Private wishlists
Coordinate several people's gifts without mixing their lists.
The organizer, each recipient, and shoppers need different information. One event holds a separate list for every recipient, while private emailed links give each person the correct view.
- 01
Begin with one email
The organizer enters an email on the homepage. PlanMyPresents emails a private organizer link used to name the event, choose its closing date, and manage everyone involved.
- 02
Invite each person privately
The organizer adds each recipient by name and email, then invites shoppers. Every private link opens only the view that person needs.
- 03
Build separate recipient lists
Each recipient adds gift names, notes, prices, and retailer links to their own list, but cannot see claims or another recipient’s list by default.
- 04
Coordinate without duplicates
Shoppers choose a recipient, claim an available idea, and mark their own claim as purchased. They see availability, not another shopper's identity or purchase details.
- 05
Keep an organizer's overview
The organizer manages every recipient list and can individually allow one recipient to shop for another. Those permissions are off until the organizer turns them on.
Secret Santa
Organize the exchange without managing it through group messages.
Invitations, responses, preferences, exclusions, assignments, and private questions stay together while each participant sees only what they need.
- 01
Start the exchange
The organizer enters an email and receives a private link to the organizer dashboard.
- 02
Set the rules
Name the exchange, choose the response deadline and exchange date, and optionally prevent matches within a household or group.
- 03
Collect responses
Invitees privately accept or decline. Only accepted participants are included in the drawing.
- 04
Share helpful preferences
Participants can add tastes, sizes, allergies, things to avoid, and example gift links for their eventual Secret Santa.
- 05
Assign names privately
After responses close, the system makes a valid drawing in which everyone gives once, receives once, cannot draw themselves, and follows enabled exclusions.
- 06
Shop with the right context
Each participant receives private access to their assignment and the recipient's shared preferences. Anonymous questions can clarify details without revealing the giver.
- 07
Keep organizer oversight
The organizer can review the full exchange, correct access problems, manage participants, and print a private assignment summary.
My private dashboard
Every event connected to your email, in one private place.
Request a reusable private dashboard link. The response never reveals whether an email is registered. After verification, the dashboard groups your active, upcoming, and closed events and shows whether you are an organizer, recipient, shopper, or Secret Santa participant.
Move between events without losing role boundaries.
Open each event directly, return to the dashboard, start a new wishlist or exchange, and review invitations awaiting your response.
A secure cookie keeps the dashboard available in that browser for up to 30 days. You can sign out sooner, and the reusable emailed dashboard link can open it again later.
Open my private dashboard →Gift Ideas
Find a thoughtful direction, then bring it into your plan.
Browse editorial guides by person, occasion, interest, budget, or situation. Each guide explains what to consider, what to avoid, and concrete examples that fit the topic.
Advice first, products in context.
Use the guide to understand the decision, verify current price and product details with the retailer, and add a fitting idea to your private list when you are ready to coordinate.
Guides are researched and prepared for readers. The website does not autonomously research or publish recommendations.
Browse Gift Ideas →Private by design
The right information for the right person.
Privacy here is practical: access follows the person's job in the event.
Organizer
Manages the event, every recipient list, private access, recipient-to-recipient shopping permissions, and coordination status.
Recipient
Builds their own wishlist without seeing claims, purchases, shopper identities, or unapproved recipient lists.
Shopper
Chooses a recipient, sees availability, and manages only their own claim and purchase status.
Secret Santa participant
Manages their response and preferences, then privately sees their own assignment.
Dashboard visitor
Must verify control of an email before seeing the events and roles connected to it.
Common questions
Useful answers before you begin.
Do I need an account or password?
No. PlanMyPresents uses private emailed links and a reusable private dashboard link instead of permanent accounts and passwords.
Can the wishlist recipient see purchases?
No. A recipient can manage gift ideas they added to their own list but cannot see claims, purchase status, or shopper identities.
Can one recipient see another recipient’s list?
Not by default. The organizer can individually grant a recipient permission to shop another recipient’s list. That permission does not reveal claims on the recipient’s own list.
What do wishlist shoppers see?
Shoppers see whether an idea is available or already claimed. They do not see which other shopper claimed it.
What if someone buys a gift offline?
The organizer can claim the idea and mark it purchased so other shoppers know not to buy a duplicate.
How do I find all of my events?
Request a reusable private link from My private dashboard. It gathers the wishlists and Secret Santa exchanges connected to that email and shows your role in each.
What happens on a shared computer?
Dashboard access uses a secure browser cookie that lasts up to 30 days, and you can sign out manually. The reusable dashboard link and private event links should be treated like keys.
Can someone decline a Secret Santa invitation?
Yes. Each invitee can accept or decline privately before the response deadline, and only accepted participants are assigned.
Can Secret Santa prevent household matches?
Yes. The organizer can enable household or group exclusions and place participants in the appropriate groups before names are assigned.
Does PlanMyPresents sell the recommended products?
No. Gift guides and private lists may link to independent retailers. Some links may be affiliate links, which can support the site without increasing the shopper's price.
How long is event information kept?
Wishlists are deleted 90 days after their coordination closing date. Secret Santa exchanges are deleted 90 days after their exchange date. An organizer can delete an event sooner.