The holiday season brings out a little bit of everything in all of us — excitement, nostalgia, mild panic, and the constant question: When should I start shopping?

Around the Loverly office, we’re split into a few distinct camps. Some of us are planners with spreadsheets and photo sessions booked before Halloween, and others are more… “let’s see what’s left in Prime shipping” energy. Here’s how it tends to go down each year.

The Early Birds

Some of us, like Emily, live for that early-organization moment. She starts thinking about gifts in October, keeping a running note on her phone with ideas for both sides of the family — and even creates a Google Doc to share with her own family so everyone knows what’s on her wish list.

“It just makes me feel better the quicker I can get it done,” she admits, “since we have so many people to buy for.”

Kristen takes early prep to a different level — with Christmas cards. Every October, she schedules her family photos so the cards can be printed, addressed, and mailed before December even begins. “Not having that hanging over my head during December has been a game changer for my brain,” she says — and honestly, we believe her.

The Black Friday & Cyber Monday Shoppers

For Olivia, the holiday season officially begins when the deals drop. She keeps a list of gift ideas all year long, then strategically shops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to cross off her list while saving big.

Evie follows a similar pattern but with a confession: “If I see something during Black Friday or Cyber Monday that a loved one would like, I’ll grab it — but honestly, I shop more for myself! I stock up on my favorite products that rarely go on sale.”

No judgment here — we call that efficient multitasking.

The Flexible Planners

Then there are those who walk the fine line between early and last-minute. Ellen tries to start in November, especially for her kids’ gifts, but admits that “in reality, it’s happy chaos until I close my eyes on Christmas Eve.”

Nina considers herself “a pretty average shopper.” Sometimes she’s ahead of schedule, other times she’s wrapping gifts at the last second. “I don’t really wait for deals,” she says. “If I see something that someone would love, I just buy it right then.”

Claire, on the other hand, is on a mission to reform her last-minute habits this year. “I’m typically a last-minute shopper,” she admits, “but I’m going to try to be better since I have three families to shop for now — pray for me!” Her family’s tradition of exchanging wish lists definitely helps ease the stress.

The Budget-Savvy Planner

Cat has found her own method for keeping the holiday chaos (and spending) under control. Starting in August, she puts aside a little from each paycheck to spread out the cost of gifts.

“I also keep a note in my phone year-round,” she says. “If someone mentions something they like, I jot it down. Then in October, I make a Christmas-specific list to keep track of who I’ve bought for and who’s left.”

Even though she still tends to be a last-minute shopper, her strategy helps her stay calm and collected when things get busy.

One Goal: A Season That Shines

In the end, no matter how different our shopping timelines may be, we all share the same goal — a joyful, meaningful holiday season filled with the people (and gifts) we love most.

Whether you’re the early bird with neatly wrapped presents by Thanksgiving or the December 22nd shopper hoping Prime comes through one more time — we see you, we are you, and we’re all just doing our best to make the season shine.

So tell us — what kind of holiday shopper are you?