When buying a gift, and you get a deal...

[2Tiggers]

Do you feel obligated to spend more?

Say your budget is $20. for a kids birthday party and you get a item that would normally cost you 20, but you got it for let's say 10 or under, do you take the savings, or feel obligated to spend more to reach your 20?

I say take the savings, but I am wondering what others do?

 

[pixiewings71]

It depends on who the gift is for. If it's for someone we are close to they get a little more, if it's for a more casual acquaintance we keep the difference.

 

[LubsPoohBear]

I keep the difference, the extra goes in my vacation fund

 

[ceecee]

I keep the difference, the extra goes in my vacation fund

 

[lizziepooh]

Keep the difference. They are still getting a gift worth $20.

 

[HunnyPots]

I take the savings. The gift has the same value and the recipient will never see the price tag.

 

[moongirl]

I keep the savings. The gift is still worth $20. I am always embarrassed if someone gives too much to me or one of my kids. I wouldn't know if the giver of the gift only spent half what it was worth. I would just think that it was too much and feel ashamed that I could not reciprocate. Also, it may make someone else's gift look puny by comparison if at a party where all of the presents were opened.

 

[Justsyd2]

It depends on who the gift is for. If it's for someone we are close to they get a little more, if it's for a more casual acquaintance we keep the difference.

This is what I do.

 

[mward73]

I almost always get things on sale or clearance. I go by the "regular" price and not the sale price. I have no idea what happens to the extra though- it still gets spent somewhere! lol

 

[robsmom]

To me it depends on whether the gift is really worth the initial amount. If I get a great black friday sale and get something that always costs $20 for the $10 then I feel like it really is a $20 gift. If i go to Kohl's and for $10 I buy an item marked $20 and 50% off, I consider it at $10 gift. It was never worth $20, no good shopper would ever pay $20 for it and both the receiver and I will both know that it is really only a $10 gift.

In general, I try to set a price range for a gift and then try to get the best gift that I can for that price. I may go a little above if I see something perfect for the person. I might go a little below if I get a good deal on something I think they would really like.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

It depends on who the gift is for. If it's for someone we are close to they get a little more, if it's for a more casual acquaintance we keep the difference.

Yepper! Same here.

 

[JerseyMouse]

To me it depends on whether the gift is really worth the initial amount. If I get a great black friday sale and get something that always costs $20 for the $10 then I feel like it really is a $20 gift. If i go to Kohl's and for $10 I buy an item marked $20 and 50% off, I consider it at $10 gift. It was never worth $20, no good shopper would ever pay $20 for it and both the receiver and I will both know that it is really only a $10 gift.

In general, I try to set a price range for a gift and then try to get the best gift that I can for that price. I may go a little above if I see something perfect for the person. I might go a little below if I get a good deal on something I think they would really like.

I agree completely...

 

[gillenkl]

I agree with the OP - take the savings! I don't feel obligated to spend more.

 

[wdwfan16]

To me it depends on whether the gift is really worth the initial amount. If I get a great black friday sale and get something that always costs $20 for the $10 then I feel like it really is a $20 gift. If i go to Kohl's and for $10 I buy an item marked $20 and 50% off, I consider it at $10 gift. It was never worth $20, no good shopper would ever pay $20 for it and both the receiver and I will both know that it is really only a $10 gift.

In general, I try to set a price range for a gift and then try to get the best gift that I can for that price. I may go a little above if I see something perfect for the person. I might go a little below if I get a good deal on something I think they would really like.

I agree.


Now it I was giving 3 different people gifts, say at Christmas, and the one that I spent $10 looks equal to the other two $20 then I just give that gift. If it looks like less then I add another gift.

As you can see I don't have a hard and fast rule that I use.

 

[tigger51276]

Unless I'm truly strapped for cash then even if I get a good deal than I will try to reach my max, especially if it's for a kids birthday.

 

[MomToOne]

I go at things from a slightly different angle. If I have $20 to spend then I try to find the absolute best gift I can for that amount. That might mean getting a $40 item for $20.

That said, I typically set myself a lower amount to spend than most people - for example, for birthday gifts for my DD10's friends, I limit my spending to $10. But I usually manage to get a decent gift for that, by shopping clearance and sales although every once in awhile there are no decent deals to be found and the birthday child gets a sticker-price $10 gift.

 

[bdoyledimou]

For christmas this year, i picked up a gmae for DN (10) for her xbox (Ratatoule for the record). On the shelf it was listed as $19.99. When i got to the cash it racg up as ONE CENT. The guy looked at a list he had and confirmed that yes, the game was ONE CENT due to it being clearence and the last one in stock.

SO i paid the penny (NO TAXES!! ) and then went and bought her some clothes with the other $19.99

 

[ajk912]

Yes, I agree, it depends on where you bought it. A $20 gift at Walmart or Target is different than a $20 gift at Kohls or Penneys. TRU can go either way. Heck, Kohls is so inflated can you even get a pack of cards at under a $20 retail value?

Also, you have to bear in mind that often (especially with kids toys) you can easily tell what is an older/regifted toy. The faces change, the boxes change, etc, toys go in and out of style, etc. Now, if it's a random school friend, that's probably fine, but if it's a better friend or relative I would definitely take that extra money and buy something else.