Halloween decorations are appearing in stores. Football season is getting underway. And in some parts of the country, the summer heat is still at its peak. Thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping might seem ridiculously early.  However, from a financial standpoint, this may be one of the best times to start. Holiday spending has a way of feeling sudden because so many extra expenses arrive within a few weeks – gifts, travel, meals, parties, and everything surrounding them. Meanwhile, the mortgage, car payment, utilities, groceries, and other regular expenses keep coming.  The holidays aren’t an unexpected financial emergency. They’re a…