When it comes to gift-giving, we’re often told that it’s the thought that counts. However, we’ve all had the experience of receiving a gift and wondering, “What exactly were they thinking?” Despite the best intentions, the connection between the gift and the recipient’s interests, style, or values can sometimes feel tenuous at best. The result of gifting with the giver’s “thought” as their guide can lead to an economic and psychological minefield.
Psychologists suggest that one consequence of bad gift-giving is anxiety surrounding the process. Some economic researchers argue that gift-giving is often a waste of money due to a misalignment in utility for the receiver. Even seemingly harmless options, like gift cards, are often left unused, with billions of dollars in trapped value each year.
In recent years, people have begun to realize that the reason why registries work so well for weddings and baby showers is the same reason they can work for EVERY gift-giving occasion. Gift registries make giving better, easier, and more enjoyable for both the giver and the receiver.
An always-on, “all-occasion” gift list makes perfect sense. Many people already informally maintain such lists. In an article in Architectural Digest, designer Sidney Gore shared how she uses a Google spreadsheet to track items she wants and then shares the link with friends when there’s a gifting occasion. When you add shareable and shoppable features to such a list, it’s essentially a gift registry.
Jeff Galak, a marketing professor at Carnegie Mellon University, recently discussed gift-giving on the Hidden Brain podcast. He revealed that he and his wife keep a shared spreadsheet of items they’d like as gifts. A key reason behind this list is that, like many people, Galak is specific about what he wants. When he wants something, like an espresso machine, he knows exactly what it should be. From an economic standpoint, an always-on gift list maximizes the value of the gift because it’s something the receiver will actually use.
While homemade solutions like spreadsheets are novel, MyRegistry.com offers an even better solution. You can add any item from any store—both online and in-store. It’s easy to use, and just as easy to share. Jess, a MyRegistry.com user, first used a gift registry for her housewarming. She found it so useful that she asked her entire family to use it for Christmas. “It’s so easy and convenient,” she says. In fact, thousands of MyRegistry.com users create gift lists for different occasions year-round.
On the podcast, Galak also discussed the differing motivations behind givers and receivers in a gift exchange. The giver is seeking that element of surprise and excitement: “I can’t wait to see the look on their face!” Meanwhile, the receiver is often more concerned with the long-term relationship they’ll have with the gift: “Where am I going to put this thing?” The shared gift list resolves this by ensuring both surprise and utility. While the list creator knows what they want, they have no idea when the gift will arrive. One nifty feature on MyRegistry.com is that the giver can mark a gift as a surprise, preserving the element of delight.
So, the next time you think about your year-round gifting occasions—from anniversaries to birthdays, Mother’s Day to the holidays—ask yourself: Is it only the thought of the giver that counts? Or should gifting focus on what YOU want? Can gift lists prevent the costs of bad gifts, like returns, exchanges, or regifting? Can they eliminate the frustration of money trapped on unused gift cards or gadgets gathering dust in a closet? Can an always-on, all-occasion gift list make your friends and family better gift-givers?
MyRegistry.com has helped countless couples start their lives together, new parents begin their families, and charities collect in-kind donations—all through gift registry technology. We believe the best way to let people know what gifts you want is simply to tell them—no matter the occasion.
