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Christmas price tag feels like holiday snub

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Amy: My 17-year-old daughter and I are still trying to recover from a Christmas snub.

In our family, we draw names and have a $50 budget.

My daughter's cousin drew her name and had purchased the item my daughter wanted, but he bought a smaller size than she wears and the gift cost about $30.

She is upset that he didn't spend the designated amount.

This also happened on Christmas Day with her aunt and grandmother, who both went under budget with their gifts to her, but over budget with their gifts to other nieces.

We don't want to seem ungrateful and would like your thoughts on what to do about this, if anything.

 

How can this be addressed?

-- Upset Mom

Dear Mom: Your daughter responded to a gift by (first) checking the price and (then) complaining about what the gift cost. Surely her response flies in the face of what holiday giving is supposed to be about. You should be upset. With her.

You need to explain the concept of a "budget." It is not an exact commandment for what must be spent, but a recommended cost-range with an upper limit.

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