Over budget for someone? Their card turns red. Everything stays on your device, so nobody peeking at a shared computer account can find a server-side list.
How to plan Christmas gifts without overspending
Most holiday overspending is not one big purchase. It is a dozen small ones nobody added up. The fix is simple: decide your total first, write down everyone you are buying for, and give each person a share of that total before you start browsing. GiftListKit is built around that order of work.
1. Set the total
Open the Budget split tab and enter the most you can spend and pay off in full. Give each person a weight: 1 for most adults, 2 for children or a partner, 0.5 for colleagues or neighbours. The planner divides the total, rounds each share down to a whole amount, and shows what is left over for wrapping paper, cards and postage.
2. Brainstorm ideas with prices
On each person’s card, add as many ideas as you like, with an estimated price and the store you would buy it from. Ideas count toward that person’s planned total straight away, so you can see if three “small” ideas are already over budget. Delete the ones you drop.
3. Shop by store, not by person
The Shopping list tab turns all unbought ideas into a checklist grouped by store, with who each item is for and a subtotal for each shop. One trip, or one online basket, covers several people at once.
4. Track status to the end
Mark gifts bought when you pay, wrapped when they are ready, and given on the day. Bought, wrapped and given gifts count as spent. A person’s card turns green when every gift is at least bought, and red if you go over their budget.
Stocking stuffers and extras
Tick the stocking column for small items. They still count toward the person’s total, which is the point: stockings are where budgets leak. If food, decorations or a work Secret Santa need money too, add them as their own card with their own budget.
Privacy
Your list is saved only in this browser, so a gift list for the kids is never uploaded anywhere. If you share a computer, remember that anyone using the same browser profile can open the page. Download a CSV backup if you plan to clear your browser data, and print the checklist if you prefer paper in the shops.
Frequently asked questions
Is my list private?
It is stored only in this browser’s local storage, never uploaded. Anyone using the same browser profile could open it, so use a private profile on shared devices.
Can I use it for other holidays?
Yes: birthdays, Hanukkah, Eid or any gift-giving season. Only the countdown is Christmas-specific.
Can I export the list?
Download a CSV for any spreadsheet, or print the checklist.
Is GiftListKit free?
Yes, with no sign-up.
Where is my list saved?
In this browser only. Download a CSV if you want a backup.