• File for unemployment insurance. Don't wait until you need the money. Lots of other people are filing for unemployment now, so there may be delays in processing claims, says Barbara Kate Repa, an attorney at HR One, a human-resources Web site.

• Change your tax withholding. If you're married and your spouse is working, adjust withholding on that paycheck to reduce the amount of tax withheld. With only one wage earner in the family, you'll probably fall into a lower tax bracket, so it's unlikely you'll end up owing the IRS.

Your spouse may also want to temporarily reduce or stop 401(k) contributions, which will increase take-home pay.

• Make sure you have health insurance. If your spouse is working, you may be able to join his or her plan. If that's not an option, and your company won't continue your coverage, you may have to pick up the cost yourself.

Under federal legislation known as COBRA, your employer must allow you to continue medical coverage for at least 18 months. COBRA (for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) is expensive: For a family, the bill can exceed $600 a month. But the alternative is worse. If you drop your coverage and become ill while you're out of work, you may not be able to get insurance in the future. And if you or someone in your family requires major medical care while you're uninsured, the costs could bankrupt you.

What to do over the next few weeks

• Prioritize your bills. Mortgage and utilities should be paid first. If you fall behind on your mortgage, you could face late fees or even the loss of your home.

• Manage your debt. If money is tight, you may need to make just the minimum monthly payments on your credit cards until you get back to work.

If that's a problem, try to negotiate a payment plan with your creditors. They may be willing to reduce your minimum payments or waive interest until you're back to work.

A credit counselor may also be able to help. Call the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at (800)388-2227 or visit www .nfcc.org, to find a counselor in your area.

• Review your insurance policies. Contact the insurer if you're having trouble paying premiums. Some companies will give you a 30-day grace period, Stives says.

Avoid canceling your life insurance. If you let your policy lapse, resuming coverage later could cost more. You'll probably have to undergo a medical exam, and you could be denied coverage if the physical reveals health problems.

• Look for sources of short-term cash. If you have a permanent life insurance policy, also known as whole life, you may be able to borrow against it. Some company pensions also allow you to borrow against your plan. Check your pension plan or talk to your former employer's human-resources department for more information.

Once you leave your job, you can't borrow against your 401(k) plan. But if your spouse is still working and has a 401(k), you may be able to borrow from that plan.

• Avoid taking money out of your 401(k) or individual retirement accounts. You'll have to pay taxes on money taken out, plus a 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty if you're younger than 59 1/2.>Selling stocks or funds in a non-retirement investment portfolio won't trigger those penalties, but it involves other issues. Most stocks and funds have lost money this year, so you'll probably end up selling at a loss. If you really need the money and have exhausted other options, sell judiciously, Stives suggests.

For example, you might consider selling only half the shares in a particular stock or fund. That way, you'll still be in a position to benefit if the investment turns around.

• Give yourself a break. Many workers blame themselves for layoffs, even though the job cuts had nothing do with their performance. Kristen Payne, 36, says she was "beyond depressed" several years ago when her employer, a Houston-based Internet start-up company, let her go because it wasn't making enough money.