Why You Need a Gift Wish List

“What’s the hot toy the kids want this Christmas?”

“What size clothes do they fit into now?”

“What do you want for your birthday?”

My family is blessed with generous, far-flung relatives who thoughtfully want to give my kids (and my husband and me) wonderful gifts. But fielding all of these questions for every holiday and event was more than I could manage. Then I had to remember which gift idea I’d given to which relative. Not to mention the added dread of new toys and stuff flooding into a home that I’d tried so hard to keep organized.

THE SOLUTION? WISH LISTS!
People register for weddings, kids send their lists to Santa, Amazon even has a list option. So why not keep an ongoing wish list that relatives could consult for any gift-giving occasion?

I started keeping a Wish List for each of my family members and soon my whole extended family jumped on board.
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But I know what you’re thinking...

A WISH LIST WILL SPOIL THE SURPRISE
If you love surprises, then just be sure to put enough stuff on your wish list. That way, people can’t possibly get you everything on the list, so you’ll still be surprised by what comes your way.

You can also put broad suggestions on your list, such as “restaurant gift cards,” “any Squishmallow stuffed animal,” or “size M clothes in purple, my favorite color.” You won’t know the exact item you’re getting, but your family will have some idea of what you’ll like.

So your next stumbling block is...

IT’S RUDE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO BUY ME
Registries are common for weddings and baby showers and we don’t consider that rude. It is not impolite to give loved ones clues as to what they can buy for you.

In fact, when I used to own a shoe and hat store, we kept a (low tech) index card gift registry. Husbands loved being able to come into our store and know that they were selecting gifts that would 100% delight their wives.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET YOU THINGS YOU’LL LIKE
As a professional organizer, I frequently have to help clients navigate guilty feelings about discarding a gift that they never used. We feel badly when a gift has missed the mark because we know the giver hoped we’d love it.

Your friends and family don’t want to spend their precious time and money buying gifts you won’t like.

Your wish list is a way for you to help them out and to allow them to know you better by revealing your tastes, preferences, and dreams.

HOW TO MAKE A WISH LIST
Use technology to make and share your wish list.

• Wish list aps: There are tons of free apps out there. I love Giftful for its ease of use and ability to share.
• Store wish lists: Most stores allow you to create a wish list on their websites and share the link. Amazon is a great choice because it has nearly everything.
• Create a shared spreadsheet or document to circulate among family members.

WHAT TO WISH FOR?
If you need help coming up with ideas to fill your Wish List, I've got you covered with these blogs:

• Organizer-Approved Gifts
• Think Local for Unique, Clutter-Free Gifts
• Creative Clutter-Free Gifts

KEEP TRACK OF GIVING
Download my fillable Gift Tracker to keep a list of the gifts you're giving to others.