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1. Job loss. When there's no demand for a product or service, employers have no choice but to find ways to cut back. People are, out of necessity, eating at home, and that puts a burden on everyone involved in the food industry. If you don't have customers, you don't need cooks or waiters. Likewise, if no one's buying cars, GM can't afford to keep making them.

2. Lack of savings. All these years we've known we should be creating a nest egg for rainy days. Well, folks, the rainy days are here. There are lots of people out there with books on how to get out of debt and save money, but Dave Ramsey is one of my favorites. He encourages making sacrifices to get out of debt and then creating an emergency savings account. How many people out there really have enough money to get by for three months? I hope you do. 3. Price increases. The price of just about everything is going up. Not only are we paying over $3.00 for gas, but that gas price is affecting groceries and everything else. A loaf of bread used to cost just over a dollar, and now it's about $2.49 at my local Kroger. I got all excited at Costco last week when I noticed they sell a package of two loaves for about the same price. That's where I'll be buying our bread from now on. You just can't afford to not be a wise shopper.

4. Too much debt. How do those credit card balances creep up on us like they do? It's so easy to flip out that card to buy the latest CD or DVD, or to take your family out to dinner, but if you don't pay the card's balance when the statement comes in, you're just asking for trouble. Before you know it, you've maxed out the card and more of your payment is going to interest than principal. Cut the cards in half and start using cash. I know that's hard when all of your cash goes to make those credit card payments, but if you ever want to get out of debt, you have got to stop charging.

So what can you do about it? Job insecurity, lack of savings, price increases, and too much debt? You might think it's just too overwhelming and want to throw up your hands and run. If so, you better watch out because you'd get trampled by everyone else in the same situation!

Don't despair. You do have options.

1. Maybe you have job security, and maybe you just think you do. I thought I had it six years ago, and boy, was I wrong. Maybe you're tired of your job anyway but just don't know what else you can do to help make ends meet. There are lots of ways to make money from home. Just do your research before you jump into anything that requires an investment that would take you years to recoup.

2. I hope you do have an emergency fund. If not, then start one today. If you find a way to work at home, use that money to pay off your debt first, and then let it accumulate in savings. You can't earn as much in savings and they're charging you in interest, so pay your debt first.

3. You can't do much about price increases, but if you think ahead, you may be able to buy now and pay less than you would 3, 6, or 12 months later for the same item. Stock up on food -- enough for at least a month, and even better, three months -- so your cupboards will be filled. You know you're always going to need to eat, and the way food prices are going up, if there's anything you can buy now, you'll save. Do NOT use your credit cards to buy the food. If you know your child is going to need supplies for basketball, soccer, or band, see if you can't buy ahead of time, or buy used. You may even consider pulling your child out of these activities for awhile. Spend more time at home as a family and see if that doesn't help your stress level in more ways than one.

4. If you're maxed out with your credit cards, consider switching to a zero interest loan if you don't have to pay interest for at least a year. If you follow Dave Ramsey's advice and put everything you've got into eliminating credit card debt, then at least you'll be paying on the principal and making a dent in that balance. Be sure to read the fine print before you transfer the balances. Whatever you do, stop charging. You're only digging a deeper hole if you do.

I'd like to give you a list of my favorite newsletters. Each one of these newsletters is published by an expert in the field of Personal Finances. I would strongly recommend that you consider subscribing to their newsletter because it would give you a much better insight into managing your money. If nothing else, visit their site and see what they have to offer.

The Budget Stretcher

http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/confirmsubs.html

Mommysavers http://mommysavers.com/boards/register.php

SavingAdvice http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/register.php

Prepare and Succeed http://www.prepareandsucceed.com

Counting the Cost http://www.countingthecost.com/subscribe.htm

All Things Frugal.com http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/pennypincher.htm

DebtSmart Email Newsletter https://www.debtsmart.com/secure/pages/freesubscription.html

MomsMenu News http://www.momsmenu.com/subscribe.shtml

There are solutions to your problems. Don't just give up. There is a way out. You just can't see it because you may be too far down in the hole. If you're just willing to do what you can to climb out, and you keep at it, you'll make it. You won't miraculously jump up and stand outside the hole tomorrow, but for every day you do something about it, you're working to stand on solid ground. Once you do, you may just be ready to extend a hand and help someone else.