How to track Christmas gifts you've bought, ordered and wrapped

Short answer: replace the single "bought" checkbox with five steps: Idea, Bought, Arrived, Wrapped and Given. Move each gift one step at a time. Then you can see at a glance what is still to buy, what is still in the mail and what is still to wrap.

Why one checkbox isn't enough

With online shopping, "bought" doesn't mean "in the house". A gift can be paid for, stuck in shipping, hidden unwrapped in a closet, or already handed over. One checkbox hides all of that, which is how gifts get missed on Christmas morning.

The five steps

1. Idea: anything you might buy. Write it down the moment it comes to you.
2. Bought: paid for, in a store or online.
3. Arrived: the package is delivered and in your hands.
4. Wrapped: wrapped and hidden. Note where.
5. Given: handed over. Keep it on the list for next year.

Three lists to check every week

• To buy: every Idea, grouped by store, so you can shop in person without needing links.
• On the way: everything still at Bought. Chase anything that's late.
• To wrap: everything at Arrived. Wrap a few each evening instead of all on Christmas Eve.

Do it in Wrapsy

Wrapsy uses exactly these steps: Idea → Bought → Arrived → Wrapped → Given. Tap a gift to move it along, and hide the steps you don't need. The shop list shows every gift still to buy, grouped by store or by person, with or without a link, and the home screen shows how many gifts are left to buy and to wrap.

How do I keep track of Christmas presents I've already bought?

Give every gift a status instead of a checkbox: Idea, Bought, Arrived, Wrapped, Given. A gift is only done when it reaches the last step you use.

How do I track online orders for Christmas?

Mark the gift Bought when you order it and Arrived when the package is delivered. Anything still at Bought is on its way, so you can chase late packages before the holiday.

How do I remember where I hid the gifts?

Write the hiding place in the gift's note and move it to Wrapped once it's wrapped. A quick list of everything at Arrived or Wrapped is your hidden-gift checklist.