The next step is harder, but can be far more rewarding than just getting a good deal on tinsel and bows: Turn selecting gifts into a year-round activity.

This makes sense from nearly every angle. Financially, it means purchases can be spread evenly across the calendar, avoiding the scary credit card bills that roll around at the end of the year. Practically, it means you can stay away from the mall when everyone else in town is jostling for a parking spot.

It also means you have 12 months to stumble across a bonanza — like the $5 clarinet Mom got me at an estate sale, which would have cost a few hundred dollars if she had tried to find one in December. My Dad likes jigsaw puzzles, for instance, so I keep my eyes open for them while traveling; last year, I bought all his Christmas gifts in April, when a walking tour in Seattle took me past a toy store unlike any in my home town. Serendipity aside, watching year-round means you can pick up winter gear in April, wading pools in January — and generally liberate yourself from the “buy this when we want to stock it” agenda retailers live by.

More importantly, this scheme encourages a more thoughtful, personal approach to gift-giving. Buying presents shouldn’t be an annual chore; it should result from caring what your loved ones are interested in and paying attention to what they say. Your brother comes home from Spring Break and mentions he’d like to try snorkeling some time; your kids see the latest fantasy movie and get excited about medieval castles; Uncle Larry admires your birdfeeder during a summer barbecue — all these moments are fodder for gifts later. The more you pay attention, the less likely you are to fall back on a desperation gift (please, not another gift card!) at the last minute.

Stash your purchases away in a box that, in case someone stumbles across it, is clearly marked “Do Not Open.” Not only will the slow accumulation of treasure ease your job come holiday time; you might find it comes in handy earlier: Few things are nicer than being able to surprise a loved one who’s having a rotten week with a surprise gift.

Finally, don’t forget about yourself. Even if your own mother doesn’t start asking for Christmas lists in August, it doesn’t hurt to keep track of things that strike your fancy long before the kids start writing letters to Santa. After all, chances are good that your loved ones will have their hands full in December, and will be grateful for any way you can make their gift-shopping a bit easier.

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