Christmas gift list tracker 🎁

How to plan your Christmas gift budget with this tracker

Using the tracker

1. Add a gift: type the person’s name, a gift idea and its expected price, then tap “Add” or press Enter. Only the person’s name is required, so you can add someone now and fill in the idea later.
2. One row per gift: buying several things for one person? Add a row for each one, with the same name. Each row counts as one gift.
3. Tick it off when you buy it: checking the box crosses out the gift idea and adds its price to “Spent (bought).” Unchecking it takes the price back out.
4. Change your mind: rows can’t be edited. If the price or the idea changes, delete the row with ✕ and add it again with the new details.
5. Read the totals: “Gifts” is the number of rows, “Planned budget” adds up every row, and “Spent (bought)” adds up only the checked ones. Subtract Spent from Planned to see what you still have to buy.

Where your list is stored

• The list is saved in the browser you’re using, on that device. If you open the page on your phone, you won’t see the list you made on your laptop, so pick one device and stick with it.
• Private or incognito windows, and clearing your browser history and site data, can delete the list. Avoid both until the shopping is done.
• “Clear list” deletes everything once you confirm, and it can’t be undone.
• Anyone who uses the same browser can see the list. If the family shares a computer, use your own phone, or write vague gift ideas (“the blue thing”) so you don’t spoil any surprises.
• Amounts are shown with a dollar sign, but the math works for any currency. Just enter the numbers.

Setting a budget that sticks

The tracker has no separate budget field, so decide on your total before you add anything. Work back from what you can spend without borrowing, then divide it up. One approach that works well is to sort recipients into tiers, such as one amount for partners and children, a smaller amount for parents and siblings, and a small fixed amount for coworkers, teachers and neighbors. As you add rows, keep an eye on “Planned budget.” If it goes over your total, trim ideas now instead of at the checkout.

Don’t forget the hidden costs

Wrapping paper, tape, cards, gift bags, batteries, shipping and postage add up quickly and are easy to leave out. Because only the name field is required, you can add rows like “Wrapping,” “Shipping” or “Stocking stuffers” as if they were people and give each one an amount. That way your planned total includes them too.

A simple shopping routine

• Start with the list, not the store: add every person first, even before you have an idea for them. Anyone without a gift idea is easy to spot.
• Use realistic prices: enter what the gift will actually cost, including tax and delivery, not the lowest price you’ve seen advertised.
• Tick only when it’s bought: don’t tick something just because it’s in your cart, or “Spent” will be wrong.
• Shop online first: anything that has to be delivered should come first. Leave the in-store and local items for the last couple of weeks.
• Check it before you buy anything else: a quick look stops you buying two gifts for the same person or forgetting someone.

For the practical side, see how much time you have left on the Christmas countdown. If your family or office does a gift exchange, you can draw names without email using the Secret Santa generator, then add your one match to this list with the exchange’s spending limit.