I do my Christmas shopping early. I normally start shopping about the time that people are sending their kids back to school and I'm usually finishing up by Halloween. So, I'm at least a step or two ahead of most people.
I'm not one of these people that wait till Mary's water broke to go Christmas shopping.
When we used to give gifts, we'd think on it the entire year. If we see something a person would like, we'd buy it & keep it around. Was also beneficial in stocking up for birthday gifts as well. Now however, we only gift "Time" with family & friends.
Each year I always tell myself I will not allow myself to need to head out last minute to get Christmas presents and each year, I end up out on Christmas Eve last minute searching for a gift.
I hate rushing in anything I'm doing which is why I don't do last minute Christmas shopping. Whatever I don't get before it's time, it's not really that important. It's why I never bought it sooner.