Is it normal to develop a fear of spending money in this case?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know. I don’t ever want to become a miser or a cheapskate; but sometimes I feel anxious about the sheer amount of money I spend every year on my family. I’m on a minimum wage. My extended family and friends are mostly frugal and appreciate simple gifts. My parents in particular, prefer and expect extravagant gifts. Their philosophy is that you can’t take it with you when you die. Each time either one of them has a parents’ day, a birthday or Christmas, I know they’d be insulted by less than extravagance and perfection, so it costs me hundreds of dollars. I wish we all bought cheaper gifts for each other.

[abc3643]

You are correct to have that fear.
My wife keeps forgetting to have it.
So, she spends like a terminally ill drunken sailor.
To her, "save" is a "4-letter word", if you know what I mean.
Well, this past week:
1) She discovered that she needs to spend $5000-$6000 in truck repairs.
2) Her horse needs veterinary care, but she's going to Alaska for 2 weeks next week.
3) She just lost her job today and her job was about $100,000/year + benefits and she made all the benefits in our family.
4) Oh, and the cat went missing a week ago.

So, you continue to have that fear because it is justified.
Poverty is a Godzilla that is always around the corner.

[DannyUk2017]

Is oerfectly Normal, on the other side Your family kinda tries to "show off" which is just a thing of being "flashy"... because the "wealth/show off" is just gonna get worse, is like a "drug" the more you like it/want it, the more it will "ruin their life", because they won't be "satisfied" with living "less"... and that will become a very Big Reason (these days) for Arguments, Fights, Toxic relationships...

[DannyUk2017]

*perfectly

[bobalife]

Si, you can start communicating healthy boundaries of how much you’re able to spend (due to your earnings) for your parents and coming from a good place that you still wanna provide things for them. You can also managed a good budget of personal income, savings, bills, gifts, and etc :)

[Massageman]

Give alternative gifts- Maybe knit a scarf, or draw some original artwork if you have that skill, or offer a "coupon book" good for washing a car, cooking a dinner, babysitting, etc. If you are skilled with numbers, offer to do their income tax forms gratis. If you like gardening, maybe create a terrarium with their favorite mini-flowers, etc.

If they are capable of appreciating the THOUGHT and LOVE more than the CASH COST, they will appreciate your gifts.

[SotiCoto]

You should probably concern yourself more about whether it is personally harmful than whether or not it is "normal". "Normal" is the least of your concerns.

[exitseven]

I never overspend when it come to buying presents. If they don't like the gift they can always exchange it.

[Kaneki05]

If you don't want to do something and don't have to. Then don't.

[Anonymous]

Just refuse and move out