Retirement fund managers report a disturbing uptick in the number of employees borrowing against their 401(k)s or taking hardship withdrawals.

Dipping into retirement accounts should be a last resort for any reason.

But there's a growing worry that desperate homeowners are using the money to keep up with rising mortgage payments. Their adjustable-rate loans reset to higher interest rates and their paychecks can't cover that and all of their other living expenses.

For many workers, retirement accounts are their only significant savings. It's hard to focus on the future when you're in danger of losing your house today.

The danger is that you'll spend all of your retirement savings and still face foreclosure if you don't do something to bring your spending in line with your income.

If you have to tap your retirement funds to keep up with your bills, consider it to be a short-term fix that buys no more than a couple of months to get professional help and make some serious changes in your personal finances.

Here's where to find a good credit counselor.