Investing

Andrew Menachem: Debunking the myths about volatility

When the stock market goes up, most investors feel good. They’re happy with their investment decisions and start counting all the money they’ve made on paper. Of course the opposite occurs when the market goes down. Investors get scared and wonder why they ever bought stocks in the first place.

The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Eight steps to making better financial choices

When it comes to your money, what you decide today can affect your finances for years to come.

Money Dilemmas

Meg Green: There’s trouble ahead for extravagent parents

The dilemma: My parents have lived the good life, especially since they retired here in Florida 18 years ago. They own a beautiful home, belong to a country club, have traveled extensively and have a summer home in Michigan, where we’re from and where I live.

The week ahead

Tom Hudson: Whither the Oracle of Omaha?

The tone on Wall Street in the week ahead will be set from a convention center in Middle America even before the opening bell Monday. When the world’s highest profile long-term investor spends his weekend eating Dilly Bars, sipping Cherry Coke and pontificating about elephants, it has the potential to move the market.

The week ahead

Tom Hudson: What will the Fed do next?

There is little that is riveting about a cost-benefit analysis. Still, we perform them all the time without applying such an formal academic-sounding name to it. If I have a cup of coffee after 4 p.m., will I be able to go to sleep at a reasonable time? Do I cut cable TV and rely on what’s available through NetFlix and Hulu?

The color of money

Michelle Singletary: The cure for re-fi envy

Do you have refinance envy? Come on, admit it. You’ve been at an event or having lunch with co-workers and someone brags about the interest rate she just got by refinancing her mortgage. You stay silent, grieving that you can’t take advantage of the low rates. You grumble when you read news stories like this one from The Associated Press on April 18: “Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell closer this week to their historic lows, making homeownership more affordable and refinancing more attractive. … The average rate for the 30-year fixed loan dipped to 3.41 percent from 3.43 percent last week. That’s not far from the 3.31 percent rate reached in November, which was the lowest on records dating back to 1971.”

Your money now

Make that refund count

Most of us will fritter away that ‘extra’ money from Uncle Sam. Here are some better ideas.

The Home Economist

Garage sales: Is it worth it?

It’s spring cleaning time — and that means garage sale season. But in order to be successful, you have to assign realistic values to your stuff.

The week ahead

Tom Hudson: And you thought tax season was over

Most of us are tax cheats. Not the lying-about-our-income kind but the not-paying-online-sales-tax kind. When you spend money with an online retailer you are supposed to pay what’s called a use tax for most items. Consider it a sales tax but instead of the retailer adding it on to your receipt, you are responsible for doing it come tax time.

The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Retirement is work

You know the saying, “It’s not rocket science.”

Investing

Tax changes may mean adjusting your investment strategy

If you’re an investor, you need to pay close attention to the recent changes in the federal tax laws.

South Florida grocery cart

The chart shown here reflects the average of prices at six South Florida groceries on June 8. Prices changed relatively little since April. Since The Miami Herald began tracking grocery prices in February, prices on most items have crept up slightly. The biggest increases were on bacon, which rose about 30 percent, and Roma tomatoes, which rose about 25 percent. Item May June One month change Loaf white bread, store-brand, 20 oz. $1.22 $1.36 $0.14 Cheddar cheese, store brand, 16 oz. $4.60 $5.30 $0.70 Dozen eggs, large, grade A $1.70 $1.65 -$0.05 Ground chuck, per pound $3.40 $3.67 $0.27 Bacon, store brand, 16-oz. package $4.96 $4.62 -$0.34 Gallon of whole milk, store brand, gallon $3.37 $3.51 $0.14 Tomatoes, Roma, 16 oz. $2.36 $1.94 $0.42 Green bell peppers, 16oz. $1.77 $1.70 -$0.07 Orange juice, store brand, half-gallon $2.95 $2.86 -$0.09 Stores surveyed: Milam’s in Miami Springs, Wal-Mart in Hialeah, Aldi in Deerfield Beach, Super Target in Davie, Publix in Fort Lauderdale and Winn-Dixie in Fort Lauderdale

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE Q & A

When company inspectors come calling

If you own a House of Condo, your Insurance Company may soon be letting you know they’re sending out an inspector to check out your property.

HEALTHCARE

Should you cuddle up with COBRA?

Stunned by news of losing their jobs, laid-off employees often are asked to quickly make a highly complex decision: What should they do about health insurance?

HEAVY THRIFTING

I've been laid off; now I'll try to save money

I've been laid off; now I'll try to save money Back in March my month-long Heavy Thrifting blog chronicled my attempts to rein in my spending habits by at least 10 percent. Now, three months later, I'm again reaching for the budget ax.

Taking a knife to expenses

With a keen awareness of economic realities, Brayden Simms' month-long goal is to cut his expenses by 10 percent.

CULTURE OF MONEY

Breaking the chains

Reporter Amy Sherman lives a week free of mega chains and discovers how linked our lives and pocketbooks are to major corporations

CULTURE OF MONEY

Financing the night of our dreams

Young. Just out of college. No full-time jobs. Most couples wouldn't hear the tolling of wedding bells under such circumstances. But we had our eyes on a big, lavish wedding, and we were ready to pay for it.

CULTURE OF MONEY

Tough lesson on friendship

The building I lived in had a rooftop pool, an elevator and a workout room one floor above my unit -- lavish features for college kids. But I never imagined that this beautiful apartment would cost me a friendship.

THE CULTURE OF MONEY

The value of panhandling

In a culture that runs on money, South Florida's panhandlers have none, yet they are entrepreneurs of a sort.