As the economy continues to fall and jobs and homes are lost, many people feel their only option is to file a personal bankruptcy and start over. But starting over without a home or means of income is hard and sometimes impossible.

Too often in a personal financial crisis bankruptcy is considered a first option instead of a last option. Filing for bankruptcy will solve some of your financial burden, but it will not help your financial future. There are many other options to consider before this drastic step.

You may not like the options, but if you want to keep your home you need to be more creative and flexible in your lifestyle. These options are only a temporary solution until finances are better and the economy improves. Your future will always involve changes so don't feel this is the rest of your financial life.

Don't wait until you are so far behind in payments you will never catch up. One of the first options you need to consider before you lose your job is refinancing your home for a lower interest rate and lower payments. If you purchased your home while at peak prices this is a great time to refinance for a much better loan rate.

You can check through your current loan company or bank about qualifying for a much better loan program than you have now. They will be able to take you through all the steps before your credit becomes an issue or you lose your job. Don't wait if this is an option.

Check with family, friends, loan companies or any of your investments you can cash out and pay off your credit cards, other bills and catch up any home loan payments that are behind. You can write up basic agreements with friends and family for a repayment program starting now or within the next year.

No matter what size home you own you can find room for an extra family member or friend. Condense space by moving your office into your own bedroom or a corner or closet in the living room. Have children double up in bedrooms so one of two extra rooms can be left free for other uses.

Pass the word to among family and friends you are willing to take on house mates for a while. With the amount of rent they pay for sharing your home will help to keep the mortgage payments paid and pay off credit cards or build your savings. This money will save your home and your financial future if you spend wisely.

You may not like the idea of a roommate, but we are talking about saving your family home and not having to become a family of house mates to someone else if you are forced from your own home. You can set guidelines and rules for living together. You will have to adjust to other people living within your home, but at least you won't lose the home.

Use this time to bond with family and friends. You can learn to be flexible as well as forgiving of others. You will also learn there is much you do they will forgive you for. Just remember house mates are a temporary solution to a financial crisis and helps to secure the future you will once again have if you just keep doing what you need to do to survive.