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Some housing experts believe there is no alternative but outright forgiveness of a substantial chunk of mortgage debt for many people who are at risk of foreclosure.
CONSUMER BRIEFS
Europe's largest low-cost airline plans to offer an unlimited allowance for carry-on bags that comply with government size limits starting next spring.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Claims rise and investment returns fall in a bad economy. That might be enough to weaken or even topple the company, leaving policyholders with little or no coverage.
MONEY TALK
If your rate-lock period is within two to three weeks of expiring and your subordination request hasn't been approved, call the HELOC lender and ask that it be given top priority.
HOW I MADE IT: ALTON JOHNSON
Alton Johnson lost his job in the recession that followed the Sept. 11 attacks, and out of that came Bossa Nova Beverage Group.
Confidence among U.S. consumers rose this month for a fourth straight time, reflecting signs that the worst of the recession has passed.
HOW I MADE IT: MICHAEL FLOOD
Michael Flood got his MBA in the '80s, although he was never really interested in business. But it was in school that the future CEO of the L.A. Regional Foodbank was exposed to the nonprofit world.
MONEY TALK
Even people living on the financial edge can save enough to protect themselves from being swamped by a bank's 'gotcha' fees.
CONSUMER BRIEFS
Baristas will refresh each container of coffee about every 24 minutes, a spokeswoman says. The company is emphasizing quality as rival restaurants sell coffee-based drinks at lower prices.
HOW I MADE IT: WILLIAM SHERNOFF
In 1965, after three years with the Army, William Shernoff had two jobs lined up in different states. He made his choice on the freeway as he was leaving Missouri -- he'd head to California.
YOUR MONEY
The recession has brought down prices and created opportunities for those willing to take on risks and challenges.
CONSUMER BRIEFS
LegoLand in Carlsbad has a number of new attractions this summer, including a shark exhibit and an adventure slide.
DAVID LAZARUS:
There's been much hand-wringing over the federal government's relationship with General Motors now that Uncle Sam owns 60% of the company.
SMALL-BUSINESS MAKEOVER
The cookie shop, where customers can create their own cookies, has been hurt by its location, the recession and a shortage of money to promote the business.
MONEY TALK
There is no penalty for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth, but you will owe taxes that are determined by your federal tax bracket. You'll also need to factor in state and local income taxes.
The threat of a deflationary spiral still looms, some economists say, even though Wall Street recently has focused more on the potential for a jump in inflation if the economy revives.
MONEY TALK
Dear Liz: I currently have a consolidated student loan with the federal Direct Loan program at an 8.25% fixed rate. I initially borrowed $50,000 18 years ago, but the balance due has ballooned to almost $155,000 over the years.
MONEY TALK
Selling a home for less than what's owed, even with the lender's consent, typically harms credit scores as much as foreclosures do.
YOUR MONEY: MAKEOVER REDUX
Most Money Makeover participants have seen significant changes in their financial lives, although some didn't follow their planners' advice.
MUTUAL FUND QUARTERLY REPORT
The market’s rebound cuts stock funds’ losses – and maybe forces investors to rethink their fears
PERSONAL FINANCE
The only certainty is that stocks will go up and down. Figure out your true risk tolerance and go from there.
MONEY TALK
Dear Liz: My husband and I have not had any credit cards for almost 10 years. We just paid off our vehicle with his retirement account. We now owe only for our home. We have no other debt except utilities. I draw a disability check each month, and I keep thinking we should be able to save but have been unable to. We are not extravagant by any means, rarely going out to dinner or movies. What are we doing wrong?
MONEY TALK
A physician with a high income and stable job can't get a mortgage on the $1-million home he wants because he doesn't have a 20% down payment.
This is the fifth time U.S. blue-chip stocks have risen more than 10% since October 2007. The previous four rallies all gave way to more selling and new market lows.
MONEY TALK
Dear Liz: The 401(k) plan at work has been terminated. We have $51,000 in credit card debt and $45,000 in the 401(k) account. Should we pay the 20% withholding tax and early penalty to get out of debt?
PERSONAL FINANCE
When managers are free to rob corporate coffers, it shatters the trust of the investors who provide capital to grow the business.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Some banks' practices maximize the charges their customers pay. The Fed is considering an opt-out provision.
Dear Liz: We recently had our credit limit on a card dropped from $13,000 to $3,900 without notification. When we called the issuer's toll-free number, the folks on the other end could not give us a definitive answer about why the card limit was dropped. They gave us generalizations as to why it might have been lowered, such as a missed payment or a bad score. But we've never missed a payment and our FICO scores are above 780. What's going on? Do we run a risk of having our credit dinged due to their decision? Is there a resource we can contact?
MONEY TALK
Dear Liz: My husband and I both lost our career jobs over the last two years. Since that time we have done everything to try to stay afloat, including borrowing more money on our credit cards, borrowing from our home equity credit line and liquidating our retirement accounts.
PERSONAL FINANCE
No sooner is one bogus grant site suppressed than another pops up, warns an FTC official. One outfit even purports to be a scam-busting site but links the user to sites the agency warns against.
Your choices depend on your income, the complexity of your situation and how good you are at following directions.
MONEY TALK
Dear Liz: Since tax filing season is upon us, it's a good time to get rid of statements and records we don't need. How long should we keep such things as tax records, credit card statements, mortgage payment statements, utility bills, etc?
Benefits eligibility
CITY TO SEA
The last time my boyfriend, Aaron, and I went on a date for $25 or less, we were in high school. So we were pleasantly surprised at how much we could do for that price now.
AT THE DRIVE-IN
In Ohio, the drive-in was a summer ritual. My mom would pile me, my brother and at least four of the neighbor kids into her faux-wood-paneled Oldsmobile station wagon and roar off into the humid dusk. Snuggled up in a pile of pillows and blankets, we'd be mesmerized by kiddie gems like "Herbie Goes Bananas." We'd stuff our faces with popcorn and other treats brought from home; weeks later, we'd still be picking kernels and smooshed gummy bears out of the Custom Cruiser's back seat.
MALIBU
Bring your own bottle and bundle up for a bracing afternoon at this seaside gem.
HOLLYWOOD
So, a man and a woman walk into a theater with a budget of $25. . . .
SAN DIEGO
Entertaining kids can cost parents a fortune.