When should you order holiday gifts? Why early planning pays off

kAmx>28:?6 49@@D:?8 2 DA64:2= 8:7E :? >:5\s646>36C[ A2J:?8 6IEC2 7@C 72DE6C D9:AA:?8[ E96? H2E49:?8 E96 EC24<:?8 A286 D:E F?492?865 E9C@F89 r9C:DE>2D]k^Am

kAm(96E96C J@F’C6 49@@D:?8 2 3@I @7 49@4@=2E6D @C 2 92?5>256 <66AD2<6[ 8:G:?8 J@FCD6=7 6?@F89 E:>6 :D A2CE @7 86EE:?8 E96 56E2:=D C:89E] s646>36C D9@AA:?8 :D?’E :?96C6?E=J 2 >:DE2<6] qFE H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]25@36]4@>^?6HD^a_ae^_h^25@36\FD\9@=:52J\D9@AA:?8\D62D@?\E@\9:E\C64@C5QmAC@>@E:@?D DAC625:?8 24C@DD ~4E@36Ck^2m[ q=24< uC:52J 2?5 rJ36C |@?52J 2C6 ?@ =@?86C E96 DE2CE:?8 =:?6]k^Am

kAmx7 E96 9@=:52J 52E6 ?6G6C 492?86D[ H9J 5@6D E96 C:89E E:>6 E@ @C56C <66A >@G:?8 62C=:6Cn pD {@D p?86=6D 49@4@=2E:6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>A2CE6D]4@>^4@==64E:@?D^49C:DE>2DQmr@>A2CEéDk^2m 6IA=2:?D 36=@H[ E96 2?DH6C =:6D :? D9:AA:?8 42A24:EJ[ :?G6?E@CJ A=2??:?8[ 2?5 492?8:?8 D9@AA:?8 923:ED] *@F 766= E96:C 67764ED H96? J@FC 7:CDE 49@:46 D6==D @FE[ 56=:G6CJ D=:AD[ @C A@DE286 DF556?=J 4@DED >@C6]k^Am

k9bm(9J E96 w@=:52J $9@AA:?8 r2=6?52C z66AD |@G:?8 t2C=:6Ck^9bm

kAmqJ E96 E:>6 }@G6>36C 2CC:G6D[ A=6?EJ @7 8:7E =:DED 2C6 2=C625J F?56CH2J] x? r@C5:2=’D a_ae DFCG6J @7 `[___ &]$] 4@?DF>6CD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@C5:2=]4@>^C6D@FC46D^9@=:52J\a_ae\4@?DF>6C\C6D62C49\52E2^QmbeT A=2??65 E@ DE2CEk^2m 367@C6 E96?] #6E2:=6CD 92G6 C6DA@?565 H:E9 ~4E@36C AC@>@E:@?D[ 2 >@?E9 H96? p5@36 7@C642DED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]25@36]4@>^?6HD^a_ae^_h^25@36\FD\9@=:52J\D9@AA:?8\D62D@?\E@\9:E\C64@C5QmShd]g 3:==:@? :? @?=:?6 DA6?5:?8k^2m]k^Am

kAmu@C 9@FD69@=5D[ E92E =@?86C D62D@? 42? >62? DAC625:?8 AFC492D6D 24C@DD A2J4964<D] p>@?8 62C=J D9@AA6CD :? }#u’D a_ad DFCG6J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?C7]4@>^>65:2\46?E6C^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^4@?DF>6CD\E@\DA6?5\D64@?5\9:896DE\2>@F?E\@?\C64@C5\244@C5:?8\E@\?C7\9@=:52J\DFCG6JQmdcT 4:E65 DAC625:?8 E96:C 3F586Ek^2m] p7E6C J62CD >2C<65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?C7]4@>^3=@8^C6E2:=\?2G:82E6D\DFAA=J\492:?\5:DCFAE:@?QmD9:AA:?8 56=2JD 2?5 D9@CE286Dk^2m[ 2G@:5:?8 2?@E96C 56=:G6CJ AC@3=6> C6>2:?D 2 4@?46C?i q2D:D’D a_ae C6D62C49 7@F?5 egT k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32D:D]4@>^C6A@CED^a_ae\9@=:52J\D9@AA:?8\2?5\25G6CE:D:?8\EC6?5D\C6A@CEQmD9@A 62C=J E@ 2G@:5 56=2JDk^2m]k^Am

