https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:58:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142197 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:10:48 +0000 chopsuey 142197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hurmm I have no idea. Sometimes we'll spend hundreds on gifts for our fam. Other times we'll spend 40. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142119 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:31:41 +0000 SugarplumsMom 142119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also really enjoy gift giving, but often times, it's not reciprocated. In the past, I'd spend a lot of time and money on thoughtful gifts, but when a birthday or other celebration comes around my way, I usually don't celebrate, so I don't end up with any gifts. I know gifts aren't what count but I'd settle for "the thought" aspect - but I haven't gotten that either.</p> <p>Now that I'm expecting, I've decided to pull all my energy on my family. It's not about the gifts - but when it comes down to it, I'd rather spend money on us as opposed to people that expect (and sometimes ask) for things, yet don't bother to put in the fraction of the effort to reciprocate the gesture in return.</p> <p>If I were you, I'd give more thoughtful, handcrafted gifts (made by your LO). Save your money for travel or accessories ;D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142116 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:30:04 +0000 Alivoo01 142116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family is pretty equal on gift giving. My in-laws not so much, but we mostly just get presents for our nephew and we don't mind spoiling him. :)</p> <p>With friends, we reciprocate what they give. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142103 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:16:49 +0000 PBandBaseball 142103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really get a lot of enjoyment out of giving gifts but have started to scale back with some relatives who never give anything. I started feeling like they didn't appreciate the thought behind the gifts that I was giving them and that was more troubling than not receiving gifts.</p> <p>I don't care if they give me a gift of equal value, but I would like to feel like they cared that I gave them something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142091 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:06:22 +0000 Mrs. Bee 142091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>with family (mine and in-laws) i don't care about fairness when it comes to gifts/spending, but when it comes to friends, i do tend to spend as much as they do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142070 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:50:18 +0000 looch 142070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a big gift giver in the sense that I like to find perfect gifts for people and so on. I usually just set a limit and go from there. I try to use a "fairness" rule, like if they spent $50, we will spend about the same, if that makes sense.</p> <p>We don't do gifts beyond Christmas and milestone birthdays/anniversaries for either of our parents. I really think cards are fine, unless there is just something so perfect for them, YKWIM? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142066 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:48:17 +0000 mrsjyw 142066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's pretty reciprocal for us from the in-laws. My parents don't want anything, because they feel bad not being able to do more for us, but I love gifting them so money is not an issue.</p> <p>With my younger cousins/bro - I am the oldest and I like gifting them. </p> <p>I think the only issue where the reciprocal thing crossed my mind were friends, and those who didn't reciprocate over time I stopped giving gifts to...</p> <p>In your situation, I'd def cut back to cards, or something less than what you generously gift them now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142064 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:46:31 +0000 heffalump 142064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't really have that issue- everybody in my family gives gifts. Parent's gifts are always more expensive because they make more money. I would still probably send a card and something little, even if they didn't get us much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-decide-what-to-spend-on-gifts#post-142031 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:31:21 +0000 mediagirl 142031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are a giver and your family members are not, do you still spend a lot on them on holidays?</p> <p>We have been very generous with the in-laws at holidays - Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas and birthdays. They do not reciprocate this generosity even though they are much, much more well off than we are. We are considering cutting back on them and sending cards instead of gifts. </p> <p>The in-laws don't do "other" things that would be considered gifts either, like visiting often or doing thoughtful, creative things for us or our unborn child. They live quite far away from us.</p> <p>What would you do or do you have this same problem? How do you handle it? </p>