Sometimes we find there is nothing we can do when we have financial trouble. Our jobs are not paying us enough to cover expenses, we have cut every luxury we can, and still our credit scores are edging into bad territory. Are there things you can do? The answer is yes. Follow this checklist to see if you have tried everything and chances are you will find something you haven't thought of.

- Refinance your home to lower your monthly payment.

- Consolidate your loans into one monthly payment.

- Sign up for automatic payments with your loan companies, especially student loans. Often they lower your interest rate a little.

- Place your student loans on deferment for a few months to get ahead.

- Consolidate your student loans if you have not done so.

- Cancel your Internet.

- Cancel your cable or satellite.

- Create a budget.

- Do not eat out. Eat leftovers.

- Only go to the grocery store once a week on your way home from work.

- Plan your meals and stick to the plan.

- Do not drive excessively. Do all your errands at one time when you are already out.

- Obtain a home equity loan to help reduce your expenses.

- If you are renting look into mortgages. You may find you can have less monthly payments with a mortgage.

- If renting and a mortgage will not work- move. You may have to go to a less than desirable part of town or seek a small place, but you can find lower rent.

- Seek a rental that includes all expenses such as electric, heat, water, sewer, and even cable.

- Sell that extra car and carpool or ride the bus.

There are many things you can do to help reduce your monthly expenses and save your credit score. While you may not think it is worth the sacrifices keep in mind that if you take a year out of your life with a reduction in expenses and find a way to save a little money the market can change where it is possible to get an even better mortgage with your saved credit or you can get a better car loan on a newer vehicle because you saved your credit and the market shifted.