Foreclosures, layoffs, recession…The news is not good about the economy.

As much as you might think it's all out of your control, there are some smart money moves you can make. This economy has hit Quentin Thomas harder than most.

"I've lost a job and been laid off 3, 4 times now," Quentin says.

He's working two jobs these days to make sure his bills get paid. But that's not all he's doing to stay on top of things.

"I went ahead and sold off a motorcycle. I sold off different portions of furniture, and then, finally i went ahead and rented out my house," he adds.

He downsized, and is doing all the right stuff, according to money guru Sheyna Steiner. She writes for bankrate.com, and says the easiest move to make is to grab a pen and paper and start writing.

"Write down everything you spend your money on so that you can see exactly where your money's going and also decide what's a want and what's a need," Steiner explains.

This is the time to eliminate the wants, so you can cover your needs. Then look at the interest you're paying on the car, the house, and the credit cards. Try to refinance all of it to lower rates.

"If you're spending 18% on a credit card and you could get a 5.9% credit card, you're gonna save money every month and you'll also see your balance go down faster," Steiner says.

Just make sure the closing costs to refinance the house or car are something you can afford.

Another way to save--see whether you're giving too much to Uncle Sam.

"The average tax refund is about $2,000. It's a lot of money…you're lending the money to the government. Change your withholding so you're just paying them exactly what you need to," Steiner points out.

Another expense that's easy to save on is gas. Find a carpool buddy, and plan out your errands so you're not driving back and forth. On the job front, it doesn't hurt to make sure your boss knows how valuable you are…but if you're feeling insecure, look around for other options.

"Maybe update the resume. Start looking anonymously on job message boards," Steiner suggests.

"My situation has been drastically better now with my second job," Quentin admits.

Steiner says you also should be sure to save a little of each check for those surprise expenses. She says what used to be considered unexpected emergencies should absolutely be expected, and if you're saving a little bit, you'll be ready when they hit.