kAmp 8:7E D62C49 42? 7:E :?E@ 2 =F?49 3C62< @C DA2C6 >:?FE6D] r@C5:2= 7@F?5 D9@AA6CD FD:?8 C6E2:=6C 2AAD 2?5 px E@ 6IA=@C6 @AE:@?Dj p5@36 6IA64ED >@3:=6 56G:46D E@ 244@F?E 7@C df]cT @7 9@=:52J @?=:?6 DA6?5:?8]k^Am

k9bm(92E $9:AA:?8 r2CC:6CD pC6 #62==J %6==:?8 *@Fk^9bm

kAm!6CD@?2=:K2E:@?[ A24<:?8[ 2?5 7F=7:==>6?E 92AA6? 367@C6 42CC:6C EC2?D:E 368:?D] (@C< 324<H2C5 7C@> E96 D9:A\3J 52E6[ 2==@H:?8 7@C E96 C6E2:=6C’D AC@46DD:?8 E:>6j E96 =2DE 52J E@ @C56C :D FDF2==J 62C=:6C E92? E96 =2DE 52J E@ D9:A]k^Am

kAmu@C r9C:DE>2D a_ae[ &$!$ C64@>>6?5D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FDAD]4@>^9@=:52J^9@=:52J\D9:AA:?8\52E6D]9E>QmvC@F?5 p5G2?E286 3J s646>36C `fk^2m H:E9:? E96 4@?E:8F@FD &?:E65 $E2E6D[ !C:@C:EJ |2:= 3J s646>36C `g[ 2?5 !C:@C:EJ |2:= tIAC6DD 3J s646>36C `h] %96D6 2C6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D[ ?@E F?:G6CD2= 2CC:G2= 8F2C2?E66D]k^Am

kAmu65tI’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7656I]4@>^4@?E6?E^52>^7656I^FD\F?:E65\DE2E6D^D6CG:46D^a_ae0!62<0{2DE0s2J0E@0D9:A]A57Qma_ae 9@=:52J D9:AA:?8 8F:56k^2m 32D6D 8C@F?5 E:>:?8 @? +x! 4@56D 2?5 =:DED s646>36C ab 7@C @G6C?:89E D6CG:46D] &!$’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FAD]4@>^FD^6?^DFAA@CE^D9:AA:?8\DFAA@CE^D9:AA:?8\D6CG:46D^9@=:52J\D9:AA:?8\D4965F=6Qma_ae 9@=:52J @A6C2E:@?D 42=6?52Ck^2m 4@?7:C>D r9C:DE>2D tG6 56=:G6C:6D 3FE ?@ 8C@F?5 A:4<FAD E92E 52Jj 4964< :ED C@FE6\DA64:7:4 6DE:>2E6D 367@C6 @C56C:?8]k^Am

kAm$62D@?2= AC:4:?8 >2EE6CD[ E@@] &$!$’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]FDAD]4@>^a_ae^`_^_c^E6>A@C2CJ\AC:46\492?86D\7@C\9@=:52J\D62D@?\E2<6\67764E^QmE6>A@C2CJ 9@=:52J AC:46D 2AA=Jk^2m 7C@> ~4E@36C c E9C@F89 y2?F2CJ `f] &!$’D 92?5=:?8 2?5 @G6CD:K65\A24<286 DFC492C86D 368:? $6AE6>36C afj k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9:AD4:6?46]4@>^FAD\56>2?5\DFC492C86\FA52E6^QmD6CG:46\=6G6= 9@=:52J 492C86D DE2CEk^2m ~4E@36C ad] u65tI 2=D@ AF3=:D96D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7656I]4@>^6?\FD^D9:AA:?8^C2E6\492?86D^56>2?5\DFC492C86D]9E>=QmD6CG:46\DA64:7:4 D62D@?2= 56>2?5 492C86Dk^2m] #6E2:=6CD >2J 23D@C3 E9@D6 4@DED @C C67=64E E96> :? D9:AA:?8 492C86D]k^Am

