What do you do when you're in a money situation where you realize that your income this payday isn't going to be enough to cover all of your expenses? Maybe you had a few unpaid days off due to an illness, or you had a shortage of work that is going to leave you a little light in the wallet, and now you're faced with a bit of a dilemma. What are your options, when you don't have anything extra in your savings or checking accounts, and your relationship with the bank isn't exactly stellar?

Well, you could contact some of your creditors and ask them for bit of leniency, but in most cases, they're going to frown on your request. You might be able to waive a car payment, or just ask to pay that month's interest if it will help you stay in their good graces, but you might be looking for other solutions in the short term, just to help you through a "tough stretch". Credit card cash advances are another option, but again, if credit is a factor, or you're already at your credit card limit, it's doubtful that you'll be able to get your limit raised unless you can prove that you have established a history of paying on time.

In these situations, you don't want to get yourself any deeper into debt, however, if the circumstance deems it appropriate, you could look into payday loans, cash advance, or short-term personal loans. You can certainly expect to pay a higher interest rate than you would if you were using your lending institution's overdraft service or even a line of credit, but when you weigh the differences between missing a payment with one of your current creditors and any service charges or fees that would accompany that missed payment, and the cost of securing cash through a personal loan, you might see the value in borrowing a little bit of money to help you get by.

In any financial circumstance, it's always wise to do your homework, and if possible, consult with a financial planner or a consolidation professional. They'll likely be able to provide you with a financial course of action that can assist you with your debt management.