signal bars.

Try this simple step and see if this doesn't help
1. Go to Settings
2. Click General
3. Scroll down to Reset
4. Click, Reset Network settings