The challenge becomes what to suggest on the spot, how many times to request the same item, and whether to put in unique gift ideas or similar requests to each guest. Solve this problem by creating a gift registry for each of your kids to make birthdays and gift-giving holidays less stressful for relatives, birthday party guests, and yourself. Gift-givers will know exactly what you or your child wants, so no one will be disappointed, and the gift-giving process becomes easier and more efficient for everyone. Some wish lists even allow the gift buyer to mark off gifts that have been purchased to cut down on duplicates.
What to Look For
The bonus of many registries is that, with a few clicks, gift-givers can select and purchase items, making the process super easy and efficient. Plus, the majority of registries are free. Below we list some of our favorites but if you decide to venture out to find a registry website on your own, here’s what to look for:
Allows you to create multiple listsCosts nothing or is very low-costGives you rewards or coupons when purchases are made (these are usually available for store-specific wish lists)Offers a wide range of recommended available products for you to addServes as an easy-to-use option for both you and the people you share it withUpdates easily, with features that allow others to mark off purchased items
You do need an account to use Pinterest, but it’s free, and the boards are easy to share with anyone you choose. You also can follow your favorite people for more gift ideas in one go-to spot. Some nationwide stores that offer comprehensive, easy-to-use registry services include Target and Walmart. On MyRegistry, users can sync a number of different store registries into one list. You can add gifts from major retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, West Elm, and more, in order to create a universal registry tailored to your needs. The site also offers a Chrome browser extension to make adding to your lists even easier as you scan the web. Additionally, the site features tons of inspirational product ideas in easily searchable categories to add to your lists. This is a great resource for coming up with gift-giving ideas, as well. The service began after one of its founders was given the same book three times in the space of one holiday and decided there must be a better way—and CheckedTwice was born. You can share it with anyone you like and use your phone to make changes at any time. Everyone you give access to the Google Sheet will be able to update and view this collaborative organizational tool. Best of all, it’s free to use!
