There are some U.S. towns in which the cost of living remains affordable -- and downright cheap -- as compared to the national average.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a poison to humans and pets. The EPA provides guidance on handling broken bulbs.

Last month, the number of new homes sold on an annualized, seasonally-adjusted basis tallied 319,000. The May reading is the second-highest of the year, and 6 percent above the current 12-month average.

Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The vote was 10-0 -- the fourth straight unanimous vote for the nation's Central Bank.

Home resales slipped 4 percent in May, falling below the 5,000,000-unit mark on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis for the first time since February.

If you're a home buyer and have considered "buying new", the time may be right for making an offer. Financing is cheap, home values are low, and builders are pessimistic -- a terrific combination for today's home buyer.

This week marks the official start of Summer. If your home's outdoor area has furniture on it, you'll want to make sure that furniture is clean.

The housing market received a jolt of good news Thursday. The Commerce Department reports that Single-Family Housing Starts improved in May.

According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, monthly foreclosure filings fell 2 percent in May to just under 215,000 filings nationwide. Foreclosure counts have now dropped over 16 consecutive months, dating back to January 2010.

Retail Sales rose for the 11th straight month in May. Excluding cars and auto parts, sales receipts climbed to $322 billion last month. It's an all-time high and another example of the U.S. economy's resiliency.