What is a Wishlist?
A wishlist is a list of things you want. People make wishlists for all kinds of reasons. Some people make wishlists of gifts they hope to get for their birthday or a holiday. Other people make wishlists of stuff they want to buy someday when they have enough money. You can make a wishlist about anything you want.
Why People Make Wishlists
There are lots of reasons why someone might make a wishlist. Here are some of the most common reasons:
To Keep Track of Things You Want
It can be hard to remember all the things you want. Maybe you see an excellent video game or a neat shirt while you’re at the store with your parents. But your parents say you can’t get it right now. If you write it down on a wishlist, you won’t forget it. Later, when your birthday comes, or you save up enough of your allowance, you can look at your wishlist and remember all the things you want to get.
To Share Gift Ideas With OthersYour
Your friends and family often want to get you birthday or holiday presents. But it can be hard for them to know what you like. If you share a wishlist with them, they can look at it and get ideas for what to buy you. That way, you are more likely to get the presents you want. It also makes things easier for your family since they don’t have to guess what you might like.
To Plan for Stuff You Want to Buy
Even grownups make wishlists. But their wishlists might be a little different. A grownup might make a wishlist of things they want to save their money to buy. For example, they might want a new car or a fancy computer. Those things cost a lot of money.
Grownups have to budget their money carefully. That means they must plan how much they will spend on different things. By making a wishlist, a grownup can plan the big things they want to buy. They can determine how much money they need to save for each item on their list. Making a wishlist helps them turn their wants into a plan.
Different Kinds of Wishlists
You can make a wishlist for all kinds of different things. Here are some common types of wishlists:
Birthday Wishlists
A birthday wishlist is a list of presents you hope to get for your birthday. You can share your birthday wishlist with your friends and family. Then, when your birthday comes, they can look at your list and maybe get you some of the things you want most.
Birthday wishlists are a great way to let people know what toys, games, clothes, or other things you like. That way, you are more likely to have a happy birthday and get your desired gifts.
Holiday Wishlists
Holiday wishlists are similar to birthday wishlists. The difference is that you make them for a holiday, like Christmas or Hanukkah, instead of your birthday.
Lots of kids make Christmas wishlists for Santa. They write down the toys they hope Santa will bring them. Then, their parents can look at their wishlist and get ideas for Christmas presents to put under the tree.
Grownups make holiday wishlists, too. They might share their wishlist with their husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or other family members. That way, everyone has ideas for what presents to get each other, taking some of the guesswork out of holiday shopping.
Shopping Wishlists
As we discussed, grownups sometimes make wishlists of big things they want to buy for themselves. These are called shopping wishlists.
Shopping wishlists can be for anything, like furniture, tools, electronics, or clothes. Making a shopping wishlist helps you plan out big purchases. You can look at the prices of the items on your list and set money-saving goals. It might take months or even years to save many things, like a house or a car. But having those items on your wishlist keeps you motivated.
Some stores even let you make a wishlist using their website. This is helpful for two reasons. First, you can pick out the items you want from that store. Second, you can share your wishlist with other people, and if they’re going to buy you a gift, they can get it right from your wishlist on the store’s site. It’s like a birthday or holiday wishlist but for any time of the year.
How to Make a Great Wishlist
If you want to make your wishlist, here are some tips for making it great:
Be Specific
When you put something on your wishlist, try to be as specific as possible. Don’t just write “new bike.” Instead, write something like “A red 10-speed mountain bike.” The more specific you are, the more likely you are to get exactly what you want.
It helps to include details like:
- Brand or store names
- Colors
- Sizes
- Model numbers
- Prices
Prioritize
Most of us want a lot of things. But let’s be honest, we want some things more than others. When you make your wishlist, put the stuff you want the most at the top. That way, if someone looks at your wishlist and can only get you one or two things, they will get your top choices.
You can even put little star ratings next to each item. Maybe five stars mean, “I want this the most!” and one star means, “This would be nice, but it’s not as important as the other stuff.”
Update Often
Our wants and needs change over time. That cool toy you wanted last month might not seem as exciting anymore, and you might also think of new things to add to your wishlist.
Look over your wishlist every few weeks. Remove things you don’t want anymore, add new things you want, and keep them fresh. An up-to-date wishlist is much more helpful than one you made long ago and forgot about.
Dream Big, But Be Realistic
It’s okay to put big dreams on your wishlist. Want to go to Disneyland? Please put it on there! Dreaming big is good. But also be realistic. If your wishlist has a bunch of crazy-expensive stuff, those who look at it might get frustrated. They want to make you happy, but they might not be able to afford a trip to the moon or a pet unicorn.
Mix some more minor, more affordable things with your big dreams. That way, there’s something for everyone. And who knows? Maybe someday you can make those big wishlist dreams come true.
