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Not sure what to put on your wish list this Christmas? If so, follow these steps.

  1. Don't wait until December to start thinking about this. Whenever there is something that you want, but you can't get because you don't have enough money or your parents won't buy it for you, write it down.
  2. That means every single thing you would want. Even if you only want it a little, write it down. Once you cannot think of anything else that you could possibly want, move on to step two.
    • Think of your interests. Do you like sports? Then put a soccer ball, or some sort of sports equipment on your list. Do you love fashion? Then write down clothes, or be more specific (shirts, a scarf, etc.) If you like music, Put CDs, radio, or an iPod on your Christmas list. If you can't really think of anything specific, then put a broader criteria. For example, if you want like art, but don't know what to ask for specifically, just put art supplies.
    • Think of what you need. Do you need some more T-shirts? If so, put them on your list. Or are you short on headbands and hair accessories? Put them on the list.
    • Think about what you want. Do you so desperately want the latest makeup palette? If so, put that on your list.
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  3. If you are a very practical person, think of things you would never buy for yourself, because you don't really need them, but that you would enjoy anyway. Let others treat you to those things.
  4. Yes, this is the hardest part. Narrowing down the list. Try to shoot for around 10-20 items. For example, let's say you have really wanted a digital camera for the past two years. That's something to keep on the list. But if you just recently wanted a new pair of headphones, and your old pair is just fine, that's something to cross off the list, because you don't really need or want it. A camera, however, is functional for taking pictures of things, and shooting videos.
  5. Who makes the item? How much is it? Do you know any one who owns it? Could you describe it? are probably some of the questions you will hear. Go online and research what you want. Prices are always the best thing to look up first, then where this item can be obtained, and any other information. Pictures are great, so when your parents go Christmas shopping, they aren't stuck looking around for the present with the same name, they are just looking for the object that resembled the picture.
  6. Make it neat, colorful, and make sure to add some data about the item, like a picture and a price, and where you can buy it. This way, shopping for your gifts will not be too confusing. Also, if your mom/dad has to hop around to 10 stores just to buy two gifts, it will most likely tick them off. Try to make sure that they can buy most of your gifts at one or two stores. And, there is always online shopping from the comfort of your own home!
  7. Double-check your information. Are all the prices correct? Can you replace a brand name item with a cheaper but equally functional one? Is everything spelled correctly? When you are ABSOLUTELY SURE everything is correct, present your list to your parents.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if my family isn't rich?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    That's fine! There are tons of gifts out there for any budget, so you can make a list that's limited to items your parents can afford.
  • Question
    What if I can't think of anything?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    This list isn't only for developing around the holidays. It can be developed over the course of a year, as long as you trim it back if you decide to buy some of these presents early. Keep a pencil and paper nearby and write as you think about the items you might want to add.
  • Question
    How long does this process take?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It could last the whole year just by you taking notes of things you see on ads.
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Warnings

  • Remember that this is a wish list. No one is obligated to buy you anything or everything on it. You can't assume that you will get everything that you asked for!
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About This Article

Seth Hall
Reviewed by:
Life Coach
This article was reviewed by Seth Hall. Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. This article has been viewed 232,947 times.
598 votes - 63%
Co-authors: 43
Updated: July 4, 2023
Views: 232,947
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 232,947 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Lilly Dagey

    Lilly Dagey

    Nov 25, 2020

    "I made a great list with this. It was detailed and helpful. I got a lot of ideas from this article, and I had an..." more
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