How it works
Every idea goes into the jar of the person it's for, and stays there until you plan it for an occasion. An occasion has a date and, if you like, a budget. Spent counts every gift for it that you've marked bought, wrapped or given; planned counts the ideas you've pulled in that have a price; what's left is the budget minus both, so you see the overrun before you buy. Gifts without a price are counted but add nothing.
Each gift moves through four steps: idea, bought, wrapped, given. You can step back at any time, all the way to the jar. When a gift is given, the page notes the date and the occasion's name, and keeps it under "Given before" for that person, which shows up as soon as you start adding an idea for them.
"Plan again next year" copies an occasion a year on with the same budget. Amounts are kept in whole cents (or the currency's smallest unit). Everything stays in this browser; export a copy to keep it.
Questions people ask
- How do I keep track of gift ideas all year?
- Write each idea down the moment you hear it, under the person it's for. Here, each person has a jar: type who it's for and the idea, and it waits there until you plan it for a birthday, Christmas or any other occasion.
- How do I avoid giving the same gift twice?
- Keep a record of what you gave. Every gift you mark as given stays under 'Given before' for that person, and shows up as soon as you type their name to add an idea.
- How much do people spend on holiday gifts?
- In the National Retail Federation's 2025 survey of 8,247 US adults, people planned to spend $627.93 on average on gifts for family and friends, out of $890.49 for the holidays overall. Those are plans, not a target: set your own budget on each occasion.
- Where is my list kept?
- Only in this browser on this device. We never see it and it isn't shared, so the people you're buying for won't come across it unless they use this browser. Export a copy from Settings to keep it safe.