Personal admin
Keep gift receipts organized without spoiling surprises
To track gift receipts privately, record the store, the return deadline and a code you invent for each recipient. Keep names out of any place where the recipient might see the list.
A text to start with
Help me set up a simple tracking system for gift receipts. I have [number] gifts to track. For each one I want a code instead of the recipient's name, plus the store, the return deadline and any conditions such as exchange only. Nothing should be written so that a recipient who stumbled on it could work out what they're getting. I'll store the receipts myself.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the answer
Keep the code key in a private place, such as a passcode-protected note, separate from anything a recipient might see. Compare the return conditions in the tracker with what each receipt says. The assistant can describe common store policies in general terms, but the receipt and the store's current policy decide what is allowed and by when. Confirm whether an item is exchange only, and whether a gift receipt extends the return window, with the receipt in hand.
What to do next
Keep the tracker somewhere only you can open, such as a notes app with a passcode or a notebook you keep private. Match each receipt to its coded entry as soon as you buy the gift. If part of the format felt awkward, describe it and ask for a revised layout.