While millions of people continue to lose their homes, there are resources and strategies available such as a mortgage loan modification, that can help with foreclosure and prevent the worst case scenario. While the outrageous foreclosure statistics do not take into account the number of people who are purposefully losing their homes because they are upside down (their house was purchased for more than it is worth today), there are still millions of people being affected by the economy and not sure where to turn.

If, for any reason, you are having trouble making your mortgage payment, talk to your bank. The last thing they want to do is to go through the foreclosure process and take your home away from you. Banks are not in the real estate business, and they currently own millions of homes that were foreclosed on. For that reason alone, banks are willing to help with foreclosure and are can be flexible.

• Resource 1: Mortgage Loan Modification

A mortgage loan modification is simply the process of renegotiating your current contract with the bank. It can be a relatively quick and painless way to have your mortgage payments lowered by either reducing your interest rate or stretching your loan out an additional 10 years, for example. You can even negotiate to have the total amount you own on your home reduced.

In many cases, a homeowner may be unable to make their mortgage payment because they are facing temporary financial hardship and just needs a little relief. A mortgage loan modification can reduce those payments to a manageable level. See if you qualify for a mortgage loan modification.

When all else fails, you still don’t want to lose your house. Not only does that leave a major scar on your credit, but it could have very emotional consequences as well. Filing for bankruptcy is not particularly the best strategy either, since that can damage your credit just as bad. You may want to consider other debt-relief options though…

• Resource 2: Instant Debt Reduction

The same process of negotiating with your banks to lower your monthly mortgage payment can be applied to other debts you may be carrying. Credit card companies would rather negotiate your debts in order to get some money from you than nothing. Similarly, you can consolidate your bills in order to reduce your overall payment. The only danger here is that if you’ll have one bill a month rather than multiple bills — which is a benefit to many people. See if you qualify for debt reduction.

Before getting forced out of your home if you are having trouble making payments, try going the mortgage loan modification and debt reduction route to see if you are able to reduce your monthly overhead expenses and stay in your home.

Money issues are among the top problems in marriages, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s tough to get two people to agree on pizza toppings, let alone the best way to spend money.  And for some people, marriage and money is a sensitive subject.  However uncomfortable, though, it’s necessary to keep money issues out in the open, not just to avoid fights, but to be prepared for the future.

Let’s get the negative side out of the way.  Be open about your credit score and current debt before entering the marriage.  Many couples have divorced after discovering their spouse had unmanageable debt, or been denied a home loan because one spouse didn’t tell the other about their bad credit until the moment they were denied.  Lies in a marriage are always a bad idea, but lies about money (especially by omission) can be disastrous to both your financial future and your marital union.

Were you to divorce, the only way you could be held responsible for your spouse’s bad debt is if it’s tied to a joint account.  Even if a judge rules that your ex must pay off the debt, the creditors are not bound by that ruling-they can still come after you.

On a more positive note, when it comes to marriage and money, marry you want to be prepared for your future together.  You should know about any pensions, 401(k) accounts, Social Security benefits, IRAs, investments, etc.  Keep record of wills and trusts, and make sure you understand how your spouse’s health and life insurance policies operate when the time comes for you to use them.  You don’t want to be stuck because of a technicality or small loophole you didn’t know about.

You also want to make sure you have power of attorney for each other when it comes to marriage and money, in the event that one of you must be declared unfit to make decisions about your health or finances.

If your spouse owns a business, you want to know all about the loan-terms, amount, current status, etc.  If the business isn’t profitable enough to pay back the loan, you personal assets may be on the line.

Talk about your financial dreams as well.  Where do you envision yourself in five or ten years?

• Does one or both of you want to start a business?
• Be self-employed?
• Go back to school?
• Buy a bigger house or take a month-long vacation to travel Europe?

Whatever your goals are, talk about them together so you can plan together.  You don’t want the spender to constantly use up the savings, but you also don’t want the saver to prevent any of the goals from being reached by refusing to spend.  If your goals differ, figure out a plan that will allow you both to be happy and financially successful.

Have talks on a regular basis about your marriage and money.  Any untruths can be harmful, but lying about the cost of a new pair of shoes or a car stereo system is different than lying about enormous credit card debt health coverage.  Of course the small lies can have negative side effects, but leaving larger issues hidden can have severe side effects.

If money talks generally lead to arguments regardless of the topic, consider involving a professional consultant.  Not tackling the little issues now will lead to larger issues later that could put you deep in debt, break up your marriage, or both.

You’re one of the unfortunate people left without a job in the current economy, and you’ve heard that there are a lot of jobs in government right now as part of Obama’s stimulus package.  These jobs have quite a few advantages, but before you apply, make sure you’re getting into it for the right reasons.

Do You Meet Job in Government Requirements?

The unemployment rate is absurdly high right now, so even with all the job openings, there will be hundreds or thousands of people applying for the same position.  You’re applying to work for the entire country, essentially, and to be paid with taxpayer money.  If you don’t meet all or at least the vast majority of the requirements listed, stop right here.  Whereas private employees may be willing to take a chance on someone who doesn’t fit all the requirements but shows promise due to other experience, the government has too many applicants and no time or money to waste on someone who “might” be able to do the job.

If you know you’re a good fit, make sure your resume stands out.  For example, can your abilities be identified quickly and easily?  Once in the interview, be ready to prove your experience with PAR stories-explain a problem you encountered, the approach you decided on, and the final resolution and tangible results.  You’ll need to be extra-impressive.

Advantages of Getting a Job in Government

Jobs in government come with great benefits.  You’ll have good work hours, and if you do end up with overtime, you’re sure to be compensated for it.  You’ll have off on all the national holidays-no more jealousy towards the postal workers for having off to “celebrate” Columbus Day.  You can take comfort knowing your job is secure.  You don’t have to worry about your employer shutting down if they don’t make a profit-you’re being paid by taxpayers.  There’s also no need to worry about losing your job due to a merger, or your job being sent overseas to cheaper laborers.  You can also take pride knowing that your job directly or indirectly impacts your fellow citizens and their well-being.

Disadvantages of Getting a Job in Government

However, you’ll have to be comfortable following strict procedures to the letter, even if you disagree with them or think you know of a better way to do something.  Once elected officials change, their rules and procedures may change, too, and you’re expected to go along with it.  The new official may think less of your department or change a perfectly good procedure, but there will be little for you to do about it.  The road to change from your end will be long and filled with hierarchy.  On the same note, promotions and the recognition you crave may be few and far between.

If the advantages outweigh the potential disadvantages for you and you are eager for a job in government, there are many fields available, and you’ll likely find something in your own community, as not all the jobs are in D.C.  The government is looking for people to work in renewable energy, the environment, IT experts, financial experts, and people who understand Middle Eastern culture and language.  Polish off your resume and get going!