Using the Web to Weather Tough Times

During the last 20 years in the U.S., increased worker productivity and easy credit have meant that many people felt prosperous in spite of stagnant wages. We bought real estate, big cars, and luxury goods that were made affordable by the dynamics of the global economy.

Those halcyon days have abruptly ended. Essentials such as housing and health insurance have grown unaffordable even for middle class workers. Energy and food prices have suddenly skyrocketed. Many people have built up considerable debt.

What to do? For consumers who live by their wages and not their capital gains, it's time to scrutinize budgets and cut down on discretionary spending and debt. After a generation of feeling as if we could buy whatever struck our fancy, that will be hard to do. Yet, we have allies in these web resources.

Blogs and Newsletters

Lots of folks are writing on the web about how to wrestle with personal finances. Turn to these blogs and newsletters for advice about how to invest, save money and eliminate debt.