If you are wanting to buy something specific from ebay for a special gift, the best thing to do is start your search around 4 weeks before you need the item.  Then you can watch a few items which catch your fancy to see what kind of price they go for.  Later when you are ready, select my ebay, and at the end of the list of the item you have been watching, select "view similar items".  This way you do not have to keep doing the same searches over and over again, and will have time to ensure you get the right gift at the right price.