Being furloughed can feel like the ground shifted overnight. Paychecks pause, but essentials keep coming—rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities, insurance. This guide walks you through practical steps to steady your budget, talk to providers about temporary relief, and—if you choose—how to explore small‑dollar personal loan options up to $5,000 through WeFixMoney’s lender network. What a furlough means for your finances A furlough is a temporary, unpaid leave. Income dips or pauses, yet recurring bills continue. The goal is to stretch cash, reduce required payments where possible, and avoid late fees or service interruptions while you await a return to work. Step 1: Triage your expenses List every bill due in the next 30–60 days. Mark each as Essential , Flexible , or Can Defer . Essential: housing, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, medications. Flexible: phone plans, streaming, subscriptions (pause or downgrade). Can Defer: discretionary sp...