I have a theory. 

Actually, I have lots of theories, but my latest one is relevant to the Christmas season.  The appropriateness, usefulness, and thoughtfulness of a gift can be predicted using a bell curve based on the number of days before Christmas that the gift was bought.

OK, that was very wordy, so let me explain my theory.  People who buy gifts weeks or months before Christmas OR who wait until Christmas Eve are more likely to buy gifts just because that's what they're supposed to do.  In the case of those last minute shoppers, they're desperate.  They are the ones who buy the Billy Bass at Bass Pro Shops, or the Chia Pet at Kmart, or the cheese basket at the kiosk at the mall.

On the other hand, people who buy in October or early November are simply getting their chores done early.  They might buy in bulk and give the same gift to multiple people.  There's nothing wrong with this, because a good deal for one is a good deal for all!  But buying very early must take some of the personalization and uniqueness out of the gift.  There's another way to think about it.  If you shop very early, you can't buy that special gift that Jimmy's been begging for.  Because there's a good chance that sometime over the next two months Jimmy will get that item for himself.  Shopping too early forces you to buy something more obscure.

That leaves us with the shoppers who buy gifts sometime during the three weeks following Thanksgiving.  They're not pressed for time, and they're not just getting the chores done.  They're shopping for individuals with unique ideas of what each friend or family member needs or wants.  I'm suggesting that the recipients of these gifts are most likely to awed, amazed, and excited when they tear the wrapping paper off the box.

Below is a graph of the relative value of gift -- as valued by the recipient -- based on how many days before Christmas it was purchased.

There's no evidence here, and no proof that this is really the case.  Maybe there's some truth in it, or maybe not.  It's just something to think about.  Interestingly, I'm usually in the very early or the very late group.  So you have my condolences if I picked your name in the Secret Santa this year!  Let's see, which would she like more?  The Chia Clown, or the Chia Turtle?  I hate tough decisions.