As you follow your road map toward your housing recovery destination, you'll likely find that there are specific steps you can take to ensure a smooth journey. Among these are getting your financial house in order, which includes developing a family budget, dealing with credit issues, and developing a savings plan to give you a cushion when disaster strikes. All of these actions are part of the workout required to become financially fit so you can be prepared when disaster strikes and take the most direct route to recovery after the storm has passed.