Magazines and websites encourage everyone to start planning for Christmas nice and early. I totally agree with that, it's always good to get yourself sorted out, write lists, and stay in control so you can enjoy the festive season and not get frazzled by it. If you put up outdoor lights, my tip is to get them done NOW. Test them first, to make sure they work, then get them put up in place, and wires trailed to where they need to be. Doing it early means you can take your time and not rush it, it also means they are up and ready to be switched on when it suits you. For us, that will be December 1st. When the weather changes from mild and rainy to cold, frosty and snowy, you haven't got to risk life and limb climbing up ladders.
I've had a bit of a trial run, and made a few alterations. I started putting the lights up last Wednesday, the day was blustery but sunny, so perfect for getting up the ladder but not ideal for seeing how the lights had been spaced.
I waited until it started to get dark, then went out and took a few reference photos. All photos show the lights for this year, apart from the snowy one, which was from last Christmas.
The tree in the lawn didn't have enough lights, so more have been added as you can see. The line of lights on the left are strung around the Wisteria on the garage.
This is the sort of thing I have to put up with from my little lady. She always wants to be in photos!
The lights dotted around the garden get their power from the sockets in the garage. I will have them on timers, so I don't have to keep going in the garage to switch them on and off. 
Rose by garden gate.
In the back garden, Gingerbread House and the nearby tree have got their lights in place.
When December rolls round all I need to do is add the finishing touches. You barely notice that lights are in place, but it feels so good knowing that they're done.So that's my advice. Get your lights sorted out as early as possible. Don't leave it until December. Then when your front garden looks like this ..
.. and you can see your neighbours putting up lights and wishing they'd done it earlier, you can sit in your comfy chair, a cup of something hot in your hand, and watch them do it. Smug in the knowledge that you don't have to venture out in the cold to do the same.