4 ms·

That every Christmas and birthday my family ask me what I want for Xmas/birthday and that I have to email them a bunch of links as to what it is that I want. Ma

That every Christmas and birthday my family ask me what I want for Xmas/birthday and that I have to email them a bunch of links as to what it is that I want. Maybe it isn't a problem, but it bugs me and my mate so we built something that we found useful that we thought could be beneficial to others. thanks!

matb33 14y ago
Same here... Over 10 years ago my mom gave me a paper list of gift ideas for the whole family. I was supposed to cross off what I was buying to avoid duplicates. Didn't take long for me to write a web app to manage it. I rewrote it last year after 10+ long years of solid usage: http://www.gifttracker.net/ http://www.gifttracker.net/ It's a slightly different take on the wish list "problem" in that mine isn't about getting gift ideas, it's about sharing lists and reserving to avoid duplicates.
- JoeAltmaier 14y ago
  Pretty clinical approach to gift-giving? Were socks and new underwear on the list? How about a 12-pack of WD-40 for dad?
  - matb33 14y ago
    Wait until you get married, then you'll understand ;) Wedding registries, baby registries... And in many cases that type of gift-giving extends to Christmas and birthdays.
    - JoeAltmaier 14y ago
      Married for 30 years. 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 13 nieces and nephews. Still haven't resorted to asking people what they want. What's the point? They can get that for themselves.
      - deleted 14y ago
        [deleted]
      - matb33 14y ago
        I deleted my previous comment as perhaps I am taking your comment too personally. I agree with you that it is nice to be surprised. I am just pointing out that there are legitimate uses for the "clinical" approach to gift giving: wedding and baby registries are quite common. If you don't know the newlyweds/parents nor the contents of their house very well, the registry can go a long way to giving them a gift that they actually need and will use. Cheers
        JoeAltmaier 14y ago
        Yeah; I guess there's the class of obligatory gifts that social circumstances extort out of us. We no longer question why we're going to a wedding of somebody we don't know. Still, the idea that somebody has set up a list of 'acceptable gifts' sticks in my craw. I have a friend that always gives a wooden trencher board as a wedding gift for anybody. Different enough not to be duplicated.
        matb33 14y ago
        Ah I see where you're coming from. The list I was speaking of originally was a wishlist. It wasn't a "buy only these things or you're no longer family" ;) Incidentally my app supports "secret gifts". You can enter a surprise gift that everyone but the recipient can see. That avoids duplicate gift buying even when someone else had the same great idea for a "secret gift" that you did :)

matb33 14y ago

Same here... Over 10 years ago my mom gave me a paper list of gift ideas for the whole family. I was supposed to cross off what I was buying to avoid duplicates. Didn't take long for me to write a web app to manage it. I rewrote it last year after 10+ long years of solid usage: http://www.gifttracker.net/ http://www.gifttracker.net/ It's a slightly different take on the wish list "problem" in that mine isn't about getting gift ideas, it's about sharing lists and reserving to avoid duplicates.

JoeAltmaier 14y ago
Pretty clinical approach to gift-giving? Were socks and new underwear on the list? How about a 12-pack of WD-40 for dad?
- matb33 14y ago
  Wait until you get married, then you'll understand ;) Wedding registries, baby registries... And in many cases that type of gift-giving extends to Christmas and birthdays.
  - JoeAltmaier 14y ago
    Married for 30 years. 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 13 nieces and nephews. Still haven't resorted to asking people what they want. What's the point? They can get that for themselves.
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
    - matb33 14y ago
      I deleted my previous comment as perhaps I am taking your comment too personally. I agree with you that it is nice to be surprised. I am just pointing out that there are legitimate uses for the "clinical" approach to gift giving: wedding and baby registries are quite common. If you don't know the newlyweds/parents nor the contents of their house very well, the registry can go a long way to giving them a gift that they actually need and will use. Cheers
      - JoeAltmaier 14y ago
        Yeah; I guess there's the class of obligatory gifts that social circumstances extort out of us. We no longer question why we're going to a wedding of somebody we don't know. Still, the idea that somebody has set up a list of 'acceptable gifts' sticks in my craw. I have a friend that always gives a wooden trencher board as a wedding gift for anybody. Different enough not to be duplicated.
        matb33 14y ago
        Ah I see where you're coming from. The list I was speaking of originally was a wishlist. It wasn't a "buy only these things or you're no longer family" ;) Incidentally my app supports "secret gifts". You can enter a surprise gift that everyone but the recipient can see. That avoids duplicate gift buying even when someone else had the same great idea for a "secret gift" that you did :)