I prefer to keep track of my purchases the original old fashioned way. A notebook and a pen. Or for a middle-aged-fashioned way, with a speadsheet and email folders.
But for those of you who like to keep everything on your phone, then there are a bunch of tech savvy options for keeping track of your online purchases.
In the old days you would just write up a list of people you were buying for, go shopping, jot down what you got them and hide the gift in a box or cupboard until Christmas, knowing exactly where it was and that it is what you hoped it would be.
These days as more and more purchases are made online it can be easy to forgot what you bought, where you bought it, when you bought it, when it's due to arrive, if it arrived and who you bought it for.
For those of you who are device savvy, my research has come up with the following apps that help to keep track of your online Christmas shopping:
- Santa's Bag for iPhone: budget, plan, create lists and track progress.
- My Christmas Wishlist for iPhone or Android: let's your kids create their Santa wishlist which is magically emailed to you for you to then click and order online and/or share with family so they too know what to buy the kids
- GiftPlanner for iPhone: plan, stores and prices, purchase status, order and tracking numbers.
- The Christmas List for iPhone: budget, create lists, share lists, track, status, countdown
- Slice for iPhone: track and organise packages
For those of you who prefer the middle-aged-fashioned way here's how I keep track of my online purchases.
- Keep track of emails: Set up an email folder titled "Christmas shopping 2016" to file purchase, tracking and status emails
- Keep track of purchases: In a note book or on a spreadsheet, jot down the person's name, what I bought, the website address and the date of purchase. Leave space for status updates.
- Keep track of websites: In my browser I set up a folder titled "Christmas Shopping 2016" and tag the websites I've bought from until Christmas is over. That way if there are any issues I can access the website again quickly.
- Keep track of packages: Monitor the status updates on email and record that in the notebook/spreadsheet. If there has been no status update after a week or so, email/phone the company to check that the order was received.
- Keep track of arrivals: As soon as packages arrive, check the contents, ensure it is what you hoped it would be, tick it of off in your notebook/spreadsheet and wrap and label it ASAP.
I actually started my Christmas shopping this week with a bunch of online purchases. It's very easy to purchase and forget when your goods aren't actually within reach yet. With my memory becoming more of a forgetory it's essential I have a system in place to keep an eye on my online shopping.
Do you purchase online?
How do you keep track of your Christmas shopping?
What systems or apps work well for you?
Are you old fashioned, middle-aged-fashioned or very much in the now?
This post was inspired by Lyndall's Christmas linky.
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I start shopping from about July onwards, and invariable when I go to wrap, there's 2 presents for some people...so the app would be perfect for scatty people like me!
ReplyDeleteI used to do that when the kids were young. I would start at the June sales and put on lay-by. I found I would end up with sooooo much stuff. Too much!
DeleteSuch a great and timely article. We have started shopping here and there are lots of little bits and pieces bought Now I need to write it down so that I know what we have! Of course there are Christmas lists (that need a little clarification lol) too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leanne getting onto sorting this all out this afternoon!
Good job! How'd you go?
DeleteOhhh great tips! I'm going to checkout Santa's bag for my phone :D Thanks for sharing. xx #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteI heard that Santa's Bag is definitely one of the most popular.
DeleteOh my goodness! There really is an app for everything... #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteApparently!
DeletePaper and pen here but I spend more time researching than buying (have a read of my post linked to #pocolo if you want to know why!)
ReplyDeleteI'm off to read your post now ...
DeleteOh this is a great idea to help you be more organised st Christmas! I tend to keep everything in my head although this year with a baby in the mix I'm so scatter brained, I've decided I'm going to write things down haha! After a few bad experiences with online gift shopping, I won't buy anything online after November so it's old fashioned paper and pen and walking round the stores for me now!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the "after November" thing. Although for my own online business I put a lot of effort in telling people it's coming from within Australia so I'll definitely get it to them by Christmas. My cut off for my online store for guaranteed delivery is 15 December, although I can push it to around the 17th.
DeleteIt's so easy to keep with our tried and true methods. Especially as we get older, I feel that we sometimes feel like it's too much bother to learn something new----but there really are better, newer ways for some things!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of these tricks!!
jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
I agree with that whole "too much bother to learn" thing.
DeleteWhat a great idea! I do a lot of my Christmas shopping online and usually just flag the emails in my inbox and then unflag once the deliveries arrive. I'll have to check out some apps now thought!
ReplyDeleteUsing the flags is a great idea.
DeleteI had no idea there were so many cool apps to help with Christmas! I haven't started my shopping yet but must do soon!
ReplyDeleteChristmas will be here before we know it.
DeleteSo organised! I hardly use apps but maybe I should try a few out.
ReplyDeleteThank you for researching and sharing this! I am grabbing that Santa's Bag app pronto! I make a mess of Christmas shopping every year. (Buying stuff, hiding it, forgetting about it or where it is hidden!) This year I bought a beautiful book that was designed especially to take charge of this info. Guess what? I lost it!
ReplyDeleteSome good ideas! I seem to have a stream of parcels arriving often. The postman laughs and says "another gift?". x
ReplyDeleteI normally love walking the shops and finding the perfect gift but this year after having spinal surgery I am going to try and do most of it online. I didn't even think about an app. I just made a folder in my browser and saved links to items as I found them. Then I wait for free shipping if possible.
ReplyDeleteAs most of our friends and family are overseas, our Christmas shopping is almost exclusively online. I don't have a system though and am completely haphazard. I think these apps are going to come in very handy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even give an app a thought for this which is unusual for me as I have an app for most things. This very weekend I have written my lists and now just need to hit the order button!! I may do that this afternoon. I try to do all my shopping online as I really can't stand 'going' Christmas shopping! #pocolo
ReplyDeleteI'm in the mid range of this - notes on my iPad. My husband's family go very high-tech with a list each year, which each year quickly develops into farce as they try and work out who should buy what. But it gives me amusement every year without fail, and I'm sure that's the reason they do it, it must be right? It'll be the sixteenth year of it this year, and it never gets old... Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I have a list on my phone but I will be downloading an app to make life a little easier at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteV x