 TITLE: What Happens if You Can’t Make Mortgage Payments During a Recession? CONTENT: Build a Budget and Consider Adjusting Your Spending Habits\n----------------------------------------------------------\nWhen you're juggling various financial worries during an economic downturn like a recession, it can be easy to overlook the need to create a household budget. But a budget can help you better navigate rough economic waters and can point you in the right direction when it comes to adjusting your spending habits.\nFortunately, it's pretty simple to set up a budget. Whether you use old-fashioned paper and pencil, a spreadsheet or a budget app, coming up with a budget enables you to:\n*   Examine your income and expenses\n*   Set financial goals (like saving money for retirement)\n*   Track and trim your spending\nPerhaps harder than creating a budget is sticking to it and adjusting your finances accordingly. Having a budget is all well and good, but if you're consistently blowing past your spending goals it's not going to help you make a difference in your savings. At the end of every month, compare your expenses with your budget and make the necessary hard decisions it'll take to cut back, or look for ways to increase your income. END