We all feel the pain of holiday creep, when Christmas decorations and commercials start popping up not just before Thanksgiving, but even before Halloween. Like cooked avocados or the phrase "President Arnold Schwarzenegger," it just feels wrong. It subverts the natural order of the universe. 

And yet you should definitely, for-sure start your holiday shopping right now. That's because Oct. 22 the first day to use the Holiday Shopping Card, one of the greatest, easiest and most budget-friendly ways to donate to charity.

For the uninitiated, the Holiday Shopping Card is sponsored by VICTORY, a local group dedicated to raising funds for the American Cancer Society for nearly 30 years. Shoppers can purchase a Holiday Shopping Card for $75—a full 100 percent of the proceeds go to ACS—and use it from Oct. 22 to Nov. 1 to get 20 percent off full-price merchandise at participating stores. And how many stores in Houston are participating? Oh, only about 700 or so. (Don't worry, the American Cancer Society website breaks them down by name and location.)

Spend $375 shopping and you've made back the cost of the card while doing your part to fight cancer. Can't put together a gift list in time? May we suggest declaring the next 10 days an extended "Treat Yo Self" weekend? The card is accepted not only at local and national stores but also by spas, salons, dry cleaners, bakeries, interior design studios, stationery designers, even a pest control business. Been meaning to get yourself some new glasses? Boom. 20 percent off. Got artwork that needs framing? You get the idea. 

Last year Houstonians raised over $1 million for the American Cancer Society, just by doing what we do best—shopping. Raising money is good, but sleeping in on Black Friday because all your holiday shopping is done—that's priceless.