borrowing

For those who can't get bank loans, the new business of peer-to-peer lending can be a lifesaver. Internet companies connect people who need cash with folks willing to lend -- for a fair profit, of course. Here's how it works, risks and all.

After two years of relative frugality caused by the financial crisis, Americans are again borrowing in a big way. Consumer spending is surely good for the economy, but have Americans learned any lessons about loading up on red ink?

For years, policymakers have reassured the public that Social Security will be solvent for decades. But outlay and income data from the Treasury reveal that Social Security is already deep in the red -- by $76 billion in 2010 alone. That's just the beginning.

On Thursday night, venture capitalist and DailyFinance columnist Peter Cohan went on CNBC's The Kudlow Report to debate whether the banking industry is at the start of a period of recovery, as Goldman Sachs claimed this week. Here's why he argued that Goldman was dead wrong.

Hong Kong took a new step this week to let some air out of its real estate bubble, levying a heavy tax on property flippers -- a move that has already sent asking prices there downward. But Hong Kong's real estate risks are dwarfed by those in Mainland China.

A key index that measures small business lending rose 16% in September, its second consecutive month of double-digit increases. That rise in the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index is a strong signal that the U.S. economy is finally back on the road to recovery.

Buying a car brings on the stress no matter how you slice it -- especially if you wind up slicing a lemon. From betting on a good price for your old car and scrimping dough for the down payment to picking out the make and model that best fits your family and lifestyle, you've got a lot to think...

Credit card debt fell sharply in the second quarter as consumers worked hard to reduce their balances. The average credit card debt fell 13.4% to $4,951. Alaska led the nation as the state with the highest average credit card debt: $7,148.

In a new op-ed piece, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks out against U.S. budget deficits. He calls for a "tectonic shift in fiscal policy" and warns that if borrowing isn't reined in, America could face a Greek-style debt crisis.

Being in a financial tight spot is fraught with difficulty, but there are a few options to consider. Active initiatives are now available from both governmental and nonprofit groups.