Starting.... Now! No, wait, NOW!

It hit me this morning that I really need to start my Christmas shopping and writing Christmas cards.  I also have to decide who is going to receive knitted gifts, because I almost never make the timeline on getting all those out.  Last year, I think my last knitted "Christmas" gift went out around, oh, January 31st.

I'm getting a little woozy just thinking about it.  Who goes on the Christmas card list?  Who goes on the shopping list?  Who gets moved from the shopping list to the card only list?  How much time can I realistically finish a knitting project, given that I can devote only about 3 or 4 hours a week to knitting?  Where can I get a cheap housecleaner? (Wait, how did that sneak in there?)

I really do long for the days when a good gift was a Snoopy coffee mug full of Hershey's kisses...

Anyhow, I'm trying to figure out a way to simplify this process.  I've now reached an agreement with two friends as to the type of presents we give to one another (i.e. books only or cd's only), and I think I may institute this policy on a broader basis, unless I have a specific gift otherwise in mind.  I figure it at least narrows down the number of stores at which I'll do my shopping. 

Anyone else have any suggestions?