Is it ok to start buying or baking simpler gifts for my friends’ birthdays?

[Anonymous]

They were dirt poor, so I bought them the things they need. Now they have enough and can’t want for anything else. Is it ok to just buy them chocolates or wine, or bake something next year and onwards for birthdays and xmases?

[Oliverlogan263]

Yes, it's perfectly fine to start giving simpler gifts like baked goods, wine, or chocolate for your friends' birthdays now that their financial situation has improved. A few thoughts on this:

- As your friends' needs have been met, shifting to lower-cost celebratory gifts is a considerate transition. The sentiment is what matters most.

- Homemade baked goods are often appreciated more than expensive store-bought items anyway. The effort you put in is a gift in itself.

- Small consumable gifts like treats or drinks are low pressure. They don't require your friends to find space to store something long-term.

- Your friends will understand the change coincides with positive changes in their own lives. They won't feel any entitlement to extravagant gifts now.

- You can still occasionally treat them to a splurge like a nice bottle of wine if something catches your eye. But keeping gifts simple shows your caring without financial burden.

As long as you continue putting thought, care and sentiment into whatever gifts you give, simplifying the cost and item types as your friends' needs have eased is totally reasonable and thoughtful. Focusing on quality time together is equally as important as any gifts.

[Anonymous]

Yup. ﾠ