Me again,

I have been seeing this a lot lately and it has been increasing daily. I work retail. Amongst other duties, I am the woman you see at the exit door checking your receipts for correctness. I am the woman then who gets griped at for the volume and cost of purchases - as if it is my fault everyone of them have done so.

I see mountains of gifts go out in carts - everything from books, toys, and clothing to jewelry, electronics, and TVs. I see the receipts that average hundreds of dollars and more. I see first hand those who get stressed out about ensuring every gift given is perfect. I see people stretching their budget and miserable about feeling they have had to do so.

What I really see are people who want only to feel appreciated, people who feel they only will be so based upon the money spent and gift given.

In reality I think those who are truly important to them will appreciate them no matter the size of the gift or how much was spent.

I just want to point out that if you feel a person is so demanding that only a big and expensive 'wow' gift will do that maybe one ought to evaluate just what kind of relationship you have with them. Is this person worth then you going out on a limb for? Just saying.