kAm%2<6 2 <66AD2<6 A24<65 :? 2? g\3J\e\3J\d\:?49 3@I EC2G6=:?8 H:E9:? E96 4@?E:8F@FD DE2E6D] &!$’D AF3=:D965 $:>A=6 #2E6 32D6 AC:46D 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2DD6ED]FAD]4@>^25@36^2DD6ED^FC?Tbp22:5Tbp26>Tbpbde5hbg2\c7_2\c4f`\3d_6\355gh_7d_3cf^@C:8:?2=^2D^52:=J\C2E6D\FD\6?]A57QmS`d]g_ 7@C 8C@F?5 D9:AA:?8k^2m 2?5 Scd 7@C }6IE s2J p:C $2G6C] %92E’D Sah]a_ >@C6[ 367@C6 2AA=:423=6 9@=:52J 766D @C @AE:@?2= D6CG:46D] p? 62C=J\}@G6>36C D9:A>6?E =62G6D E:>6 7@C 8C@F?5 56=:G6CJ 2?5 56=2JD] sFC:?8 r9C:DE>2D H66<[ @G6C?:89E D9:AA:?8 3FJD DA665 H:E9 =:EE=6 C@@> 7@C 5:DCFAE:@?] r964< E96 7:?2= BF@E6 367@C6 D6?5:?8]k^Am

kAmw@=:52J 56>2?5 C6BF:C6D 255:E:@?2= 42A24:EJi &!$ 2??@F?465 A=2?D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^23@FE]FAD]4@>^FD^6?^?6HDC@@>^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^4FDE@>6C\7:CDE^FAD\D42=6D\D62D@?2=\H@C<7@C46\\6J6D\?:?E9\4@?D64FE:G6\A62<\D62D@]9E>=Qm9:C6 @G6C `__[___ D62D@?2= H@C<6CDk^2m 7@C a_ae] |62?H9:=6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7656I]4@>^6?\FD^9@=:52J^=2DE\52JD\E@\D9:A]9E>=QmH62E96C 42? 5:DCFAE D6CG:46k^2m 6G6? 7@C 72DE D9:A>6?ED]k^Am

k9bm%96 $FAA=J r92:? q69:?5 *@FC v:7E {:DEk^9bm

kAmw@=:52J 4@==64E:@?D 368:? E2<:?8 D92A6 =@?8 367@C6 DE@C67C@?E 564@C2E:@?D 2AA62C] x?G6?E@CJ AFC492D:?8 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@==:?8DH@CE9==4]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ac^_c^w@=:52J\#6E2:=\r92==6?86D]A57QmDE2CE >@?E9D 367@C6 D6==:?8k^2m[ 2?5 A24<28:?8 ?665D :ED @H? AC@5F4E:@? D4965F=6]k^Am

kAmu@C =:>:E65 C6=62D6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9@A:7J]4@>^3=@8^=:>:E65\5C@ADQm7:I65 BF2?E:E:6D 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? 42A24:EJk^2m 42? >2<6 C6A=6?:D9>6?E :>AC24E:42= 367@C6 E96 9@=:52J] w2?5>256 2?5 D>2==\32E49 8:7ED 56A6?5 @? 2G2:=23=6 >2E6C:2=D 2?5 >2<6CD’ E:>6j 2 DF556? CFD9 42??@E 2=H2JD 36 >6E H:E9 2?@E96C AC@5F4E:@? CF?]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ C6A@CE:?8 @? :?56A6?56?E C6E2:=6CD 5@4F>6?ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@8F6]4@>^2CE:4=6^9@H\E2C:77D\2C6\E6DE:?8\:?5:6\C6E2:=QmE2C:77[ :?8C65:6?E 2?5 A24<28:?8 AC6DDFC6Dk^2m[ 2=@?8D:56 7C6:89E 4@DED 2?5 >@C6 42FE:@FD 3FJ:?8] !C@5F4:?8 6I46DD D62D@?2= DE@4< E:6D FA >@?6J H:E9@FE 8F2C2?E66:?8 D2=6D]k^Am

