Am I expected to give as much as a couple?

Dear Polite One,

Should single people give gifts equivalent to the gifts married couples give? As a single person, I don't have as much money as those who have two wage earners in the family.

My sister and her husband make twice as much as I do and give me one gift per event. I give two – one for each of them – plus gifts for their children. It doesn't seem fair and I'm running out of money.

Gift Poor Single Girl

Dear Gift Poor Single Girl,

All gift-giving should be viewed as optional, so there are no rules about who gives what and the value of each gift. None of this matters. The focus should be on recognizing those we love. This could be any gesture and doesn't have to include money. As a single girl, you are the same as any of us. Spend the amount you wish to spend.

Sincerely,

The Polite One

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