A New Twist on Gift Registries

I recently read an article about a new way to register for "gifts" for your next upcoming big event. Who needs china and silver when now you can register for cold, hard, cash.

According to the article, it's supposed to be the perfect solution for those couples getting married who already have all their household needs, or the college graduate who just doesn't need another "monogrammed pen set".

Personally I think we need to rethink the whole idea of gift registries.

Traditionally, a bridal registry was in place to help a couple set up their first home. This was back in the days when couples married younger, and often lived at home until marriage. As a result, when they got married, they pretty much had what was in their hope chest, and not much else. They needed that toaster and the set of towels.

But today couples are marrying much later, usually have lived on their own before marriage, and frequently have already been living with their future-spouse as well. They've already set up home, at least with the basics.

So when the basics are all accounted for, what do you ask for? It's amazing the stuff I've seen on bridal registries lately. Who really needs to spend $25 each for a cereal bowl? This is not fine china, just the daily stuff. Your basic sheets from JC Penney aren't good enough anymore. Now they have to be 500 count Egyptian cotton. Housewares? Oh my gosh, you could set up a professional kitchen with the stuff people are asking for.

Then there are the baby registries. It amazes me when I see two-income professional couples in their late-30's registering for hundreds of baby items. A regular stroller won't do. No, you have to have the latest European model that costs $400+ to push your child around the neighborhood. Naturally baby can't use those standard JC Penney sheets either! An there's always a new invention that is the latest must-have. Personally, my kids have never experienced wipe-warmers or bottle-warmers, and I've never heard a complaint.

It all just seems so materialistic to me. And now everyone can register for cash as well. Good golly, what is wrong with people?

I have a better idea. Most of us already have more than we need. If you're registering for cash, you're definitely in this category.

How about taking your celebration as an opportunity to help someone who is not as fortunate as you? This is what Greg and I did when we got married. Rather than registering for gifts, we included a note that asked our friends and family to make a donation to a charity of their choice instead of giving us a gift. (We've done this for birthday parties as well.)

Imagine the difference you could make in someone else's life!