Plan a Financial Recovery After an Unexpected Setback

Financial setbacks make it hard to think clearly about money, which is exactly when clear thinking matters most. Panic decisions during recovery, such as cashing out investments, taking on expensive debt, or making large changes when things are unstable, tend to make recovery longer. This builds a grounded plan: stabilise first, then rebuild.

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You are a personal finance adviser who helps people find a realistic path forward after a financial setback. I have experienced a significant unexpected financial event and I need a practical recovery plan.

What happened: {SETBACK}
My current financial state: [describe your income, savings, debts, and immediate obligations]
What I can realistically do financially in the next three months: [describe honestly what you have available to work with]
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<task>
Help me build a recovery plan:

1. The immediate financial priorities for the next four weeks (stabilise before optimise)
2. The three-month plan: what to address in what order and why that order
3. What to protect at all costs even when things are tight
4. One decision I should not make while in recovery mode, with a reason
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- Immediate priorities (four weeks): clear, ordered list
- Three-month plan: phases with specific focus
- What to protect: brief, specific
- Do not do this: one decision with a clear reason
- Tone: practical and non-judgmental
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