Why this is better
Thoughtful giving, sustainable living
Reduce waste and clutter
Less packaging, fewer unwanted items gathering dust
No awkward guessing
They know exactly what will make you happy
One meaningful gift
Instead of many things you'll never use
Feels more personal
Everyone contributes to something truly special
Why we created what I really really want
About us
The idea for What I Really Really Want started at home.
When my twins were born, our lives quickly filled with love from family and friends, and with that often came gifts. I am always incredibly grateful that people want to give something to my children. That generosity means a lot to me.
But over time I started to notice something. Many of the toys and little bits and bobs would be exciting for a moment, maybe a day, and then they would end up forgotten, broken, or tucked away in a cupboard. It began to feel like there were more things than the girls actually needed.
With three young children, I am already very aware of how much waste families create. We try to recycle, donate and pass things on whenever we can, but there are limits. Many toys are difficult to recycle and do not last very long. I did not want birthdays and celebrations to add even more unnecessary waste.
So one year I decided to try something different.
Instead of bringing gifts, I asked our friends and family if they would consider contributing whatever they felt comfortable with towards something the twins really, really wanted. It was something I could not quite justify buying myself, but I knew it would be something they would truly enjoy.
Everyone gave what they could, and together we were able to give them something special that they still use today.
That moment made me realise something. Why is there not a simple way to do this?
Why is there not a place where people can comfortably say what they really want, without feeling awkward about asking, and where friends and family can contribute instead of guessing what to buy?
Gift giving should feel joyful, not stressful. People should not have to worry about whether they have chosen the right thing, and celebrations should not result in piles of items that quickly go unused.
So we created What I Really Really Want.
A simple way to share the things that truly matter to you. Friends and family can contribute whatever they like, and together it turns into something you will genuinely use and appreciate.
Less guessing.
Less waste.
More meaningful gifts.
How it works
and why it’s safe
What I Really Really Want is not a store, and we do not sell products. We help people organise contributions towards something meaningful, without the awkwardness of guessing gifts.
Payments are securely processed by Stripe
Contributors pay securely using trusted payment infrastructure.
Money goes directly to your bank account
Funds are sent to the wishlist creator, with no unnecessary waiting around.
We do not hold or store funds
We are designed to make gifting easier, not sit in the middle of your money.
Happy Wishlisters
Real people. Real relief. Better gifting without the awkwardness.
“Setting up my niece’s birthday wishlist was super simple. I added the things she really wanted, connected my bank account to Stripe, shared the link with everyone, and for the first time ever she got exactly what she really wanted. No more pretending to love gifts she'll never use. No more awkwardness, and no more waste. Such a brilliant website, thank you Kattya.”
“Creating my wish list was a lot easier than I expected. Think it took less than 2 minutes. But the best thing was no hidden charges at all for anyone, and no charges for me to get the money. The money from each ‘gift’ simply came to me directly through Stripe. Mine arrived the next day. Incredible! I can definitely recommend this for your next birthday, Christmas or random celebration. Go for it!”
“As so called 'senior citizens' we were surprised by how easy it was to gift to our granddaughter's wishlist. We contributed towards her dream experience and created a beautiful card that we printed and posted. We don't have a great track record buying gifts, so this platform has been a revelation. No more guessing, no more anxiety about budget or whether she'd like it. Gift giving just became easy. On to the next one.”
“Setting up my niece’s birthday wishlist was super simple. I added the things she really wanted, connected my bank account to Stripe, shared the link with everyone, and for the first time ever she got exactly what she really wanted. No more pretending to love gifts she'll never use. No more awkwardness, and no more waste. Such a brilliant website, thank you Kattya.”
“Creating my wish list was a lot easier than I expected. Think it took less than 2 minutes. But the best thing was no hidden charges at all for anyone, and no charges for me to get the money. The money from each ‘gift’ simply came to me directly through Stripe. Mine arrived the next day. Incredible! I can definitely recommend this for your next birthday, Christmas or random celebration. Go for it!”
“As so called 'senior citizens' we were surprised by how easy it was to gift to our granddaughter's wishlist. We contributed towards her dream experience and created a beautiful card that we printed and posted. We don't have a great track record buying gifts, so this platform has been a revelation. No more guessing, no more anxiety about budget or whether she'd like it. Gift giving just became easy. On to the next one.”