Save paper, do holiday shopping lists with an app
Every December, I’ve watched my parents schlep around a few crumpled pieces of paper that my siblings and I have given them with our Christmas present wishes scribbled down on them. The lists inevitably get either lost or torn to shreds, and the parents inevitably get to the point of tearing their hair out. Merry Christmas?
My parents aren’t the only ones feeling the holiday shopping pressure, so, naturally, there’s an app for that. “Better Christmas List,” although not exactly culturally diverse, aims to provide a streamlined service for processing all of those toys, clothes, and power tools wishes from friends and family when you start your holiday shopping. And, more importantly, especially in the midst of this financial state we’re all in, the app claims to help keep track of your budget.
Groups
Start your lists by creating groups of giftees. Default groups are already included (friends and family), but for those who need to add coworkers, clients, etc., the process is fairly easy. You can also set separate budgets for each group, so it would be fairly helpful to not slack and throw all of your giftees into one group.
After you’ve added all of your people and your gifts (see below), the top line of each group breaks down how many gifts you have left to buy, how many left to wrap/mail, and what your budget is looking like thus far. It’s simply a nice touch that you can look to for a quick reference.
Add Person/Gift
Add people within a group, where you will list their gift wishes and details. You have the option of typing in a name on your own, or, even better, using the address book integration feature to add a person from your iPhone’s contacts list. It’s a minor feature, but a timesaver, nonetheless.
When adding a gift, the app asks which group and which person to add it to. You’re then able to name the gift, along with the price and any notes you’d like to make (sizes, colors, makes or models, for example). Simple, yes?
Budget
At the top of each group is your overall budget for everyone within that group. Once you’ve entered a gift as “bought,” by selecting a full shopping cart icon, the gift is calculated into your “spent” total, which is also listed with the budget. As evident by my faux-list, if the gifts you’ve purchased exceed your budget, your “spent” total shows in red. Whoops.
Also, your budget for all of your groups combined is listed in the “details” at the top of the app. If you’re still within your overall budget, the “spent” total is shown in green. Here’s hoping these font colors are a deterrent/guilt trip to overspending this season.
Archive
Assuming you stick with your iPhone through to the next holiday season, the application has an “archive” feature that allows you to save the gifts you bought last season, possibly for some ideas on what to buy this year. It’s a great tool for keeping track of how much you’ve spent over the past years on certain family members of friends, instead of guessing and having a somewhat underwhelmed giftee when all is said and done.
Passcode
Worried about prying eyes or snooping kids? There’s also a passcode function that allows you to enter a four-digit passcode. The app will ask for the passcode whenever it is opened, and any snoopers will be denied. This definitely beats the hiding game my parents used to play with the key to a closet in the basement where they kept all of our gifts (it showed up in places ranging from my mother’s key ring to under the soap dish). Yay for technology!
Other Features
I initially was skeptical of the “icons” feature boasted about in the App Store description, but the little stockings and shopping carts and wrapped packages are actually somewhat helpful in the long run with keeping track of everything. The stocking next to your family member is empty until you’ve selected the item as purchased, then it shows as full. Again, simple, but very helpful.
It’s a bit torturous when you’re a last-minute shopper like I am, but at the very top of the app is a reminder of how many shopping days you have left until Christmas day. Only 42 days left? Bah humbug.
Lastly, the application’s icon on your home screen includes a notification of how many gifts you still have left to purchase. It’s a cruel reminder to see when you’re swiping past games to take your mind off of all the shopping you have left to do, but if this app doesn’t do it, who or what will?
Recap & Conclusion
Price: $2.99
Updated: October 2009
Average iTunes review rating: 3.5/5
Our grade: A
+ Streamlined design and buttons, for easy navigating
+ Budgeting feature efficient, simple reference
- Design a bit cheesy, nauseating in times of holiday shopping despair
+ Passcode, archiving, and notifications
- Price is a bit steep for what you’re really getting
Chuck those paper lists and switch over to an app-ified Christmas list. This is an excellent way to keep track of your spending, your success rate, and avoid forgetting or losing a list when going straight to the mall from the office. Though $2.99 seems a little high for a very simple app, the developers have thought about everything the busy holiday shopper needs. Snoopers, excuse-makers, and overspenders: Sorry, you’re out of luck with this one.
Tags: better christmas list, budget, Christmas, holidays, shopping
I appreciate the time taken by the devs to create the app, BUT, I am going to be spending enough money on gifts as it is. I think I will leave the gift planning up to something free….notes?