More South Floridians filed for bankruptcy in October than in any month this year. The 1,972 consumer bankruptcy filings marked a 12 percent increase over the previous high of 1,758 filings in September. Filings increased 60 percent from October 2007, according to bankruptcy court statistics. There were 820 personal bankruptcy cases in Miami-Dade County, 641 in Broward and 511 in Palm Beach filed last month.
South Florida police departments are dealing with a rise in property crimes for the first time in years.
You could be in for higher fees if you don't keep an eye on your checking account. Fees for bounced checks and withdrawing cash from an out-of-network ATM rose again this year, according to a survey by Bankrate.com.
An ice sculpture that puddled away in New York's financial district was an attempt to capture the economic crisis' spirit.
Tax credits that could reach a maximum of $7,500 are aimed at making it more affordable to buy the plug-in cars that are in the works.
401(k) plans have only been around less than 30 years, and no generation of retirees has yet tried to live off savings from them. With the current downturn, the risks are becoming more apparent.
Melissa Ross is a disciplined, upbeat woman with a rewarding career and family. She shares her philosophy in her e-mail sign-off, quoting the writer-scholar Joseph Campbell: ``Live with passion!''
For the last several months, I've had a hard time picking selections for the Color of Money Book Club. Many of the books stacked up against the wall in my office were written before what I call the Great Millennium Meltdown. Although some of the books forecasted trouble ahead, much of the financial advice lacks today's context. That's not a criticism. Nobody knew how bad things would get.
In these turbulent times of layoffs and cutbacks, you may be able to find security in a government job -- if you're lucky enough to land one.
Carnival will stop paying a dividend in order to finance new ships. The move could cost the company head Micky Arison $184 million next year.
The news could be worse: With South Florida mired in a recession, many employers appear reluctant to pass too much of their rising healthcare costs along to their workers.
To improve your ability to pay for college, consider the following strategies: Apply to many schools to increase the number of financial aid offers you receive. Some schools will sweeten aid packages to snag admitted students. ''We recommend kids apply to 10 schools, so they get accepted to three or four schools. That's going to increase their financial aid options,'' said Dave Kenney, chief executive officer of CollegeZapps, a Littleton, Colo.-based provider of college application tools.
Peer-to-peer sites are an option for borrowers looking for low interest rates as well as investors who want to maximize returns on their cash. There are some details, however, to keep in mind.
Some of the nation's most venerable brands are struggling to strike the right tone for marketing and advertising campaigns amid the economic downturn.
While you're caught up in watching the stock market ricochet or worrying about the current market value of your home, don't forget the mundane matters of your personal finances.
In retirement planning, financial advisors often talk to clients about a three-legged stool. It is an analogy for how we all should plan for our sunset years.
A federal pension agency lost almost $5 billion on stocks, but the pensions it backs are not in trouble, according to the agency's director.
The IRS wants to return $30 million in tax refunds and economic stimulus checks to Floridians, but it doesn't know where they live.
The pint glass that doubles as a tip jar at Jesse Del Pozo's barber station used to be stuffed with cash, even a few fives and tens peeking out by day's end.
Home values have plummeted. Stock prices have spiraled down and down again. Job security is iffy, and banks are teetering on the brink.
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