Christmas Wishlist Maker — Share What You Actually Want This Year
Stop the guessing game. One private Christmas list per person means nobody buys the same book twice.
A cosy Christmas — the Hallidays
One list for the four of us so nobody buys the same book twice. Small and warm is the theme this year, and we're trying to buy less overall.
Good to know
- Post by the 15th if you're sending; otherwise bring it on the day.
- We draw one name each too, so a single gift per person is plenty.
Please avoid
- No more mugs.
- Nothing that needs batteries.
Filter the ideas
Showing 6 of 6 ideas.
Lambswool jumper
Men's M, green or oatmeal · about €75 · Clothes
The nature book everyone mentioned
Hardback, the illustrated edition · about €28 · Books
Reserved by someoneFamily board game
Something for six players after dinner · about €40 · Games
Thick wool socks, two pairs
EU 42 and EU 38 · about €30 · Clothes
Good hot chocolate and a tin
The proper flaked kind · about €18 · Treats
Cinema tickets for two
Any chain, for the quiet week after · about €30 · Experiences
Budgets are illustrative, not shop prices. Your own pages are shared by private link — this sample is public on purpose. Guests can reserve anonymously without an account.
How to make this one work
1One list per person
Everyone in the family keeps their own page, so nobody buys the same book twice.
2Set a posting date
Tell people when parcels need to arrive; December fills up fast.
3Keep a few small ideas
Under €20 options matter when everyone is buying for several people.
4Say what you're cutting back on
If you're buying less this year, write that at the top — most families are relieved.
A Christmas planning checklist you can actually follow
December goes wrong when the decisions happen too late. This is the order things need to happen in — adjust the dates to your family.
- 1Early NovemberAgree with the family whether you're doing one gift each, Secret Santa, or gifts for the kids only.
- 2Early NovemberAgree a rough budget out loud, so nobody over- or under-spends by accident.
- 3Mid NovemberWrite your own list: a few ideas under €25, one or two bigger ones, and anything you'd rather not receive.
- 4Mid NovemberAdd sizes, colours and 'already have this' notes — that's what stops wrong guesses.
- 5Late NovemberShare one link per person in the family chat, then stop discussing gifts there.
- 6Early DecemberCheck what's still unreserved on the lists you're shopping for and claim yours.
- 7Mid DecemberSet your last posting date for anything being shipped, and note it on the list.
- 8Before the dayAdd any late ideas; reserved items stay reserved, so nothing gets bought twice.
The planning checklist
Paste it into your notes app or the family chat.
Christmas gift planning checklist [ ] Early November: Agree with the family whether you're doing one gift each, Secret Santa, or gifts for the kids only. [ ] Early November: Agree a rough budget out loud, so nobody over- or under-spends by accident. [ ] Mid November: Write your own list: a few ideas under €25, one or two bigger ones, and anything you'd rather not receive. [ ] Mid November: Add sizes, colours and 'already have this' notes — that's what stops wrong guesses. [ ] Late November: Share one link per person in the family chat, then stop discussing gifts there. [ ] Early December: Check what's still unreserved on the lists you're shopping for and claim yours. [ ] Mid December: Set your last posting date for anything being shipped, and note it on the list. [ ] Before the day: Add any late ideas; reserved items stay reserved, so nothing gets bought twice.
A message for the family chat
Polite, low-pressure, and it explains the reservations in one line.
Hi all — before the "what do you want for Christmas?" messages start, here's my list this year: [paste your HintGifts link] There are a few small things and one bigger idea. Nothing on it is expected — it's just there so nobody has to guess. If you pick something, mark it as reserved on the page so two people don't buy the same thing. Happy to keep it simple this year if that suits everyone better.
Write down what you'd actually love — specific products, open ideas, an experience, or nothing expensive at all — and drop the link into the family chat when the 'what do you want?' messages start. Keep a few options under €20, because everyone is buying for several people, and set a posting date so parcels arrive in time.
If you're cutting back this year, say so at the top; most families are relieved. Guests reserve without signing up and can see what's already taken. To keep Christmas morning a surprise for yourself, Surprise mode hides reservations from you — it's an optional setting on Personal, Lifetime and Pro.
Questions people ask
Keep reading
- How to organise Christmas gifts for the whole family
The longer guide behind this checklist: who decides what, and how to keep the group chat out of it.
- Running a Secret Santa instead
Budget-capped ideas for €15 and €25 exchanges, with a sample list you can try.
- How to organise a group gift
For the one bigger present several relatives want to share.
Ready to start?
Create your private wishlist in under a minute.
Back to the HintGifts homepage.