Anonymous wrote:Not everyone enjoys shopping for gifts when traveling. I never expect people to bring me back souvenirs. You should stop giving gifts if you expect reciprocation.

But they are reciprocating, that's not the issue. OP is asking if she should feel insulted and start buying them less nice gifts.

I'd be a little insulted. But I'd also keep doing what I'm doing. Graciously accept their gift and continue to buy them appropriate gifts.

Of course me and my friends are broke, so those "insulting" gifts you refer to are the type of gifts we exchange. And we love it. lol

It’s not normal for adults to bring souvenirs for other adults that are not their spouse. Actually it would be very strange if they did.

You're complaining that you, an adult, aren't receiving awesome souvenirs from someone else's trip? Let it go.

If your issue is more with holidays where you traditionally exchange gifts, know that your idea of a "proper gift" might not align with theirs. If they're giving you a $20 gift and you're carefully selecting a $200 gift, that's your choice. Let go of the expectation that they, too, will carefully shop for you, like you shop for them. Either continue to give gifts that you select, expecting no similar reciprocation, or select an easier, cheaper option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are you related? Unless you are a minor child, this is weird.

Sounds like the the pp who is always complaining about her rich sis.

*OP

Anonymous wrote:How are you related? Unless you are a minor child, this is weird.

Sounds like the the pp who is always complaining about her rich sis.

Probably you suck. If you stopped being poor, they'd be more interested in you.

I can't judge from here, OP. I'm wealthy, but I don't spend on myself and don't spend on others. If this person is very close to you, expects expensive gifts from you, but does not reciprocate in kind, then yes, it's weird. But there's a wide range of behaviors between those two extremes.

You can't control what they do anyway. You could slowly reduce the price of the items you give them... it will make you less resentful.

Did I understand correctly that you buy them gifts? You need to explain your relationship to the wealthy person (parent, sibling or in law).

Not everyone enjoys shopping for gifts when traveling. I never expect people to bring me back souvenirs. You should stop giving gifts if you expect reciprocation.

I do not bring back gifts for people when I travel. If you do, that would sound weird to me. It's nice that she even thinks of you to bring a souvenir.

How are you related? Unless you are a minor child, this is weird.

Who cares? I don't bring souvenirs back to people outside of my immediate family. They don't owe you anything. Put your honey on toast if you like it or give it away and go about your day.

They may not want you to feel like you need to reciprocate with a lavish gift in return. I am not sure what you think of me but I really do not bring gifts back for others on trips at all. Its ,my trip. You do not need a souvenir.

I honestly don't know what to make of, or how to reciprocate to this one extended family member. They are extremely wealthy, don't work and are always travelling private or business/ first to exotic destinations.
Every so often, they'll come back from one of their lavish trips with an extremely cheap gift such as a 2 oz jar of honey (for comparison, the free sample size you get at hotels is 1 oz), a shot glass, a 3 oz bar of chocolate, a cheap pen ...
This person does not spare any expense on themselves at all.

I don't make nearly as much as them but I always get proper gifts and put a lot of thought into them. I know I should be thankful for any gift and I certainly am not expecting any lavish gift . I am not sure what to make of this and I feel insulted.

Thoughts?