How the planner keeps you on budget
- Set the number first. Choose a total you are comfortable with, or give each person a limit that adds up to it.
- Fill in planned prices. If your plans add up to more than the budget, you will see it before you buy anything.
- Enter what you spend. Ticking bought on a gift with a planned price fills in the spent amount, which you can change if the real price differed.
- Use the filters. Show only what is still to buy, what is waiting to be wrapped, or the gifts that ran over plan or budget.
Want the thinking behind the numbers? Read how to set a holiday gift budget you will actually stick to, with tiers, a buffer and a simple timeline.
Questions
Should I use one total budget or a budget for each person?
Both work. A single total is flexible but easy to overspend early. Per-person budgets give clear limits. The planner supports either, and when you switch to per-person budgets it can split your total evenly so the amounts still add up.
How does the over-budget warning work?
It compares what you planned and what you spent with your budget. If your plans add up to more than the budget you see a warning before you buy anything, and if your spending passes the budget the warning turns into an over-budget alert with the amount. In per-person mode each card is checked against its own budget.
Is my gift list private?
Your list is saved in this browser on this device only, so it is there when you come back. Clearing your browser data removes it, so export a CSV if you want a copy.
Can I print the list on A4 or US Letter?
Yes. Pick your paper size next to the print button and the checklist is set up for that page, with a box for bought, wrapped and given beside each name and the totals at the top.
What does the CSV file contain?
One row per person with group, idea, budget, planned, spent and the bought, wrapped and given status, followed by a totals row. It opens in any spreadsheet.