The holiday season is in full swing. People are drawing up the list of presents they want to buy for their family and friends and heading to the malls to buy them. Needless to say, it takes a lot of time and effort to come up with gift ideas for each loved one. It is quite possible that you spend an hour deliberating over a particular gift for a friend only to find out he/she doesn't like it or need it. Not that he/she is going to reject the gift outright but you aren't going to feel too good about it. In fact, you might feel as though the time, effort and money you put into the gift has gone to waste.

A similar situation occurs when you receive gifts at Christmas. You cannot choose the gifts you receive. Therefore, there is a chance you might not want or like what you receive from someone. You cannot refute the fact that the person who gave you the gift put a lot of thought into it but that doesn't mean you have to like it. It is at times like these that you might wish for something that would help you let your loved ones know what you want this Christmas and also use that to find out what they expect from you.

A perfect solution to this dilemma is gift registry and wish list apps. You simply have to download the relevant app to your mobile device and create a list of the gifts you want for Christmas. Share the list with your friends and family and they would get to know what they can give you as a Christmas gift. Similarly, you can find out what is on their list as well. This way, you can buy gifts that are thoughtful and ones they will like.

There are many such apps available for the leading operating systems. The apps can be either paid or free, but it is a given that you will find one that suits your needs. Yet, not all apps are made equal. Some Christmas gift apps only let you create lists of the gifts you want to buy for your loved ones. They don't allow you to share what you want. This is why it is important that you select and download the right apps.

Here is an overview of the 8 best apps that make getting the gifts you want this Christmas easy:

1. Tell Me Santa


Starting off with something for the kids, Tell Me Santa is an app you can use to get your kids to create lists of the things they want for Christmas. Make sure that your kid is young enough to believe in Santa or you could end up facing a cranky episode. You have to set up the app for your kid and help them get used to it. The kids can record a video or an audio clip of themselves asking for the gift they want for Christmas. The app also enables you to educate them about Christmas and the concept of gift-giving. Let your friends and family know what your kids want for Christmas.

2. Wish Booklet


As the name suggests, you can create a booklet of wishes you have for Christmas. List all the presents you want from your loved ones come Christmas and share them with your contacts. The unique aspect of the Wish Booklet app is that it can be used by your loved ones to crowd fund your presents. They don't have to buy individual presents for you. Instead, they can pool in the cash and buy you something you really need, which they get to know off your wish list. WishBooklet is the only app on this list with a crowdfunding option.  An easy way to get money for the gifts you want.

3. WishPot


In many ways WishPot is a social network rather than a simple app. You do have to go through a tedious registration process to sign up for it. However, once you have signed in, you can start creating wish lists right away. You can even create multiple lists if you want, though you might not find much use for that. The privacy settings and other features of this app are topnotch and make it an effective choice for you.

4. Amazon Wishlist


It is quite possible that each and every time you want for Christmas is on sale at Amazon. Then why not make your wish list on the website itself? Amazon gives you the chance to make a Wishlist on their site. You can even add the products you want people to buy for you directly to the list. This way, they don't have to search for the items you added to your list. They simply click on each item on your list and are directed to the product page.

5. List Ideas


The title of the app clearly shows that it is all about providing ideas for things you can add to your wish list for this Christmas. You can create your list easily through this app. A great option available to you is to browse the app and look at the lists posted by other people. You might get an idea or two for your wish list from their lists. Also, you can select one of the predefined lists. This is only practical if the given list has the items you want for Christmas.

6. Today I Wish


Perhaps the most basic of all the apps listed here, Today I Wish only allows you to create a list by writing down the presents you want for Christmas. You can categorize them but other details such as links or descriptions are not allowed. The usability of this app is limited in this regard but it serves your purpose. After all, the purpose is to share your wish list with your friends and family.

7. Google Shopping List


Available on the Google Product Search, you can create a Shopping List much in the way you can on Amazon. This way, you can add the links to the products to your list. This is again a great option as the people going through the list don't have to search for the product separately. You simply need to click on the 'Wish List' icon and start adding items to it. However, keep in mind that the Wish List is public. If you are looking for something more private, you create a Shopping List.

8. Wishlistr


The aptly named app is one of the easiest to use on this list. You can easily select and arrange the items you want to add to the list. You can add the title of the item you want along with a link where it can be bought. You can also include 'other info'. This way, you can describe any specifications you want the people to keep in mind when buying the item for you. You can also inform them about the price of the product.

These are 8 great apps that make getting the gifts you want this Christmas easy. You simply have to create a wish list of the items you want and share it with your family and friends. After that it is up to them to decide whether or not they want to buy you stuff off the list or not. At least you can improve your chances of getting presents you actually want.

Author Bio
Eric Santos is a blogger, social media guru, and entrepreneur. Eric is the co-founder and Business Guy at WishBooklet, a gift crowdfunding web-app that makes getting the gifts you really want easy. Eric is the current CEO of Dwibbles and former founder and CEO of Soshowise Inc. Eric received a B.S in Entrepreneurship from CSUF.