As the economy slides into recession, more and more Americans will find themselves dealing with the nightmare of foreclosure. Don't be one of them.

If you find yourself behind on payments, here are eight things you can do to keep your home during these tough economic times.

Do Not Use a Foreclosure Prevention Company: Paying a third party to talk to your bank is unnecessary. If it looks like you might not be able to make your payment, talk to your bank yourself. Use the money you would have spent on a prevention company to pay your mortgage. If you are behind on your mortgage payment, call your lender and ask for the Loss Mitigation Department. Ask this department if they will re-amortize your payments and add in the missed payments you are trying to correct.

Be Proactive: Ignoring your debt is no way to deal with it. As the amount of payments you are behind increases, so does the likelihood of foreclosure. Talk to your bank, and the sooner, the better.

Sacrifice And Liquidate: Vehicles, electronics, antiques and jewelry all have cash value that can be used to keep your home out of foreclosure. A willingness to part with personal possessions for the sake of your home may also reflect positively on you with your lender.

Do Not Avoid Your Lender: Whether by mail, telephone or email, correspondence from your lender should always be dealt with immediately. Always know what is going on and do not be blindsided by avoiding your lender. Communication is key to avoid foreclosure.

Prioritize: Your home is one of the most important expenses you have. It should take precedent over luxuries such as cable and eating out. Make a list of your expenses and arrange them by cost and importance so you can streamline your budget and avoid foreclosure.

Educate Yourself: Just as there are laws that require you to pay your lender, so are there laws that protect you. These laws vary from state to state, and knowing what rights you have will help you avoid foreclosure.

Ask HUD for Help: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides low-cost, possibly free, counseling regarding all aspects of home ownership. If you find the laws that regulate your mortgage confusing, or feel as though you have run out of options, HUD can help.

Beware Of Con Artists: Perhaps the only way to lose your home that is worse than foreclosure is by losing it to a swindler. If you are not 100 percent certain that you understand something, do not sign anything and consult your attorney.