You have to start planning when you?re on top of your game and adopt the attitude that you are being groomed for greater things. Even if you think your effort is not being noticed, go the extra mile anyway. When your superiors get around to looking at your performance, you will stand out from the crowd.

Make sure you keep a well documented portfolio of your achievements. If you receive praise from your boss for a project, get him to commit that to writing. The same applies if a client has been impressed with your services. Keep notes of when you introduced a cost saving measure or helped the company achieve a goal ? everything counts. So even if you don?t hold onto your current job, you will have a lot to offer your next employer.

Finances

You are going to have to rein in the spending for a while. Tell your family what has happened and ask for their help in terms of keeping expenses at bay. Click here for tips on convincing a spendthrift partner to rein in his or her spending.

If you have a lot of bills to pay, you should phone your creditors and explain the situation.

Try not to borrow more money. Trevor Manuel once said, "I have never met anyone who has borrowed his or her way out of debt." Most creditors are more likely to be lenient if you tell them about your problems up front. Frugality is the key to keeping your head above water, so stop all non-essential spending and pull in the reins for a while.

Click here for the latest articles on being frugal and making ends meet.

Early retirement

If you are in your fifties, the prospect of an early retirement package may initially look appealing. The sad truth is that most 50-year-olds are seriously under funded for their retirement. Many individuals who have taken 'packages' have found themselves back in the job market five years later.

The job prospects for a 55-year-old are not very promising and they often have to accept positions far below their skill levels. If you are offered early retirement, it is vital to use the services of an independent financial planner to ascertain if you can afford to retire. He or she will be able to tell you how much money you will need for the next twenty to thirty years.

Sometimes the choice is not yours and you are forced into early retirement without having saved enough money. This makes it essential to find another job and become extremely proactive about saving and investing. The days of exotic holidays and a new car every three years are over (click here to learn why smart money buys used).

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