kAm$@>6 D6==6CD 6IA=:4:E=J >2C< D62D@?2= :E6>D 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D9@A]AC@;64E?FCD6CJ]4@>^AC@5F4ED^H66\82==6CJ\76DE:G6\7C:6?5D\25G6?E\42=6?52CQmF?2G2:=23=6 7@C =2E6C C6DE@4<:?8k^2m] r964< 367@C6 4@F?E:?8 @? 2?@E96C 32E49] $@>6E:>6D E96 C:D< @7 H2:E:?8 :D E92E E96 8:7E H@?’E 36 2G2:=23=6]k^Am

k9bm(9J qFD:?6DD6D ~C56C w@=:52J v:7ED t2C=Jk^9bm

kAmr@CA@C2E6 8:7E:?8 255D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^JF<@?328D]4@>^3=@8D^;@FC?2=^4@CA@C2E6\8:7E\@C56C:?8\E:>6=:?6Qm3F586ED[ 255C6DD6D 2?5 3C2?5:?8 2AAC@G2=Dk^2m[ A=FD A6CD@?2= ?@E6D 2?5 56=:G6CJ 4@@C5:?2E:@?] %96D6 DE6AD >2<6 ~4E@36C 2 D6?D:3=6 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E]k^Am

kAmv:7E:?8 AC@G:56C $?2AAJ A@:?ED E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D?2AAJ]4@>^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^9@=:52J\8:7E:?8\6>A=@J66\>@E:G2E:@?\a_aeQmJ62C\6?5 C6G:6HD 2?5 3F586EDk^2m 2D 4@>A6E:?8 56>2?5D @? E62>D’ 2EE6?E:@?] $6EE=:?8 8:7E A=2?D 62C=J =62G6D @?6 =6DD s646>36C E2D<] r@>A2?:6D 4=@D:?8 E96:C 7:?2?4:2= J62C E92E >@?E9 D9@F=5 4@?7:C> C6>2:?:?8 7F?5D 2?5 AFC492D:?8 5625=:?6D] !C@5F4E:@? 2=D@ E2<6D E:>6i {62E96C@=@8J C64@>>6?5D ~4E@36C A=2??:?8 7@C s646>36C 56=:G6CJ[ 2==@H:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=62E96C@=@8J]4@>^A286D^4@CA@C2E6\@C56CDQm7@FC E@ D:I H66<Dk^2m 7@C 4FDE@> @C56CD]k^Am

kAm#6>@E6 H@C< 255D =@8:DE:4D] v@G6C?>6?E 52E2 D9@H 9@>6\32D65 H@C< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7:=6D]82@]8@G^C6A@CED^vp~\ae\`_fdba^:?56I]9E>=QmC6>2:?65 23@G6 AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=Dk^2m :? a_ac] u@C 5:DEC:3FE65 E62>D[ @?6 @77:46 5C@A 364@>6D >F=E:A=6 9@>6 56=:G6C:6D[ 6249 ?665:?8 2 4@CC64E 255C6DD]k^Am

kAmp:> 7@C 8:7ED E@ 2CC:G6 367@C6 @77:46D 4=@D6 2?5 C64:A:6?ED’ A24<286D 244F>F=2E6]k^Am

k9bmp !C24E:42= w@=:52J v:7E ~C56C:?8 %:>6=:?6k^9bm

kAm&D6 E9:D 7C2>6H@C< 2D 2 A=2??:?8 8F:56[ 25;FDE:?8 7@C E96 8:7E[ 5:DE2?46[ 2?5 @442D:@?] }@ D:?8=6 52E6 H@C<D 7@C 6G6CJ @C56C[ 2?5 A=2??:?8 29625 ?665?’E >62? 3FJ:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 :? $6AE6>36C]k^Am

