Where do we stand on... the ‘any excuse’ gift list?

Previously, when you wanted to compel close family and friends to ply you with presents, you at least had to have a wedding or big birthday on the horizon. Yet marriage gift lists are out, and all-weather ones are in: if you’re moving house, getting engaged, having a baby or just want a digitised means of begging your nearest and dearest for gifts, a number of major retailers have introduced “wishlist” options to facilitate just that.

From Ikea to Wayfair to Amazon, thinking up what your loved ones will like is swiftly being replaced by giving them exactly what they’ve provided a link to. The US retailer Target has reported seeing a “steady growth” of users to its housewarming registry service.

In the age of online buying – 87 per cent of retail purchases in the UK are now made digitally – and of “peak stuff ”, it is perhaps no wonder that more of us are using such services to reduce the problem of unwanted gifts. But isn’t whizzing a list across for every unremarkable life event a little OTT? Yes, it may be more instructive than letting people freestyle – landing you with a load of extra tat only worthy of the cupboard under the stairs – but only when said gifts are actually merited.

Removing the spontaneity of presentgiving

– and, crucially, people’s decision over whether to partake – is surely a no-no.

There is a certain charm to those less-thannecessary gifts, after all – and while fond memories are often attached to receiving a pair of “hilarious” novelty socks, or an oversized jumper that should, in polite society, never see the light of day, an emailed list of John Lewis glassware fails to induce that same warmth.

It’s OK to ask for what you want, sometimes. But perpetually looking a gift horse in the mouth – or online registry – removes the fun entirely.