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AACREDITUNION.ORG | 19 important things. "Make adjustments mid- month if you need to and then decide if you can keep things in check," he said. To do that, put the spending plan down in a digital spreadsheet, or on a piece of paper, or use one of the many financial planning apps available. Many experts recommend aggrega- tion services that bring all of your credit card and banking accounts into one place. Also, experts say your spending plan should have some flexibility for the unexpected, like a car repair. If you find the unexpected happens a lot, your spending plan should change. Rule No. 3: Keep your investments flowing — if you can afford to. A downturn can wreak havoc on the stock market. But advisors suggest that most people who have investments should keep them unless finances have gotten extremely tight. "The mar- ket, if you're properly diversified, always come back," he said. Still, for those in a cash crunch, who don't have an emergency fund that will cover six months of basic expenses, O'Connell Rodriguez says it might make sense "to temporarily scale back on retirement contributions to prioritize short- term savings." Rule No. 4: Consider a (very) rainy day plan. Because anyone's personal finances could take a hit during an unpredictable downturn, it makes sense to plan for worst-case scenarios, whether you think they're likely or not. "Make a list of difficult decisions you may have to consider in the case that you lose substantial income long- term," says Thomas Nitzsche of Money Management International, a nonprofit financial education organization. Rule No. 5: If cash is crunched, don't turn to debt unless you have to. "The last thing you want to be forced to do is to go into further debt if you don't have to," says Brittany Kline, who, along with her husband, runs The Savvy Couple, a financial site devoted to families. Still, if you must borrow to pay bills, consider taking a loan against your 401k, getting a personal loan, borrowing against the equity in your home, or, at least, looking for a credit card with a zero percent interest rate. Rule No. 6: Get (free) help if you need it. If you're having real trouble navigating the stormy seas of an economic downturn, there are options. Multiple new federal and state relief programs have been created in recent weeks, for instance. Also, many creditors offer hardship programs to borrowers. American Airlines Federal Credit Union offers financial advising services to mem- bers. During this uncertain time, the Credit Union has offered loan deferrals on all eligible consumer loan payments and emergency loans to help members with immediate needs. For more information, visit AACreditUnion.org or call (800) 533- 0035. JOSEPH GUINTO, a freelance writer in Washing- ton, D.C., saves money by making his own coffee at home in an Italian stovetop espresso maker.