While over at Mrs Micah‘s this weekend migrating BudgetsAreSexy to WordPress (woop woop!) I had noticed a sexy little backup drive purring on her table. I wasn’t sure how much it cost, or how much data it held really, but the only thing I could think of at that precise moment was, “I must have it!” followed minutes later by, “it’s too bad I’d never buy one for myself.”
As much as I WANTED that shiny hard drive in my blogger lair, I know myself oh too well that I’d never get it. At least not in the near future. I have a perfectly good back up drive already, why drop an extra $100+? The truth is I wouldn’t. BUT, that doesn’t mean somebody else wouldn’t! ;)
Whenever I want something really really bad but can never justify picking up, I write it down in my Wish List.
This way, I always have a list of exciting items to ask for during birthdays and holidays! It sounds funny because you’d think I could just ramble off a whole bunch of stuff I wanted whenever asked, but for some reason it never works out that way. I either come up with stupid stuff like chocolate bars and lottery tickets, or I blow through an hour on the homepages of Amazon and the like only to come back with squat. And nothing is worse for moms than hearing the “I don’t know” bit when it comes to buying us presents. Whether we want them to or not (and believe me, I’ve tried on many occasions to curb the gift’age), they plan on spoiling us and getting us something we truly enjoy – which is exactly when this Wish List comes in handy!
So the next time you come across something you’d love to have but can’t justify picking up right then, write it down. Not only will it give you something to look forward to one day, but you’ll always have an answer for dear ol’ mom :)
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I totally agree with you. I’ve always had a wish list so when I have some “extra” money, I’ll knock off an item from that list. At the same time, if my birthday and Christmas comes along and “they” ask what I want, I have something to say. Here’s mine – http://runworkandsave.blogspot.com/2010/01/shopping-wish-list.html
i keep one in a google doc i can link to. i also add a “budgeted amount” for what i’m willing to pay when i get around to it, and when i check it off i usually find i’ve come much below that amount.
This is such common sense but I haven’t been doing it! Thanks for the nudge.
That’s a great idea. I have an Amazon wishlist, but it’s not good to refer people to it. Many of the books on there are books I want to read, not necessarily own (i.e., buy them used for cheap, or read them at the library). Some of the gadgets on there aren’t necessarily the exact item I want, but have a feature I want (which other brands might have that feature, too, but I haven’t researched yet).
I’m right there with you! I have a wish list thats probably 30 items deep, lol. But the fun part is crossing items off of the list :). I make lists for everything though. Wishpot.com lets you create online an online wish list and send it to family and friends…that comes in handy at least on my birthday….
I like to new site! It’s not too much of a drastic change from the first site, but still noticeable. I hope you ultimately get that hard drive. Although, Europe > hard drive!
That’s why I love Kaboodle! It’s a great clearinghouse for wish lists (and, if you like, gift ideas for others). You can download a toolbar into your browser and, whenever you see something you like, you can click to add it to Kaboodle. Then, when people want to know what to get you, you can just send them a link to the list. Much better than trying to find a piece of paper you jotted stuff down on ages ago, or items from only one store.
Most importantly, I inevitably blank whenever someone asks me what I want for a specific event. So Kaboodle is my new best friend!
I really should do this. I’m awesome at remembering what other people want; I keep a running mental list and add to it everytime I witness someone exclaiming how they wish they had something, but I never remember my own somethings!
@Ciawy – Just checked out your list, love ’em! Def. gives you something to look forward to and work towards one day – esp when some of the items are pretty pricey ;)
@kimmie – Great idea, I don’t know why I haven’t started that myself…I use Google docs for just about everything!
@Meghan Fife – Go for it :)
@thisisbeth – I’ve actually heard of a lot of bloggers linking to their Amazon lists. It’s a great way for their readers who want to thank them but not necessarily donate cash or something ya know? I’ve thought about doing this before but still kinda feels weird. maybe i’ll start one w/ small things like books and see what happens. hint hint. haha…j/k.
@lenciB – I keep hearing about Wishpot so I might have to actually go check it out…in fact, i’ll do it right now before I answer the rest of the comments here so i don’t forget ;) Okay, I’m back – did you miss me? haha…very cool site indeed, I like how you can use it wherever! although not sure about having another thing in my nav bar…all that stuff adds up.
