Christmas gift list checklist (free, printable)
This one page keeps track of who you're buying for, how much you'll spend on each person, and what's still left to do. Print it with Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, or copy the table into a notes app.
1. Set the budget first
- Total gift budget for the year: $______
- Keep 10% of it unassigned for last-minute gifts and shipping.
- Count wrapping paper, tape, cards and postage as part of the budget, not extra.
2. Everyone you buy for
- Kids and grandkids
- Spouse or partner
- Parents, in-laws, siblings
- Teachers, coaches, bus driver
- Neighbors, coworkers, Secret Santa
- Stocking stuffers for each kid
- Host or hostess gifts for parties
3. Gift list and budget tracker
| Person | Limit | Gift ideas | Bought | Spent | Wrapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| $ | ☐ | $ | ☐ | ||
| Total | $ | $ |
Want the math done for you? The Christmas Gift List & Budget Tracker spreadsheet works in Excel and Google Sheets. It totals spending per person and shows how much budget you have left as you go.
The Christmas Planner Bundle adds printable gift tags to the spreadsheet.
Early Black Friday: both links apply 25% off through Nov 30 (code EARLYBF25).
4. Shopping timeline
- Early November: finish the list and the per-person limits.
- Black Friday through Cyber Monday: buy the big-ticket gifts you already planned, and skip anything that isn't on the list.
- First week of December: order anything that has to ship, and mail gifts going out of town.
- Mid-December: stocking stuffers, teacher and neighbor gifts.
- The week before Christmas: wrap, tag and check every row off the list.
5. Cards and thank-yous
- Christmas card list with addresses checked
- Cards sent by mid-December
- Gifts received, recorded so you can send thank-you notes
Prefer paper? The Christmas Planner paperback on Amazon is undated and works for any year. It has gift list pages, a budget section, a card tracker for 60 addresses, meal plans and shopping lists.