Do you feel obligated to gift

[Jalapeñomel]

If someone gives me a gift, I always give one back because I feel guilty.

[ECB]

No, it's not necessary, and I think it's REALLY unfair that the group is pressuring you. This is an individual choice.

However, my CW has given me a nice gift the past couple years, so I do try to reciprocate to a degree. Last year I made cookies. this year I gave her some Trader Joe cookies. It's not as much as she gave me, but it's what I can afford.

[Deleted]

If I had the extra money, I would chip in.

However, it sounds like you don't. Maybe put in a couple of dollars, if you can spare it? If anyone tries to call you out for it 1) they're dicks, and 2) the fact that it is an unexpected expense at a difficult time for you and you gave all that you could.

[verycontrary247]

Unfortunately yes. Or else I'd be laden with guilt forever.

[beautifulfields12]

I know how you feel. I would try to chip in.

[ering1115]

So I don't need to run out at lunch and get my cousin's daughter something? I usually try to but it always gets super awkward. And when you do it the next day its so obvious you didn't get them anything in advance.

[janiejones]

Oh, my boss gave me and my team gifts last Wednesday, which made me feel like I should do something too. So I bought some fancy boxed (and genuinely nice smelling) candles from homesense for $5.99 for each of them, and gave it to them Friday.

I wasn't prepared for the spontaneous gift, but glad I had a couple days to reciprocate.

[blueballoon]

No. I would drive myself crazy trying to do that. Someone completely unexpected gave me a gift yesterday. There's no way I'm going out to the malls now to get them a gift.

[hisno1girl]

No. Just say thank you. Tell your coworkers that you've already gotten something for him (a thank you note) and make that the end of it.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2012 8:43:37 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

If someone gives me a gift, I always give one back because I feel guilty.

This is me too.

[livinitup]

I just got a thank you note from someone at work for a little poinsetta I gave her. It warmed my heart more than that cash GC would have.

Seriously, I sincere thank you for a spontaneous gift is all you need to do. And the group (pressure) gift is just weird and wrong.

[jaylea]

I am stuck in this limbo right now. A coworker gave us all nice little jams yesterday. I am new here, so don't know if that's the norm, but I haven't budgeted time or money for coworker gifts, and I haven't figured out whether to do something or not.

[Deleted]

GIVE. GIVE. GIVE.

we already have a verb for the exchange of presents. i don't care how many fucked up marketing agencies try to tell us otherwise. "gift" is a NOUN not a VERB.

i'm GIVING everyone i know a copy of eats, shoots and leaves for christmas this year. hell, i'm just throwing them around in the street.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2012 9:05:27 GMT -5 superduper said:

Well, my supervisor just responded that she agrees with me and will not be a part of the gift, so now I feel much better. I think I'm just going to opt out as well. I think the gesture is nice, but I think instead I'm just going to write him a heartfelt thank you note.

i think people prefer this anyway. no one really wants more crap.

[Kit]

I always feel guilty when it happens. If I can, I do a little something for the person (bake, small gift I already had, etc) but if not I feel really awful.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2012 9:17:20 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Dec 19, 2012 9:05:16 GMT -5 cville said:

GIVE. GIVE. GIVE.

we already have a verb for the exchange of presents. i don't care how many fucked up marketing agencies try to tell us otherwise. "gift" is a NOUN not a VERB.

i'm GIVING everyone i know a copy of eats, shoots and leaves for christmas this year. hell, i'm just throwing them around in the street.

"Gifted" is also a transitive verb. According to Merriam Webster, anyway. "Gifted her with flowers" is the example given.

screw merriam webster.

"i want to gift her with some gloves" is just not right.

[BunnyMacDougal]

Will be reading replies. Mom at ballet class knitted all our daughters super cute leg warmers - even made my daughter's blue b/c its her favorite color.

I think we might do a gift card in the thank you note when class starts back up.

[lyndel]

Short answer, no.

I admit I am uncomfortable at not reciprocating but I keep in mind that other people have different resources and opportunities and that I am not compelled to try and "match" that.

[Deleted]

I only gift down.

(Sorry for using as a verb, cville. LOL.)

[ralphlauren]

Dec 19, 2012 8:43:37 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

If someone gives me a gift, I always give one back because I feel guilty.

Me too

[limey]

Your CW are making a crap ton of noise about an 8$ bottle of wine.

[sonrisa]

No. But apparently I do feel the obligation to nitpick about grammar when people don't keep their nouns and verbs in place.

(I vote your team is weird)

[Jermys]

Nope. Sometimes people give a gift because they saw something that struck them as something the recipient would love.