How to Track Shagun and Gifts at an Indian Wedding

Step 1: set up one list with these columns

Use a single sheet, one row per envelope or gift. Do not keep separate lists for cash and gifts: one list is what makes the later checks possible.

Step 2: log it the same day

Write each entry on the day it arrives, while the giver and the envelope are still together. Name one or two people to do the logging so the sheet has one handwriting. A UPI gift gets its own row with the UPI reference from your payment app so it can be matched later.

Step 3: reconcile envelopes, UPI and bank

Three totals should agree with the sheet. Check them after each function and again before you close the books.

1. Envelopes. Count the cash envelopes with a second person, then compare the count and the amount with the sheet total for cash envelopes at that function. Fix any difference the same day.
2. UPI. Add up your UPI rows and compare them with the credits in your UPI app or bank statement for the same dates.
3. Bank. When you deposit cash, mark those rows Banked = Yes and compare the deposit total with the sum of the rows you marked. Rows still marked No are the cash that has not reached the bank.

If a total does not match, look first for a name spelled two ways, a row logged twice, or a gift entered with an amount but no type.

Step 4: keep a return-gift and give-out ledger

What your family gives out is a second list. Give it these columns: occasion (milni, vidaai, return gifts, tips), who it is for, item, quantity, rate each, actual spent, and three ticks: prepared, labelled and handed over. Total the actual spent against a give-out budget you set in advance, and count the cash envelopes you need by amount before you go to the bank.

Step 5: keep a hisaab of earlier gifts

Many families note what they gave at earlier weddings and functions. Keep that as a third list with the person, the occasion and the amount. When the same person gives now, you can see both numbers side by side. Spell names exactly as in the received list or the match will fail.

Or start from a ready-made layout

The Shagun & Gift Tracker is laid out this way: a Received tab, a To Give tab with 42 starter lines, an Envelopes tab, a Hisaab tab and a Dashboard that shows thank-yous still to do and cash not yet banked. It is a planning tool; the guidance above works in any spreadsheet.

Frequently asked questions

How do I track shagun at an Indian wedding?

Keep one list with a row for every envelope or gift, written the day it arrives. Record the date, function, giver, side, relation, type, amount, who collected it, whether the cash is banked and whether the thank-you is sent.

Is there a shagun tracker in Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. The Shagun & Gift Tracker is an eight-tab Excel and Google Sheets workbook laid out with these columns, with a thank-you status and a tab for what your family gives out. You can also build your own with the columns in this guide.

How do I reconcile shagun cash with the bank?

Mark each cash row Banked only once it is deposited, then compare the Banked total against your deposit slips. UPI and cheque rows are matched against your bank statement instead. The rows still marked No are the cash left to deposit.

When should I send thank-yous for shagun?

There is no fixed rule. The Shagun & Gift Tracker defaults to a target of 30 days after the wedding, which you can change. Keeping a thank-you status on every row shows exactly who is still to be thanked.