We still do dont we?
Anyways, regarding Christmas...
I have given up buying early, because by Christmas time....I end up with soooo much stuff I have to hold some over to Birthdays and then they are out of *date*.
So, now I just have a list (usually in my head) of what I need to get and start getting organised around October/November.
The boys Grandmother (from MI), she shops all year round for Xmas gifts...using coupons and rebates etc. Usually, we get 5 HUGE boxes of gifts shipped over via boat (so they have to leave October) that only cost her a couple of hundred of dollars.
Awesome