This policy describes how we create and maintain the content on Jolly List: gift guides, planning tools and news posts. It is our commitment to readers.
On this page
Independence
Our editorial decisions are separate from advertising and affiliate relationships. Advertisers and retailers do not review or approve our content, and we do not accept payment for favorable coverage. See our affiliate and ad disclosure.
How we research
We research gift categories by looking at what people commonly use and what typically goes wrong, such as sizing, compatibility and returns. We describe categories and typical price ranges, not specific models, unless a product is the clear example of its category. For dates, deadlines and policies, we use primary sources: carrier announcements, retailer policy pages, government sites and official calendars. In news posts we link to those sources and state the date we last checked.
What we do and do not claim
We do not claim to have tested products unless we have, and if we have, we say what we did. We do not invent statistics, quotes, reviews or events. When we estimate, we label it and explain the method; for example, our shipping estimates for services that have not yet published 2026 dates are based on prior-year schedules and are marked "estimated" until they do. When we are uncertain, we say so.
Writing and review
Each article is written to help someone make a decision, in plain language with specific advice. Every page is reviewed for accuracy, clarity, spelling and links before publication. News posts carry an internal note of the original value they add, such as a calculation, comparison or first-hand check, and we do not publish posts that only restate other sites. We may use software tools to help draft or edit, but a human editor reviews and takes responsibility for everything we publish.
Updates
Dates and policies change. We show a "last updated" date on each page and review time-sensitive pages when carriers, retailers or governments publish new information. For annual pages such as deadline trackers we keep the same address year after year and update the content. When we make a significant change we describe it in an update note.
Corrections
If you find an error, tell us through the contact page. We verify it against the source, correct it promptly and update the date. For significant corrections we add a note describing what changed. We do not quietly rewrite posts to change their meaning.
Authorship
Articles are credited to the editorial team unless a named contributor is listed. We do not use fake author names, invented credentials or stock photographs presented as our own work.
Sensitive topics
We avoid medical, legal or financial advice. Where we discuss budgeting, returns or safety we give general information and point to official sources. For children's gifts we recommend checking manufacturer age labels and safety notices.
Feedback
We welcome feedback and topic suggestions through the contact page.