My wife is a great list-maker. I am not. So sometimes, if she’s going to the grocery store, she asks me to write down what I need that week. I haphazardly think of the stuff I might want. Am I making soup? That probably requires vegetables. But without a system, I forget some items. Then I have to text her 30 times as I remember other things.
Making a list isn’t about just kind of jotting things down; it’s about actually thinking of what you want and figuring out the best way to transmit it. It’s about being clear for everyone.
This is especially true when it comes to creating wish lists for a gift exchange. For me, the best way to do that is to create a wish list online. Why should you create a wish list online? Because it’s easy. Because it makes everyone a great list-maker… even me.
Why You Should Create a Wish List Online
So, why is creating a wish list online the best way to do things? Well, here are a few reasons:
You Can Choose From Multiple Retail Outlets
Imagine someone saying that you can have any kind of cake you want—as long as it’s this pineapple upside-down one. Even if you love pineapple, and really love when it’s upside down, that’s not really a choice.
When you start a wish list, you don’t want to be limited. You don’t want to have to stick to one store. You want to be able to make a wish list from multiple websites, so you can create a diverse list that represents all your tastes.
You Can Shop With Gift Guides
Maybe there’s a Secret Santa theme that every gift has to revolve around. Maybe you’re really in the mood for Star Wars. Or maybe you just want to see cool things in a certain category.
If your online wish list generator has gift guides, you can shop by thousands of categories. These can be broad, like “books” or “outdoors”, or superspecific, like “camp blanket”, for people who like to camp and also get cold. No matter who you are or what you like, you can find gifts.
You Can Share It With People
Whether you have one person with whom you’re sharing your list (like for a Secret Santa) or you’re making a list for all your friends, your online wish list maker should make it easy for them to see it.
You Can Continually Alter Your List
I listen to music all week while I’m working. And yet, if you were to ask me what I’ve been listening to, I’d draw a total blank. Humans are funny like that: we can freeze up when asked about specifics.
So, if you totally forget that thing you’ve been thinking about when making your wish list, don’t worry. You can add it later. Your wish list is open for continual revisions. In fact, some online wish list generators have apps that allow you to upload photos of the thing you saw.
People Can Buy Directly From Your List
No one wants to go to multiple stores. Heck, most people don’t want to go to the store at all, even in the most normal of times. The great thing about an online list is that you can buy gifts with one click and have them shipped right to the recipient. And, you can also mark an item as purchased to avoid repeat gifts!
So now that you know why you should do it, the question becomes how. Here are a few tips.
How to Create a Wish List Online
Here are some wish list ideas that are sure to make your gift exchange or party easy.
- Find a Secret Santa generator that has all of the features above..
- Invite people to participate.
- If running a Secret Santa, have the generator randomly assign giftees and Santas.
- Create a wish list.
- Share your list.
- Download the iPhone app or Android app so you can update on-the-go.
- Buy gifts for your giftee right from their list.
- Have your gift exchange.
- Be happy!
Easy Organization Makes for Spontaneous Fun
The best part about things being easy is that the gift exchange ends up being more fun. An online wish list does two things:
- Gives you the structure to make sure everyone gets what they want.
- Gives you the freedom to enjoy everything.
That’s a great combination. This allows you to have more time to celebrate, to exchange, to laugh, and to enjoy connecting with each other.
To me, that’s the heart of a party. If I had to plan everything I wanted from celebrating with my loved ones, my list would be just one item: enjoy the time spent with those I love. And when you create a wish list online, you can easily cross that one off.
If you want an easy way to create a wish list online, try the Elfster Secret Santa generator. You can pair people up, shop for gifts, and start a Wish List—all from an iPhone app or Android app.
