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Sometimes a family or individual can't help but feel a little short on cash. Unfortunately, when things feel tight, the bills don't stop coming. It's still important that you keep up with your mortgage payments. Here are a number of measures you might consider taking to relieve some of the pressure:
- Create a budget showing income and expenses and stick to it
- Review your budget and eliminate unnecessary items
- Pay only for the phone service you need
- Cancel your cable subscription temporarily
- Identify ways to conserve energy both in your home and automobile (carpool or take public transportation)
- Stop buying luxury items or services you can live without
Not only can you help yourself out by saving money each month, but you might also be able to increase your income. There are a number of things that individuals may be able to do to bring in some extra money without having to take on another job. These strategies include but are not limited to:
- Collecting federal and state benefits if you're eligible
- Claiming the earned income tax credit if you're eligible
- Stoping all voluntary deductions being taken out of your paycheck
- Selling unnecessary property or investments
Taking some of these measures could prevent you from falling into default on your loan. These few minor sacrifices are nothing compared to the ultimate sacrifice: the roof over your head. Sometimes all it takes to stay out of foreclosure is foresight, knowledge, and planning. There are many free online budget planning tools that may help you map the best plan for you. Simply type "budget planning tools" into a common search engine to find one that might work for you. | 
