I started as soon as my vacation plan was set. But I will definitely be using the suitcases before the trip, so my secret stash is in a Rubbermaid bin in the attic! I am surprising my daughter with a trip for her birthday, so telling her in October and going in November. I live in fear of my daughter or her younger brother (who is staying home with Daddy, we will go on a big family trip in a year or two) finding the bin!