Bear necessities: here are the right ways to shore up your finances for rougher times.(Your Money)(Column)

If the long economic expansion lulled you into some free-spending ways, you need look no further than the losses on your most recent retirement-fund statement to know that the freewheeling good times have hit a rocky patch. It's hard to predict what the economy might toss our way next, but whether we're in for a protracted slump or a short slowdown, now would be a good time to rein in spending, whittle down debt, and build a cash cushion.

Just a few smart moves can go a long way toward boosting your budget or bolstering your balance sheet. But, as this report will explain, some common belt-tightening tactics can turn what might appear to be an ideal tonic for ...