New Century Financial Corp. (OTC: NEWC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, and is eliminating half its workforce (3,200 jobs). The shares traded down to $0.90 today, after starting the year above $30 per share.

New Century is one of the largest victims of the down-turn in the subprime lending industry, which has collapsed with the housing slowdown. Subprime lenders make high-interest loans to borrowers with bad credit or no credit, and the industry soared during the booming real estate market. But with the real estate market softening, and default rates climbing, the idea of lending money to people who can't afford to pay it back doesn't look quite as smart as it once did.

Earlier today, I wrote about concerns that the subprime crisis could spill over into other sectors. It remains to be seen how effectively this crisis will be contained, but if the concerns of some analysts come to fruition, retailers like Wal-Mart could find themselves in a lot of trouble.

However, I have some ideas for companies that could benefit from tough time for lower-income folks. These may seem like predatory investments but, if it hurts your conscience, you can always donate a portion of your proceeds to charity. If working people are having a hard time paying the bills, they may turn to payday lenders. Although the industry faces increasing regulatory scrutiny, here are some stocks in the industry:

Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CSH)

EZCorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: EZPW)

Advance America, Cash Advance Centers (NYSE: AEA)