While I do wait until sometime around Thanksgiving to put up my tree, (it went up the weekend before last year since I was out of town the weekend after), I do have a bunch of my shopping done already. I start the during the summer, as I go to craft shows and on vacation. I pick things up as I go, then this way I can avoid crowds, and enjoy all the other fun things as it gets closer. This year 95% of my shopping will be done by the end of next week, since I am moving in 2 weeks. Mostly so I don't have to move all the presents with me. They will left at my mom's.

However, I do love Halloween, so I don't want the 2 holidays to overlap that much.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm getting my (artificial) tree the first weekend in November, and my will power is so weak that I'm sure it'll be up shortly after!

My Dad used to do that He had a little tree though,and would wrap it in plastic,set it aside somewhere,pull it out,and plug it in when the time came.

I don't mind so much seeing the decorations early....but when they are set up along side Halloween....thats a bit toooooo early.

I'll admit I already bought my tree and many decorations. I look forward to this time of year.

oh i will definitely be decorated shortly after thanksgiving. i love this time of year, i just wish the boys i live with were a little more into it. dh & bil just don't care that much. last night we started talking about all the money we're going to have to spend. sigh. it's so expensive this time of year.
i think it's a good idea to do all of your shopping throughout the year or at least early as possible - just makes life easier. i just would never be able to keep a christmas tree alive this long!

I always think about starting the Christmas shopping early to avoid the sudden December attack on my bank account, but I'm always afraid that by the time I give the gift the person will have already gotten it or not be interested in it anymore-- or I'll think of something better!

In my online wanderings I've noticed that many stores have renovated their sites to be more "holiday-y," I guess now that Halloween is "out of the way"!

heheheh. My Grandmother used to buy gifts throughout the year wrap them, tag them, etc. all in advance... and then be genuinely surprised at what she got you for Christmas. It was hilarious. Sometimes she'd jump out of her chair when you were half way through unwrapping a gift grab it out of your hand .... and give it to the person it was supposed to go to. *LOL* She made the holidays for our family, I really miss her.