 TITLE: Should I Use Home Equity for a Financial Emergency? CONTENT: When Should You Avoid Using Home Equity?\n----------------------------------------\nNot every uncomfortable financial scenario is an emergency. Here are some examples of when you should reconsider pursuing any of the home equity draining options:\n*   You can wait. Ask yourself if you can delay the purchase or the bill. If you can, save for what you need instead.\n*   The thing you want isn't that important. Vacations, cellphone upgrades, holiday gifts and the like are wonderful, but are not worth tapping your home's equity for.\n*   It puts your home at risk. It is crucial that you assess the feasibility of new payments. If you can't make them easily, and over the long term, stop.\n*   The fees are too high. If your credit scores are on the low side, a prohibitive interest rate or fees could do more harm than good. END