By Jim Melwert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Last minute shoppers are out at area malls on this Christmas Eve.

Seventeen million of us are out holiday shopping today nationwide, according to a Consumer Reports survey.

And among them was Millie from South Philadelphia, who says she spent more this year than past years.

“I have a two-year-old, so there’s more. There’s a lot more. Put some together last night, as a matter of fact,” she says.

(At a JC Penney parking lot in King of Prussia, Pa., the parking lot was jammed early on Christmas Eve morning. Credit: Jim Melwert)

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As for shopping, Millie also says it was a good year — she planned ahead and all she needed to buy today were a couple of Christmas cards.

“I shop all year round…I don’t like the last-minute shopping thing, so all year long I shop for good deals and then I save them,” she says.

It’s probably a good idea to plan ahead, since the Consumer Reports survey finds that 67 percent of those shopping on Christmas Eve will just end up giving gift cards, while another 27 percent will just give cash.

Four percent say they’ll give gift IOU’s.