@Investing Newbie – Thanks! Yeah it’s not that much different on the surface, but MAN is it different in the back end and w/ commenting/etc. Really glad Blogger pushed me over here ;)
@Abigail – Interesting, I wonder if Kaboodle is a competitor of WishPot then? Both seems to do the trick, eh? I need a bigger nav bar to hold all this stuff ;)
@PirateKitty – Hah! that is awesome you can pick up on that stuff, I always forget even if I caught it to begin with ;) Although now I’m starting to just whip out my iPhone and jot it down in the notes app…that’s been really helping me with stuff, esp Xmas presents.
I have something similar, but usually it’s things that I think I will want to buy in the future. I guess I could use them for a wish list, though a buy list is more realistic for me. Only two occasions per year when I receive gifts.
I also have a Movie and music list. Hear a good song, add it, same with movie list. All these are on my “notepad” in the iPhone. Quite handy!
Haha, your comments now are sweet, J. ;)
I usually don’t have a problem coming up with stuff, it’s usually that I’d rather ask for things I want but won’t get around to buying. (Like how I’m getting photoshop from my hubby for our anniversary, the cheap but still full student edition! :P) I always keep a mental list of what I’m working on, so when somebody asks I’ll figure out what’s at the bottom and go with that.
Did I tell you it was a Christmas present? Yay wishlists! :)
Hah! Really? I had no idea…but it’s surely going onto MY wishlist :)
My mom just asked me what I wanted as a College graduation present. My response? “Brag to everyone in our retard family!”
She wasn’t satisfied with that and continued to ask until I finally said something about a flashy new awesome video camera and editing software (since that is what my degree is in, Radio/TV) and she was like “DONE”.
If I had a wish list, I probably could have gotten something else I want or need more. Yes, the camera and software will be cool to have, but I really wish I could have thought of something else on the spur of the moment. Like a trip to Tahiti that I have been wanting for years, yet will never actually pay for myself!
As my Mother said to me years ago when she was trying to convince my ‘why’ I needed a wedding registry a mile long, ‘If you don’t have a gift list your going to receive 20 crystal vases!’.
As Iget older people seem to want to give me gifts that I will actually use and a wish list is a great instrument for that.
Oh man, oddly enough the only thing my wife and I argued about during the wedding was the whole Wedding Registry stuff…it was the start of my new minimalism mentality and I just didn’t want more “stuff!” We had a house full of everything we pretty much needed already, and it just felt strange/wrong asking for more.
What we did though, was create a “honeymoon registry” online so that people could donate portions towards our honeymoon! Cuz THAT we could experience and really get a lot of – and in the end we got enough to pay it off in full so we didn’t start our lives w/ more debt ;)
Then we chose items that we wanted to upgrade for our actual registry. That way we could replace all the older stuff with all this newer stuff we’d be getting. I would have never saw this coming! Who knew I wouldn’t want nice new shiny stuff?
Dude, that’s totally cheating having Mrs Micah there to help you migrate!! You’re supposed to go through those pains on you own like the rest of us. Haha. I was always amazed at how good you made the site look on Blogger.
I keep a couple of lists in Evernote for things I want.
I highly encourage (or annoy to the point of exasperation) my friends and family to have a wish list. When they say “but I feel bad asking for specific stuff” I point out that this is all about ME, not them. I could wrack my brain trying to remember that book they said they were interested in 7 months ago, or I could just go to the list and see exactly what it is! I could buy them a sweater that is soooo out of style, or I could shop at that new hip store they really like.
This is the same reason why I think everyone should have a clearly identified favorite color, animal, restaurant, and collectible item. And mention it often.
@Molly My parents actually received 20 salad bowls for their wedding.
@Craig/FFB – Hey, I’m an entrepreneur now – my time is valuable, right? ;) Plus, gotta hook up the small businesses out there in this economy…I think I just became Mrs Micah’s best client – woohoo!
@Jenni – yeah, good point! i know people think it’s the thought that counts and all, but you can still send thoughts AND something they truly want! :)
Wishspot sounds interesting! I’ll have to check that out myself. Jay, you should set one up and share it with us so we can see what’s all on your list. :) Don’t forget to include a few cheap items for your poor friends and family. ;)
Haha…indeed, sir. You can even be the first person to pick me something up!
Wishpot.com is very cool! Thanks for the tip. Maybe this blog can cover it in depth so I can learn more about it?
I shall put it on the list my friend :)