Suze Orman is taking her Recession Rescue Plan straight to the top.

Oprah may be keen to Orman’s five-steps, but we think she’s giving a lot of issues short shrift. Speaking as FiLife’s resident Susie, our guide is a more comprehensive Family Finance rescue. And you don’t even have to buy a book.

Even the smallest decisions can have a big impact these days. So, we’ve broken down family needs into smaller categories with information on how to tackle each problem spot.

Let's face the music, and the money, and mend your family’s finances.

Budgeting: Getting Your Basic Expenses in Order

The Basics
There's no telling when the economy will start to improve. You still need to protect your family’s finances for rough times. There really is something to budgeting, as many people have found out. The job market is still unsteady, so an emergency fund is essential for potential job loss, or any other financial disasters. Keep your important documents in order along with your financials.

Home Expenses
If your TV and phone bills get overwhelming, don’t give up – ask for a discount. The Wall Street Journal took your five most common household bills and tested the water to see how much of a discount you can get by negotiating with your provider. In addition to negotiating, look for deals. Little savings add up, and checking out new websites designed to help you save can add up big time. Did you know going green can help your wallet as much as the environment? Having the right insulation will save you big – and may even get you a tax break.

Play With Your Food (Costs)
Go online to find grocery store coupons, manufacturer’s sites, as well as restaurant sites for discounts on meals. Try to cut your food bills by using coupons, packing a lunch, cooking at home, or only drinking water when you eat out. Don’t get caught in the trap of spending foolishly. If you break these habits, you’ll be able to save even more on your bill.

Kids and Saving Money
Kids are expensive, from birth through college. Here are some tips on getting prepared and saving money as your kids grow-up.

Costs of a New Baby
The costs of raising a child are high. Before the baby comes, follow these three essential pre-baby steps to make sure you’re prepared. We put together financial guide to having a baby here.

Take Care of the Kids
And you may not be able to stay home, but as budgets get tighter, many families employ day care help from relatives. Or if you are staying home with your kids, but have some free time, consider finding a flexible-staffing firm to make some money on the side. Start thinking early on about how to guide your child on spending and teach them to be financially smart.

College Saving and Loans
When it comes to college, make sure to have a saving strategy. Try starting a 529 as early in your child's life as possible. These college savings funds provide good tax benefits. When college draws near, exhaust all your options before applying for private loans. Turn to relatives, apply for as many grants and scholarships as possible, and fill out the FASFA early.  If you do need to take out a student loan, then check out these tips for finding one during the credit crunch. 

College Costs
Choosing a college can bring up a difficult question – do you focus on the right school, or the right cost? You might expect the cost of covering tuition and books when you send your child off to college, but you should also know about these additional expenses. Keep in mind the new income-based federal student loan repayment plan. Don’t forget to remind your child to make the most of their summers during college.

Post-College
Sending the kids off to college is no longer a permanent send off. Many choose to return home to save money and parents are welcoming them back. Some parents are even going to extra mile and paying for their children to get access to great internships. Others might consider helping their child with their down payment or gaining ownership of their first home. Just make sure to set ground rules so a temporary stay to become financially stable doesn’t become a long-term stay.

Borrowing Money From Family
Borrowing from and lending to family and friends can lead to tricky situations. Here's some advice on ways to take out a "family" loan. Peer-to-peer lending is a way for borrowers to get loans from peers, relatives or even strangers. As credit and lending practices get tighter, P2P loans are an option.

Family Discussions of Finance
Talking about money is no longer taboo - in fact, it's a necessity these days.

Teach Kids About Money
Make sure your kids learn the basics, and teach them about delaying gratification, slowing spending, and making wish lists. Give them ownership over their money decisions and let them make their first banking mistakes with you as the lender. Or get them involved with any programs your bank has for kids to start learning early. Kids love camps, so consider a camp that’ll return a money-savvy child after the summer. If that’s not in the budget, consider these free and cheap ways to have fun with your kids during the summer heat.

Talk to Family
Consider family gatherings – yes, even the holidays – as a great opportunity to open the discussion about family finances. It may be scary to bring up, but make sure you discuss the possibility of losing your job and the plan to handle it. Try encouraging your family members to follow these 10 ways to curb family spending. Also, it’s never too early to start explaining the importance of retirement savings to your children.

Take Care of Your Parents
Your parents took care of you for yearsand there will come a time where you'll return the favor. Starting the conversation may not be natural, but you need to know what to ask your parents to make sure they’re covered. Do your parents need their life insurance policy? Figure out what the best option is: keep the policy, let it lapse, sell it for an accelerated benefit or sell it for a life settlement. When setting up long-term care, consider getting the family involved by using a caregiver agreement.

Vacations Are Still Possible
Now more than ever taking a break from stress is a great idea - just be more budget conscious when you figure out your vacation plan. Consider renting a vacation home to save money, and don’t forget to look for last minute deals. Staying closer to home and finding cheap entertainment are some of a few ways to vacation for less. Or just go on a family road trip to somewhere near or far.

Pet Care
Any pet owner will tell you their pet is a part of the family, so make sure you take care of them too. Springing for pet insurance may save you big expenses in the long run. You might even consider putting your pets in your will, if you’re worried no one else will be around to look after them once you’re gone.