Creating the Perfect Wishlist: Tips and Service Reviews
Wishlists are a fantastic way to let friends and family know your preferences. They can also help you figure out what you truly want to receive as a gift.
Back in 1999, Amazon introduced the Wishlist feature, allowing shoppers to save items they want and share these lists with friends and family. This feature quickly gained popularity as it simplified gift selection and purchasing planning.
Since then, numerous services have emerged where you can easily and quickly compile your wishlist. But before we dive into reviews, let's answer some key questions.
Why Create a Wishlist
Wishlists make gift selection easier and eliminate the guesswork on what to buy for someone. But beyond that, there are several important reasons to create a wishlist.
- Save time. Wishlists save time and resources for both the giver and recipient. The giver gets clear instructions on what to buy, while the recipient knows the gift will be useful and appreciated.
- Avoid duplicate gifts. Thanks to a wishlist, no one will give the same surprise to the recipient.
- Plan your budget. A wishlist helps you structure your desires and avoid impulse purchases, while for givers, it’s a great way to immediately understand what gift budget should be.
- Track discounts and promotions. Many wishlists allow you to automatically pull items from online stores and keep track of price increases and decreases.
When to Use Wishlists
Any event where gift exchanges are involved is a great reason to make a wishlist. Here are common occasions where people create wishlists:
Birthdays. The most popular reason to create a wishlist. A person lists items they would like to receive as gifts and shares this list with friends and family.
Secret Santa Exchange. The anonymous gift exchange game becomes simpler and more fun if every participant creates a wishlist in advance. This way, your Secret Santas won't have to guess what to give the recipient.
Weddings. Couples often create joint wishlists, adding items for the home, travel, or other important things they'd like to receive from guests.
Christmas. As the holiday season approaches, many people make wishlists for gifts they hope to find under the tree.
Anniversaries. Couples create joint wishlists with items that will delight them.
Children’s parties. Parents create wishlists for their kids to avoid giving toys they already have, ensuring all gifts are age-appropriate.
Corporate events. Major companies encourage employees to fill out wishlists to ensure corporate gifts hit the mark.
Baby showers. Wishlists help new parents receive only needed gifts from relatives and friends.
Gender reveal parties. Gifts are a tradition at these celebrations, and wishlists help guests decide on surprises.
Milestone birthdays. People celebrating a significant birthday can use wishlists to highlight gifts that will make the day special.
How to Create the Perfect Wishlist
Here are five tips to help you compose your wishlist.
- Determine priorities — Before filling out a wishlist, it's important to determine priorities. Think about what's truly needed or long desired. Divide your list into categories: Wants and Needs.
- Use various sources of inspiration — Wishlist ideas are everywhere, from social media to online stores. Keep up with trends and new releases in areas that interest you.
- Be specific — When adding items to your wishlist, specify not only the product name but also the model or color. It's even better if you attach a link. This helps avoid misunderstandings during purchases.
- Include gifts of different price ranges — If you plan to share your wishlist with friends and family, include gifts of various costs so everyone can choose what fits their budget.
- Include only necessary and desired items — Don't overload your wishlist with unnecessary or random things. Ensure all items are truly important and of interest. Consider what will bring real joy or benefit.
What to Add to Your Wishlist
If you're short on ideas for your wishlist, here are some options broken down into categories.
Clothing and Accessories
- Stylish leather bag.
- Silk scarf.
- Trendy sunglasses.
- Elegant watch.
- Cozy sweater.
Electronics
- Noise-cancelling headphones.
- Smartwatch.
- Portable speaker.
- Action camera.
- Power bank.
Books and Movies
- Collectible book.
- Streaming service subscription.
- Tickets to a movie premiere.
- Character figure from a movie or comic book.
- eBook reader.
Home Décor
- Beautiful lamp.
- Painting or poster.
- Decorative pillows.
- Mirror in a unique frame.
- Houseplant.
Hobbies and Interests
- Art supplies set.
- Musical instrument.
- Sports equipment.
- Crafting kit.
- Camera.
Top Free Services for Creating a Wishlist
Here are the online services that allow you to easily create wishlists year-round.
MySanta
This platform is designed for easily organizing the Secret Santa game during the holiday season, but you can use a wishlist in the app year-round for any occasion. Simply register on the site, go to the Wishlist section, and create a list of desired gifts. You can add favorite items from online stores or attach your own links to chosen items. The service also has a "Gift Ideas" section for inspiration.
Platform: web
Cost: free
Bonus: The service has a blog with gift-giving tips, ideas, and recommendations for every holiday and budget.
ThingsToGetMe
ThingsToGetMe simplifies gift-giving by letting you create and share custom wishlists for any occasion. With a browser extension, you can adds items from any website, making it easy to receive desired gifts. Share your wishlists with friends and family via a unique link, making it easy for them to browse and purchase gifts you'll genuinely appreciate.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android.
Cost: Freemium (free plan with basic features, paid plans for more).
Bonus: Group gifting, enhanced privacy, and priority support (paid plans).
WishlistApp
This app helps you create and share personalized wishlists for any occasion, making gift-giving effortless for both you and your loved ones. You can link wishes to events and subscribe for gifts so that you never miss anything important. Add items from online stores, manage gift statuses, and track who has purchased what, eliminating duplicate gifts and ensuring everyone gets exactly what they want.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Cost: Free.
DreamList
Dreamlist app has a clean and elegant interface that makes creating and sharing wishlists a pleasant experience. Its features include easy item adding, organized lists, and gift reservation to simplify gift-giving. You can easily share wishlists with friends, follow what others want, and get reminders to send thank you notes.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Cost: Free.
Wishlists save the time and effort of those who want to delight you, eliminate the risk of receiving the same gift, and help organize expenses.
Every year, MySanta service users share wishlist ideas in their profiles for gifts they’d like to receive at Christmas and other holidays. We carefully keep all the wishes and curate fantastic gift collections for those who haven’t decided yet. Get inspired by ideas and create your wishlists.