k@=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6afc3`e677g537gfg77`6c7b34b25b2e`Qm~4E@36Ci !=2? 2?5 A=246 4FDE@> @C56CD] $6E J@FC 3F586E[ 3F:=5 E96 =:DE[ 2?5 368:? A6CD@?2=:K2E:@?[ 3F=< AFC492D6D[ 2?5 4@CA@C2E6 2AAC@G2=D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6hd6575_ee4ace`f2ad4hb22e`657526dQmt2C=J }@G6>36Ci ~C56C >@DE D9:AA65 8:7ED] !C:@C:E:K6 5:DE2?E C64:A:6?ED 2?5 =:>:E65 D62D@?2= :E6>D] #6D6CG6 A6C:D923=6 8:7ED 7@C 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 =2E6C 56=:G6CJ H:?5@H[ 7@==@H:?8 E96 D6==6C’D DE@C286 8F:52?46]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65_adh_76f_772ef`65c25_64_2_52_caQm|:5 E@ =2E6 }@G6>36Ci &D6 D2=6 6G6?ED DEC2E68:42==J] u:== C6>2:?:?8 82AD H9:=6 4964<:?8 DE@4< 2?5 AC@46DD:?8 E:>6D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ64be3dcbda7f2246c4cf2g2d4_a_7264fQmt2C=J s646>36Ci r964< 7:?2= 8C@F?5 D9:AA:?8 52E6D] (@C< 324<H2C5 7C@> 42CC:6C 4FE@77D E@ AC6D6CG6 DE2?52C5\4@DE 56=:G6CJ @AE:@?D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6f6g4``63h3e3`e577geccb7de`6hc3c4Qm|:5 s646>36Ci z?@H J@FC 72==324<D] r@?D:56C =@42= A:4<FA[ :?\DE@C6 AFC492D6D[ 5:8:E2= 8:7E 42C5D[ @C 2? 28C665 7FEFC6 56=:G6CJ]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6a6`2f7e3h3bh667fe55hgf23223`2_adQmp=H2JDi r@?7:C> 56E2:=D] r964< 255C6DD6D 2?5 2CC:G2= 52E6D] u@C A6C:D923=6D[ &$sp 25G:D6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7D:D]FD52]8@G^7@@5\D276EJ^D276\7@@5\92?5=:?8\2?5\AC6A2C2E:@?^7@@5\D276EJ\32D:4D^>2:=\@C56C\7@@5\D276EJQm2=6CE:?8 C64:A:6?ED 367@C6 56=:G6CJk^2m D@ D@>6@?6 42? C646:G6 E96> AC@>AE=J]k^=:mk^@=m

k9bm!=2? t2C=J 7@C E96 w@=:52JDk^9bm

kAm%92E :>28:?65 s646>36C @C56C 4@F=5 4@DE >@C6 E92? 6IEC2 A@DE286i 2 DF3DE:EFE65 8:7E[ 2 >:DD65 46=63C2E:@?[ 2?@E96C E2D< 5FC:?8 2 3FDJ H66<]k^Am

kAm(:E9 C6E2:=6CD 2?5 42CC:6CD A=2??:?8 2C@F?5 62C=:6C 56>2?5[ E96 D9@AA:?8 D62D@? >2J 4@?E:?F6 E@ DEC6E49] q67@C6 7:?2=:K:?8 J@FC =:DE[ 4964< 42CC:6C 5625=:?6D 2?5 C6E2:=6CD’ 42=6?52CD[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C A6C:D923=6[ 4FDE@> @C =@?8\5:DE2?46 8:7ED]k^Am

kAm%96 9@=:52J 52E6 ?6G6C >@G6D[ 3FE E96 5625=:?6 E@ 86E 8:7ED E96C6 @? E:>6 5@6D] !=2??:?8 62C=J :D 9@H 8:7E\8:G6CD <66A E96 49@:46[ 4@DE[ 2?5 E:>:?8 :? E96:C @H? 92?5D] k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>A2CE6D]4@>^3=@8D^;@FC?2=^H96?\E@\@C56C\9@=:52J\8:7EDQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>A2CE6D]4@>^4@==64E:@?D^49C:DE>2DQmk6>mr@>A2CEéDk^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am