Adrienne Radtke plans to keep riding her bike to work even if gas prices drop. Steve Pizzini got rid of his Cadillac Escalade in favor of a 16-year-old Acura and doesn't expect to have another gas-guzzler. Full story »

Call it the big fizzle. The hoped-for second-half economic rebound is looking to be lethargic, with the country straining under high energy prices and fallout from the housing and credit debacles. Full story »

Life in a time of persistent inflation requires tinkering with your approach to personal finances. When you're contemplating a major purchase, it's no longer sufficient planning to calculate whether you can afford it today. You need to figure out if you'll be able to afford it in the future given higher operating costs. Full story »

Dear Bruce: I have always had excellent credit. Recently, I discovered that I forgot to mail my mortgage payment. When I received my statement, I noticed that they had not credited me, and when I went digging around, found it among other papers. I promptly paid it, bringing what I owed current. To be on the safe side, I called to verify they had received my payment. I asked if they had reported this as being late. They said yes and that it could not be removed. Is there anything I can do? How much will this impact my future loan applications? Will I still be able to get the best rates available? How long will this be on my credit report? Full story »

The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America is doing something that should have been done a long time ago. Through Wednesday, the nonprofit housing advocacy organization is hosting a free "Save the Dream of Homeownership" event in Washington where people can get immediate help restructuring their troubled mortgage loans. Full story »

Turmoil in the credit industry continues to hobble the housing market as potential buyers struggle to secure financing.
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For Roxanna Evans, the Fed's new rules to crack down on abusive lending practices, approved Monday, came too late. Full story »

The Federal Reserve and the Treasury announced steps Sunday to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose shares have plunged as losses from their mortgage holdings threatened their financial survival. Full story »

Allstate has been ordered to cut its California homeowners insurance rate by more than a quarter for an estimated $255 million in annual savings. Full story »

Dear Debt Adviser: I recently turned over my credit card debt of $50,000 to a debt management company that promises to have me debt-free in 30 months. I am paying $602 for the first six months, then $915 for 24 months (which goes into an account to pay the creditors). The creditors continuously call, and I do not answer the phone. Should I answer and tell them I have a debt management professional handling the debt? I do not use the credit cards anymore, and I am sure they will be canceled soon. I know this will ruin my credit, but I just want to be debt-free. Full story »

Wall Street and Washington wrestled Friday with how to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two troubled pillars of the economy whose failure would deal a devastating blow to the already crippled housing market. Full story »

For most people, the decision to buy a home hits like love at first sight: After endless rounds of dating, you finally find that special one. You walk in the front door and swoon over the refinished hardwood floors. Your eyes lock on the high ceilings. Your heart pounds at the fabulous kitchen and the huge yard. Full story »

Dear Bruce: I recently paid off my credit card, which was a bad debt. I negotiated with the company to pay off my balance — minus $1,000. I did not realize that it would reflect on my credit record as a "bad thing." Is there anything I can do to remove it? Full story »

The number of homeowners stung by the rout in the U.S. housing market jumped last month as foreclosure filings grew by more than 50 percent compared with June a year ago, according to data to be released today. Full story »

Tapping home equity to pay for your kids' education is a reasonable move only if you've exhausted all other possibilities. Here's what you should consider long before you contemplate borrowing against your home. Full story »