If ever there was a time when you need a financial plan in your life, this may be it.Uncertainty over the domestic economy, your job may be on the line, your family may be under financial pressure, and you may be worried about your prospects for financial security.Unfortunately, there are three issues that could be holding you back from getting help or helping yourself:1. You may not be able to afford it.2. You've got various family members (as well as yourself) trying to make clear decisions about what to do and where to go. This is complex area requires experienced specific cross border planning specialists.3. And the last thing you need is financial planning help resulting only in a recommendation to purchase investments. That will not help you with immediate priorities such as controlling your cash and keeping your job.So, what do you do?Financial Planning for Good and Bad TimesYou can do basic planning for you and your family yourself. It requires time, common sense, cooperation from the family group, at least one goal for the future, and the personal will - sheer discipline - to get started.Access to a computer and the Internet are also extremely helpful, but not completely necessary. Those of you who had good money management parents, pull those lessons out of memory and use them.Our parents and grandparents never had the resources, financial assistance, and community support we can draw on today. They survived, so can you.Putting your thoughts together is the absolute toughest part, because it requires confronting reality head on. No one likes to cope with hurdles, stonewalls or any of life's complications. It is hard, but no harder than dealing with unanticipated life events.First Things First1. Motivation. Doing nothing is a choice. You may feel you have no control over your current situation, and have no resources to turn to. That is not true. You are the primary decision maker for yourself.Only you can decide where you will end up. Remember that.2. Raise Cash. Where are you financially? What have you saved?How much is accessible right now for emergencies, such as six months rent / mortgage / food.3. Control Outflow. Identify waste and all frivolous spending.List all of your must pay bills, both current and future. Don't forget annual items such as car licensing, personal life, tenant, house insurance, etc. If you are on financial survival mode - even if you aren't - use this as a starting point.Weigh the cost of every single bill and purchase. Ask: Do you absolutely need it?4. Reduce debt. Plan now to control it.Work with your loan officer, your family, credit union to restructure lending terms.Contrary to what has been stated in the press, debt, yours or the country, is not an investment in the future. It is a millstone around your neck, until you actually own the hopefully appreciating asset you bought with borrowed money.Ask: How many of your credit card purchases are worth more now than when you got them?5. Plan of Action for Contingencies and Opportunities. You are moving forward, you must be ready to take advantage of legitimate income producing opportunities that will benefit you in the future.6. Simplify your life. No one can cope with constant financial stress. Make it a priority to invest in you, rather than in things.See the link to the entire financial survival section http://www.marthamyron.com/Financial-survival.htmChange Your Social Life if it Interferes with Your PlanThis will require real courage on your part. It may be very difficult emotionally for you to do, but please don't make the mistake of spending to keep up appearances. Yes, I have had confidences shared where individuals have said, "My friends mustn't know that I am struggling financially."Trust me, they know already! You aren't fooling anyone.If they don't care enough about you to at least sympathize, you may find yourself acquiring a new set of friends.Constant socializing with those who still have money to burn may not be worth the sacrifice, while it could completely torpedo your plan. No matter the choice, do not let it affect your self esteem. There is no shame in being frugal and using your money wisely.Stay FocusedThere is no short term fix for your problem. Generally, there usually isn't any short term fix for anyone's long-term problem. But, you have to start to change your life now. Where do you think you will be in six months, a year, two, or three years?Note that once you have control of your finances, then you can consider working with a qualified professional. See the CFP website http://letsmakeaplan.org/Default.aspxFor readers who cannot afford professional support, you may send me your personal financial challenges in a fact pattern narrative to martha.myron[AT]gmail.com .Your confidential matters will be treated on a strict confidential basis with any identifying characteristics removed. Please note that depending upon the response and interest, I may reserve the right to select certain case fact patterns over others.Sources for Additional MotivationGeneration X Finance http://genxfinance.com/ is an interesting website geared toward younger individuals. It contains several interesting areas including frugal living.Focused on the US market, there are some areas on the site that will not apply to Bermuda residents.The Financial Times http://www.ft.com/intl/personal-finance/money-matters has a section on personal finance that may be helpful to those more focused on the United Kingdom and Europe. Again, some sections on UK tax law may not apply.Financial SurvivalMoneywise:Bermuda, or www.marthamyron.com typed into Google search engine will bring you to Moneywise: Bermuda help page on financial survival, or link to it here http://www.marthamyron.com/Financial-survival.htmI have launched a non profit financial planning website www.marthamyron.com (a work in progress on my long standing personal mission for financial education) for Bermuda residents, Bermuda multinationals with other countries, and international citizens.Bermuda residents live in a complex constantly changing financial environment in the midst of the North Atlantic Quadrangle, touched by many jurisdictions, subject to accommodating outside rules and regulations within our domestic financial atmosphere.The site will also carry the best of the Royal Gazette Personal Finance Moneywise articles written since the year 2000.Warning: the www.marthamyron.com website contains original intellectual source documentation intended for educational purposes only. All original content materials are protected under Bermuda and international copyright laws. Any use of these materials for commercial use without express permission of the author, Martha Harris Myron, is strictly prohibited.Martha Myron, JP CPA CFP(US) TEP is an international Certified Financial PlannerT practitioner in private wealth management.She specializes in independent fee-only cross border investment, tax, estate, and strategic retirement planning services for Bermuda residents with United States and multi-national connections, and US citizens living and working abroad. She is a Masters in Law candidate in International Tax and Financial Planning and the Bermuda country contact at the American Citizens Abroad Tax Advisory Council. www.americansabroad.orgFor more information, contact 296 3528 at Patterson Partners Ltd.