When Congress reformed bankruptcy laws two years ago, its aim was to crack down on those who were using bankruptcy as an easy way to escape their debts. As the risk of financial distress rises with the gearing ratio shareholders (and lenders) demand an increasing return in compensation. On the other hand, some definitions are so restrictive that they miss a large group of people we’d commonly think of as in distress. Financial distress happens to everyone, and the important thing is to keep calm and know what your options are. If you have a financial emergency that you need to get taken care of quickly, there are several things you can do – you can try credit cards, but their interest rates get ridiculous and you never know when they will slash your limits. There are also instant payday loans – and just like credit cards, they aren't intrinsically evil and have to be used with caution and restraint. Payday lenders can act faster than a bank can, need usually less paperwork and no collateral or credit check.