Things To Do In SW Florida

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — New smartphones aren’t cheap and prices could reach even higher as globe trade tensions fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats throw Asian exports into turmoil.

To save money, consider buying a secondhand device.

The market for used cell phones is booming. It’s now growing faster than the market for new devices, according to CCS Insight, a U.K.-based tech research firm.

As each new model release sends consumers rushing to upgrade, they’ll also be selling or trading in their existing devices, which usually have lots of life left.

If you’re on a budget, a refurbished secondhand phone can be up to 50% cheaper than new, and they now come with warranties, flexible financing and after-sales service, CCS said in a recent report.

Meanwhile, the starting price of a new top of the line iPhone Pro Max could potentially rise 29% from $1,550 to $1,200, according to a UBS estimate.

But buying a secondhand device is less straightforward than buying a new one. Here are some pointers: read more

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet

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Over on Reddit, a user recently asked for budgeting advice. After itemizing their current budget, the user was hoping to make cuts to their monthly spending and find a way to save more money.

The user said they brought in just over $3,300 in a month and spent about $2,600 on fixed costs, such as rent and insurance, along with line items for groceries and entertainment. The rest was for debt payment, leaving nothing for savings.

Applying the 50/30/20 budget — which suggests that 50% of take-home pay should go toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt payments beyond the minimums — the user was right on track, except for the savings and debt payments category.

Reddit responders had some good money-saving ideas, including switching to a cheaper cell phone plan and cutting back on extras, like car washes, electronics and fitness classes. read more

Regional carrier Silver Airways, which has been operating all year under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has acquired more cash and additional time to hammer out a reorganization plan and potentially find a buyer who can take over a company that has served Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean for more than a decade..

The Fort Lauderdale-based airline, whose Florida route network has diminished to five cities, filed its bankruptcy petition last Dec. 30 along with its subsidiary Seaborne Virgin Islands. Upon filing, Silver management penned an open letter to customers, saying “we anticipate completing this process by the first quarter of 2025.”

But the first quarter has come and gone, with no acquisition deals on the horizon. And absent an interested buyer, the airline has come under pressure from creditors who want to be paid for services rendered during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The case is assigned to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Peter Russin in Fort Lauderdale.

Since the filing, Silver’s fleet has been cut in half and its staff has declined from a little more than 600 people to 448, according to court records. And the U.S. Trustee’s Office, whose mission it is to protect creditor rights, has asked the judge to dismiss the case on the grounds that there are few signs that a reorganization can succeed. read more