Please help- need to get organised....is there a way to be alerted to upcoming birthdays in advance allowing present buying time

[poppydog2]

Ok so i find i am becoming less organised as the years go on! My google emails me all events(yes if i put them in which is one of the flaws) however it only tells me its so and so's birthday the day before. Is there something that you type everybodies birthday/anniversary into once and then it alerts you to the event a week in advance allowing time to send card etc. And then remembers to do it again next year. Surely something must exist???? Please help!!!!

[MadameGazelle]

Have you got an iphone? I've got the Occasions App, I put birthdays and anniversaries in and it alerts me 1 week before the event (can change this to shorter or longer if wanted) and it also copies the dates over onto my calendar app so I can see them there too.

[MadameGazelle]

Think Moonpig have an alert service, sure they have emailed me the following year I have sent a moonpig card to remind me to send another.

[poppydog2]

I don't have an iphone just a samsung . Do you think they would be an app that would work on it??? Moon pig might then mean i have to only buy from moonpig so phone app might be best idea. Does anyone know if android phones do an app that then would alert me and syn with my calender. Its the occasions bit that sounds good as i dont want to be alerted to the kids appointments a week in advance...that could just add more mayhem....

[CMOTdibbler]

Doesn't your calendar just have a setting as to how far in advance you want to be reminded ? I put birthdays in my Outlook with a weeks notice

[upahill]

Put the a reminder on your phone a few days early.

[upahill]

I meant to add most phones have a calander even my ancient works phone that have had 3 previous owners!!

[2tired2bewitty]

I use Birthday Alarm, which manages to email you twice, I think 10 and 5 days beforehand, allowing plenty of card buying/posting time. You can also send requests to your address book and get people to fill their own details in

[poppydog2]

My phone calender syncs with my gmail account so alerts me to everything like the kids appointments/work and where i am meant to be. But it does that the day before so i am not sure how to organize a completely separate alert that would give more notice....you may be getting the idea that i am not entirely fabulous with technology. So i really need separate alert for things that need a week or so's notice as i cant for the life of me see how to set a week before alert for some things but not all.....arrrhhh

[Canistaysane]

I must be behind the times! I use a calender on my wall in my house. I sit there in january and write them all out

[HazeltheMcWitch]

poppydog2 , you can set the reminders for each appointment as you wish. It is honestly easy, I have even taught my mum. She is a luddite.

I like to keep things like this within the Calendar itself - rather than use a separate app - as it is one less thing to worry about, update etc etc.

So on each birthday entry, you just need to double-click to open it. Then scroll down to REMINDERS. Then - just set it as you wish. You can choose it to 'pop up' on your calendar/phone or you can have it emailed to you.

You can have more than one reminder (click 'ADD REMINDER'), so you could have an email 2 weeks before, and then a pop up 2 days before, for example.

Shout if any questions and I will explain!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Ah, to confirm - have assumed that as you are using Google Calendar as you said your google emails you...

[TheOriginalFAB]

Old fashioned maybe but I have a perpetual on the kitchen door and write all the cards for the nect 6 months. I then write post card on the day or 2 before I need to post them. Sorted.

[mawbroon]

I work one birthday ahead.

So, say it was somebody's birthday tomorrow, I would already have the present bought and wrapped.

Then I will say, right, who's birthday is it next? And get that one done asap, even if it's a month away.

If there is a spate of birthdays together, I deal with them all at the same time.

[poppydog2]

HazeltheMcWitch
YES!!!! Thank you- it is so easy when you know how!!! Now can move all birthdays on my google calender to alert me properly in advance, Really had no idea you could make them tell you more than 24 hours in advance! This will really help and ensure that "AHHH i must nip out at lunchtime and buy a present feeling" is minimised!!!! I must admit to missing my father in laws birthday completely last year...mind you my hubby was a bit more embarrassed that he had missed his dads due to the PA like wife!!!! How chuffed am i. Thank you!!!!

[acumenin]

www.rememberthemilk.com/

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Yay Poppydog! Everything's easier when you know how!

Have you ensured that you have set the birthdays to 'recur' every year?

[poppydog2]

NO.....will get on it!!! Thanks again!

[poppydog2]

MHHH how do you do it???? Specifics please!!!!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

OK, so open up the 'appointment' by double-clicking on it.

Reading down the page, you will (hopefully) have:

• 'Title'
  
• Time/date etc
  
• Then 2 tick-boxes - all day, and REPEAT.
  
  
• Tick REPEAT and a new box opens up
  
• For birthdays, you need to change the first drop-down box to Yearly.
  
• Click DONE, et voila - you're done!

[AngelDog]

The trick is to get your calendar to warn you the right length of time in advance.

Too short a time before the birthday and you won't get the card there on time. Too long before and you'll think you've got ages to get it organised, click 'snooze' / 'remind me later' and end up ignoring it till you've already missed the birthday. Or maybe that's just me.

[poppydog2]

HazeltheMcWitch- fanbloomingtastic!!!! Had no idea you could do that!!! That solves the problem for forever.....will cut down on the panic last minute buying completely. Happy happy happy. So easy when you know how!!! Thanks again!