Hi all,

Just wondering if there's a consensus opinion on some guidelines & reasonable spending limits/ranges when buying gifts for friends, especially their kids.

I've always be pretty generous gift giver over the years (i'm the kind of guy that actually puts thought into buying gifts....even Xmas "White Elephant" exchanges, where I ALWAYS seem to get shafted!?) Well, with most of my friends being/getting married and popping out rugrats like mad, I'm getting pummeled buying pre$ent$!!

I know it's better to give than to receive, but I'm single, and it's getting nuts buying presents for the wedding shower (many are co-ed now), wedding itself, baby shower, baby party after the kid is born, AND b-days, Xmas, etc for my friends & kids.

Well, feel free to chime in.

FWIW, here's what I normally spend on my friends: (MULTIPLE TIMES/year except for Xmas)

--B-day (friends & kids): $40-50 each
--Xmas (friends & kids): $40-50 each (starting to buy just for kids now)
--Wedding Shower: $40
--Wedding: $100 & $200 if I bring a gf or date (I double these amounts for really close friends)

 

im with you. i like to give more than receive (gifts that is, sicko's). your spending about what i spend, which, imo, i dont think is cheap at all, while at the same time we're not trying to spoil people. my sister just had a kid and i find myself spending more than $40-50 on her gifts, at every occasion. but not a whole lot more. so i wouldnt consider yourself being a cheapskate if you toned it down a bit, considering all the events you are attending and gifts you are giving. its funny because i always get shafted too, even personal gifts from, say, my siblings! maybe its the perception that we are actually putting thought into something, while in return, all we ever see is something of 'lesser thought', like a cheesy cd or dvd.

i know you might feel bad if you spend less, since this sense of giving is probably due to the fact that youd like others to be happy before yourself; youre a considerate person. well dont feel bad because others have to be considerate to your single life. but that may backfire because to some people, being single means you have more disposable/discretionary income.

 

thanks for the feedback and kind words, Yin. I'm glad that there's at least one person out there that understands my position.

I don't really have a problem buying a few gifts here and there. I think $40-50 is pretty reasonable for b-day gift, but when it comes to weddings & baby showers that require multiples gifts and many of my friends have more than one kid, the $$$ adds up QUICK!? b-day gifts for friends + b-day gifts for their kid*S* = YIKE$!? Then there are the what seems like monthly wedding*S*. That's a lot of of chee$e!

But I do often enjoy getting stuff for others instead of myself. I always do try to pick thoughful gifts and not go cheap. I guess I got my gift-giving spirit from my Mom. She always goes all out for others rather than herself. (well, we're a bit different there. I never scrimp on myself either!)

Anyways, gifts are supposed be from the heart, and as the saying goes, "It's the thought that counts." But Asians sure are demanding nowadays, especially when it comes to weddings and babies. Most couples don't even register gift wish lists anymore and only want cold hard $$$$!?