Skip to content

For the person who says they don't want anything and means it

A birthday coupon book, made in five minutes

Some people are genuinely hard to buy for — not fussy, just uninterested in more stuff. A book of promises sidesteps the problem, because none of it is stuff. It's a set of things you're promising to do, which is the one gift nobody already owns.

It arrives as a real object: a landscape hardback, printed and bound to order with their name on the cover and one promise to a page. That matters on a birthday, where handing someone a link is a hard thing to do at a table.

It also scales to the relationship. The same book works for a partner, a best friend, a sibling or a parent; what changes is what you write inside it.

$44.99 — a real hardback, posted. Printed and bound to order in landscape boards, one promise to a page, despatched within 10 days. The digital book is included, so you can send the code the moment you pay.

Make the book →or send a digital one from free · no account, either side

Promise ideas for a birthday

Admit one promiseNº 01
A day that's entirely yoursYou choose everything. I drive.
NO EXPIRY · NON-TRANSFERABLE · PINKY SEALED
Admit one promiseNº 02
Dinner anywhere you wantNo budget conversation
NO EXPIRY · NON-TRANSFERABLE · PINKY SEALED
Admit one promiseNº 03
One favour, no questionsRedeem whenever. I won't ask.
NO EXPIRY · NON-TRANSFERABLE · PINKY SEALED
  • I'll take the thing you hateName the chore. It's mine.
  • A proper catch-upThree hours minimum, no clock-watching
  • Your film, your snacksI'll pretend to like it
  • A lift, any timeAirport runs included. Even 5am.
  • One rescue callBad date, bad party — I'll come get you
  • The good coffee, on meFor a month. Not instant.
  • I'll finally learn your gameYou can stop explaining the rules

All of these are editable, and you can write your own instead — start a book and change every word. There are ninety more promise ideas sorted by who they are for.

How it works

  1. Stack your promises. Pick from the ideas above or write your own.
  2. Wrap it. Choose a cover, sign a note, and we seal it behind a secret code.
  3. Send the code. They open it, redeem promises whenever, and mark each one kept.

Questions

What do you write in a birthday coupon book?

Things you would genuinely do and they would genuinely want. The test is whether they'd feel comfortable redeeming it — an over-promise nobody cashes in is worse than a small one they use twice.

Is a coupon book a good last-minute birthday gift?

It's one of the few good ones. There's nothing to post and nothing to collect; you build it, and they open it from a link the same minute.

Can I make one for a friend rather than a partner?

Yes, and the ideas list has a whole set written for friends — rescue calls, honest opinions on outfits, a lift at an unreasonable hour.

Coupon books for other occasions

A birthday coupon book, made in five minutes

Start your book →

Making one for something else? Start from scratch or see how it works.