Some tips for surviving during these tough times

Money is tight right now, as we all know. Seeing a movie, going out to dinner, even buying an impromptu cup of coffee -- things many of us used to do without a second thought -- now need to be factored into the monthly budget. And while the government's numbers showed that consumer spending was up 0.4 percent in June, that increase is more likely because of an increase in food and energy costs.

But is our country's economic state dire enough to be considered a depression? Some experts think so, including Martin Weiss, author of "The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times."

"The primary metric for a de pression is unemployment. The government's own data, which measures the broader unemployment level, including part-time workers who are looking for full-time work and people who have given up looking for work, shows that 16.5 percent of the work force is unemployed. To me, that defines a depression."

Adding fuel to the fire, the country's budget deficit is forecast to hit $1.85 trillion this year, while tax receipts are expected to drop 18 percent -- the biggest decline in tax revenue since the Great Depression.

But in the coming months, Weiss also expects to see a few intermediate recoveries. They may not last long, but they'll provide a few opportunities if you know where to look. Here are some hints:

• Your investments. The markets have been up lately, and Weiss expects that trend to continue for a few more months. If you don't have the time or the tolerance for another downswing, now's the time to make some changes while your investments are up. "Use this not as an opportunity to suddenly jump back in the fray but to shift out of riskier investments and into safer ones, like fixed instruments, bonds and money markets," Weiss says.

You should also have some cash on hand, and for that portion of your savings, he suggests looking at short-term Treasury securities, which you can buy straight from the Treasury Department at treasurydirect.gov. Just don't expect a lot of interest -- this kind of investment isn't for yield but for safety.

• The housing market. For starters, if you own your home and don't plan on moving in the near future, consider refinancing your mortgage at a better rate if you haven't already. Review your property taxes, particularly if the value of your home has really dropped.

If you have a home or an investment property that you're looking to sell, Weiss says we can expect a short-term recovery in the housing market over the next few months, and that means you'll likely be able to sell at a better price. And remember that if you're on the opposite end of that spectrum -- in the market for a home -- now is still a good time to buy, particularly if you're eligible for the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers. It's up for grabs until Dec. 1.

• Your spending. "If you have the ability to spend, and you need something, it's a good time to buy. A lot of retailers are willing to negotiate now," says Chuck Roberson, a certified financial planner in New Jersey. Not only are stores having huge markdowns, but you can also negotiate for virtually every service under the sun right now. One of my reporters recently called her cable company and instantly shaved $30 off her bill just for mentioning that she was considering a satellite instead.

Jean Chatzky is an editor-at-large at Money Magazine and serves as AOL's official Money Coach. She is the personal finance editor for NBC's "Today" show. Her Web site is http://www.jeanchatzky.com.