I've been through this dance so many times and honestly, I finally found a system that just works. For the tech-averse relatives like your MIL, I've had huge success with Giftster. It is way less formal than a wedding registry and feels more like a casual ideas list. I usually just set up a general wishlist there and send the link once. What is great is it handles the claimed status without being pushy at all. I'm really happy with how it keeps everyone on the same page without me having to play traffic cop. For the budget stuff, I just fill the list with simple crafts and maybe some basic building blocks. You really can't go wrong with anything from LEGO, just pick any of the smaller sets from them and put them on the list. It has been totally stress-free for us and I've had zero complaints from the family since we started using it... definitely beats the spreadsheet nightmare!

Just catching up on this thread. You might want to consider being really careful with those standard store registries because prices fluctuate daily and you could end up asking for something that was thirty bucks yesterday but is forty today. I've learned that lesson the hard way. I would suggest setting a strict internal budget and only adding items that stay consistently cheap. Personally, I had a lot of success using this wishlist tool because it lets you pull items from smaller, more affordable shops instead of just the big box stores. For your tech-averse MIL, I would suggest just texting her a photo of the two things she should pick from. It keeps her out of the apps and prevents the double-up. Just make sure to mark them as bought on your end immediately so no one else grabs them. It definitely feels more organized without being too pushy about specific brands.

Man I feel this in my soul!! Last year my house looked like a warehouse for a single specific Paw Patrol set because three different people bought the exact same thing. It was absolute chaos trying to return them all while a toddler was screaming about his new toys. I totally get the struggle with the tech-averse family too... my dad basically thinks his iPad is a cutting board half the time so an app was out of the question. Heres what I started doing and it has been a total lifesaver for our sanity:

• I make a super simple list in the notes app on my phone and just copy/paste it into the family group text thread whenever someone asks.
• For the non-techy grandparents, I actually print out a little paper list with pictures and hand it to them when I see them. Old school but it works amazing and they love having something to hold!
• I specifically label things under $15 or $20 so nobody feels pressured to spend a fortune. I usually call it a list of things she is currently obsessed with rather than a gift list. A huge warning tho... stay away from those fancy registry apps for the older crowd. I tried that once and my MIL got so frustrated trying to login that she just gave up and bought a random giant stuffed animal that we definitely didnt have room for anyway lol. Also, avoid being way too specific about brands unless it really matters. If you just say she loves art supplies instead of a specific 50-piece set, people feel way more relaxed and less like they are fulfilling an order. The key is just being super casual about it in the chat like hey everyone she is really into stickers and dinosaurs lately if you need ideas! It feels way less like a demand and more like you are just helping them out.