10 questions for holiday shoppers The Debt Adviser by Steve Bucci • Bankrate.com

When I was growing up, one of my favorite cartoon characters was Scrooge McDuck. He still is. Uncle Scrooge knows the value of a dollar. Even though he has three cubic acres of cash socked away, he never forgot the lesson of his first dime, aptly named "Old Number One." While he is a feathery Warren Buffett in his business dealings, McDuck remains a family duck at heart, and because this is the holiday season, I have no doubt he would offer some solid financial advice for his younger relatives Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie. Were I to eavesdrop on their two-dimensional family chat, I imagine that he would ask questions such as this:

2. Have you weighed the piggy bank? Whether you have a piggy bank or your own money bin, you must know how much you can realistically afford to spend if you are to avoid going into debt at the holidays. The best way to accomplish that is to review your finances carefully and determine how much, exactly, you will have available for holiday spending.

3. Do you have a holiday shopping map? I know it's not a treasure map, but to keep from overspending, and save your treasure, you need a budget and a plan for how to stay within it.

4. Do you know how to recognize holiday scammers? Shopping online can save you time and money, but beware of sites you don't know and the personal information you have to give over the Internet. The Beagle Boys (the criminals who are always after McDuck's fortune) have gone high-tech, and fraud and identity theft are serious concerns. So be sure you are dealing with reputable merchants before giving any credit card numbers or personal information online.

5. Have you made a list and checked it twice? Remember to include everything for which you will be spending. Don't forget about holiday wrapping paper, food, travel and decorating expenses. These can add up quickly and should be included in your budget.

6. Will you resist temptation once you are finished shopping? Even McDuck has trouble resisting a bargain. The high that you receive purchasing extra gifts because they are on sale is not worth the debt hangover afterward. Stay out of the stores. Get a holiday high by volunteering at a local shelter or caroling instead.

7. Can you create a little holiday magic? Be creative and come up with ideas for how you could spend less. Consider a potluck dinner rather than footing the bill for a dinner gathering. Shop at consignment shops for decorations and even gifts. Bake or create gifts using your own hands and inexpensive materials. Remember, at the North Pole, Santa's elves make the toys, they don't buy them.

8. WWSD -- What would Santa do? While Santa brings gifts, it's only for those on his list. Also, Santa does not receive credit card bills with a 16 percent interest rate 30 days later. So consider gift alternatives such as gifts of service or time. You might give your brother, with three small children at home, a coupon for a night of baby-sitting. Your jet-setting sister might appreciate a coupon to housesit. You get the idea.

9. How will you pay the piper in January or February? Keep track of all your spending. If you are planning to charge some purchases, make sure you will be able to pay off the balances within 90 days. If you don't, your holiday spending may end up costing you much more than what you spent when you bought your gifts. Interest charges on the remaining balances will eat up any savings that you received when originally buying.

10. Would charging gifts push you over the debt cliff? Stop! I know it is hard to do, but don't let holiday spending push you over your capacity to manage your debt load. If you listen to no other advice from the Debt Adviser, this would be a good place to start:

Don't charge your holidays and ransom your financial future.

The Debt Adviser, Steve Bucci, is the president of Money Management International Financial Education Foundation and the author of Credit Repair Kit for Dummies. Visit MMI for additional debt advice or click here to ask a debt question.