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Some people are amazing at buying gifts. Others, not so much. For me, the best kinds of presents are the ones attached to good memories, or with homemade touches (aka homemade gifts). Alas, not everyone is a mind reader, creative, or sadly, even willing to put that much thought or effort into your present. To save your loved ones from searching the ends of the earth (or all around the metro) for something you might not even like, it’s best to save them the trouble with a holiday wish list.
Now, writing one is not as straightforward as one would think. You never want to go to crazy and hand out pages upon pages worth of ideas; on the flip side, you also don’t want to leave your friends and family with too few options. Additionally, you can’t fill up your wish list with luxury items that the majority of your loved ones cannot afford. There needs to be some balance.
Maybe it isn’t your first time at the rodeo. Maybe you’ve writing wish lists for years, but Pretty Me has got plenty of tips to up the ante to ensure you receive the best gifts this year.
So, ladies. Take some notes.
How to make your holiday wish list
List down everything your heart desires, then eliminate
Everything from new coloring pencils to the Dyson Airwrap can go in the first draft of your list. At this stage, you can include absolutely everything you have been wanting or would like, and if that list seems extremely long, no worries, as you’ll be eliminating things later. What you don’t want to is go looking for items to add to your list, since it’ll just make the process of elimination that much harder.
Once you’ve got that master list, it’s time to start crossing things out. If the list is really long, chances are you’ve doubled up on items. Also, having this long list will help you figure out which items you can actually buy for yourself instead of making others buy it for you. For example, it’s probably best to cross “lingerie” or “new underwear” since not everyone knows your size or the style of intimates you go for. Also, it’s pretty awkward asking your family to buy underwear for you, don’t you think?
Base your list on personal goals
If you’re not even sure where to start for your list, this is a good guideline for you. It’s that time of year when people are starting to think of New Year’s resolutions, so why not create a wish list that’s based on those goals? For example, if you want to finally lose some weight and live a healthier lifestyle, some items to include in your list are cute workout clothes and running shoes, a yoga mat or other gear, and maybe even a gym membership. If your goal is to take better care of your skin, include beauty products into your list. Now, if you’re looking to be smarter with your finances, you can ask for budget planning notebooks and books about personal finance management. If you want to read more, things to include in your list would be a Kindle, perhaps a GC from a bookstore, or just generally, good old fashioned books.
Make sure your list is a mix of luxury items and affordable goods
If you’re the oldest kid in the family and the only one with a job, it doesn’t make sense to fill your list up with a bunch of expensive items that you’ll probably never get (unless you buy them yourself). While it is reasonable to include a couple of luxury items (after all, it is a wish list), you can’t expect your studying/unemployed siblings to pull their savings together and get you the iPhone XS Max. Instead, have items in there at varying price points, so that there are potential gifts in there that would suit every kind of budget.
You might also want to include the price range of all your items to give your loved ones an idea of how much they’ll need to spend.
Include photos for references
I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how many times I’ve looked at my dad’s list and wondered what he actually wanted to say. Someone please explain to me what a Bluetooth speaker headset is.
You can put as many details in your list as you can, from shoe sizes to brands, but it’s always best to be specific. Photos are a great way to show your loved ones what exactly it is that you want in case they miss all the extra details in your list. Additionally, having a photo reference will help others deviate less from what you’ve asked for.
To make life easier for you, share this guide with your loved ones! That way, no one in your circle has anything ambiguous in their list, and that everyone ends up happy on Christmas Day!
Sheena is the lead fashion writer here at Pretty Me Philippines and has contributed articles for numerous lifestyle blogs and online publications. Other than keeping up with the latest trends, she loves baking and home DIY projects.
