Under any circumstances, losing a job is seldom pleasant, but it doesn't have to spell financial disaster. Periods of unemployment are commonplace for many people, and most have to make adjustments as they go through a job transition.

That being said, given that the average length of unemployment is about 17 weeks, it's important to be prepared to make your money last until you find a new job — and to milk the last of those employee benefits and health insurance.

With a little financial planning, you can save enough money in your emergency fund to get you through a period of unemployment. And while some belt-tightening may be necessary, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality of life. By making smart spending decisions, you can live better on less. And you won’t even have to rack up credit card debt or ruin your credit score.

Taking simple steps like setting up a budget and getting your consumer debt under control will insure that your job transition goes as smoothly as possible.