It's been 30 years since the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority (ESHA) built brand new homes on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, the seventh largest Indian reservation in the country. 

A good budget can help when the unexpected occurs. But when you suddenly lose income, as many families have in recent months, a budget becomes even more important.

"Budgets change all the time," says Molly Barackman-Eder, senior manager in financial capability at NeighborWorks America. "If you've had a change in income, this is a good time to think about a budget as an organizing tool."