Remember, too, once this account is open, you can make small deposits year round, eliminating Christmas Crunch next year.

Pick up Some Extra Work Hours

Many businesses will need extra help as holidays arrive. You may be able to pick up some extra hours. Be sure to set aside any money saved so it doesn't slip through a hole in your pocket!

$1 Per Day Keeps Creditors Away

Don't forget 'Tuck $1-Per-Day-Into-an-Old Sock' method. If you have 110 days left, you'd have around $110 at $1 per day. Tucking away $2 per day will find you $220. $330 for $3 per day.

Re-think Buying Gifts This Year

Have you had a rough year financially? Do you owe on credit cards? Consider not buying gifts this year. What if you were to save up money as if you were buying gifts, but use it instead to pay extra on your debt? Can you think of a better gift for your family? You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel giving down road, when you can truly afford it.

Get creative. Imagine that you had no job. What would you do for gifts? Would you make your own? Send cards only? Email cards? Brainstorm some unique alternatives.

Remember Spirit of Season

Above all, remember original intent of holiday celebrations. The spirit of season can be lost in newly added debt and additional stress created by copying what Joneses next door are doing. Prevent future stress by learning to celebrate without using your credit card. It can actually be heaps of fun!

Now get started, and set your strategy in place so you'll be ready and able to pay upfront for next year's holiday, too!

Rule #6Treat Your Wife Extremely Well This is where your kids get their most important information about relationships between men and women. Make a great effort not to fight in front of kids. Remember to be kind more often than trying to be right.

Rule #7Actions Speak Louder Than Words Many parents spend time threatening their children when their kids aren’t cooperating. But if you don’t follow through on consequences, you can threaten till cows come home. Your children will learn to ignore threats. They’ll understand action. If certain privileges are taken away because of their lack of cooperation, they’ll learn very quickly that you mean business. Try your best to align consequences with action. ( If you don’t clean your room in time, you won’t have time for stories before bed.)

Rule #8Really Listen to Your Kids Don’t just hear their words, but learn to understand meaning behind what they say as well. I’m picking my own clothes! might mean that your child wants more responsibility or independence. Be able to reflect back what your child says to you. If you want your child to listen to you, you absolutely must listen to her/him.

Rule #9Give Your Kids Responsibility as They Grow Older When your kids are very young, maybe they just help make their beds in morning and keep their rooms clean. As they get older, add things to their list. Tell them that this is how a family works…everybody has certain things that they do. If you do it when they’re young it’s more likely they’ll do it when they’re older. Don’t reward them for things that should be expected of them.

Rule #10Tell Your Kids They’re Great All Time It is especially important to tell them this when they’re not at their best. It’s easy to tell them when things are going well. Make it a point to tell them specifically what you think is great about them. This will be more meaningful than generalized praise.

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, is the author of 25 Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent Fathers (http://www.markbrandenburg.com/e_book.htm#secrets. For more great tips and action steps for fathers, sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, Dads, Don’t Fix Your Kids, at http://www.markbrandenburg.com