personal finance

Investors who can't make sense of today's stormy stock market might think the safety and security of bond mutual funds and money market accounts are a way to avoid losing money.

Dear Debt Adviser,

I used my credit card company's online bill-paying feature to schedule a payment to them while I was on vacation. The payment was never processed and they have no record of my scheduled payment. I am new at this and did not know enough to get a confirmation number.

The Federal Reserve began to slash short-term interest rates almost a year ago. Yet we have higher mortgage rates now than we had then. What gives?

When too many condominium owners lose their units to foreclosure, condo associations feel the financial pain. That's bad news for homeowners and real estate investors who depend on these associations to take care of building maintenance, property insurance, utilities, landscaping and other shared amenities.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mattress + money = bad idea.

With the economy in turmoil, stashing your cash under the bed or burying it in the backyard may feel like the safest bet. But experts say there are still investments that make sense.

Dear Debt Adviser,

I just lost a job offer because of my credit. I am 33 and had some personal problems last year that caused my credit to get really bad. Before that, I never had any late payments.

I'm not sure what to do or how to handle job opportunities. Help.

These are tough economic times for people of all ages, but few are affected more than senior citizens living on pensions and Social Security, and juggling medical bills, credit card payments and mortgages along with soaring food and gas costs.

Whether you're buying a home or refinancing an existing home loan, you'll soon find out that lenders today are a picky and demanding bunch when it comes to loan approvals. Even well-qualified borrowers are expected to jump through some pretty high hoops to qualify for financing.

How do I buy a foreclosed property at a bargain price?

As bank repossessions continue to mount, it's a question that is being asked more and more often. The answer is, foreclosures are available and reasonably priced -- but don't expect a screaming deal.

Dear Debt Adviser,

I made a stupid mistake. I refused to pay my gas credit card because my $95 gasoline bill grew to $305, after $210 in late fees. The last payment was in January 2005.

The gas credit card was charged off in June 2005 and sold to a collection agency in May 2007. The collection agency raised the amount due to $408 in May of this year.