Inviting people that involves gift giving

**frugalandsimple** · 07-25-2008, 04:01 PM

Do you think some people do it just to recieve a gift, not to really see the person? I don't understand why some people feel they need to invite others to a party where it involves gift giving and they hardly know them. That includes family and relatives. Why is it that people invite others to their wedding or social gathering that involves in contributing gifts where they haven't had any contact with each other in the past year or so.

**FrugalWitch** · 07-25-2008, 04:07 PM

I definately feel that I'm being shaken down for a gift. It doesn't work. It's a waste of postage to invite me to graduations/birthdays/showers/weddings/housewarming ad nauseum.

I have only 1 very close friend (a male) and I wouldn't spit on my family (except DH and Momma) if they were on fire.

It peeves me to no end to receive an invite for gift-giving from someone who hasn't seen or spoken to me in years.

**suki** · 07-25-2008, 04:16 PM

In my family it's because we want you to know we've reached a milestone, had a big event or something similar. We really could care less if you send money or a gift... but, if we see you at the family reunion we don't won't you to be surprised that we got married, graduated, had a baby, etc.

**Wendy99** · 07-25-2008, 04:37 PM

I think a lot of it is custom .. i wouldnt think it right to invite someone to a shower though that you hardly speak with but a wedding is different I think .. sometimes the parents etc would like them there .. not sure if that came out right

**scottVee** · 07-25-2008, 06:41 PM

I don't do household junk or baby clothes. I have a stash of books for gifts, and can grab the best fit if I need to. So, I don't get invited to many parties. ;-)

They're actually good books, too. On the flipside, I sometimes buy a big 20-pound carton of children's books on eBay (often $30 or less), and when we go to visit people with kids we'll bring them books for free. Children's books are way overpriced, sometimes just 8 pages for $10, so parents are happy to have them.

Or the kids love them.

It's just the adults that are the complainers.

**Momof3girls** · 07-25-2008, 06:56 PM

I have no issue with family or good friends that maybe I don't see as often as I want to; sending me wedding or graduation or baby announcements.
When it is distant relations or a friend of a friend type of deal; that irks me and I do feel like it is fishing for gifts.

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-25-2008, 07:03 PM

I think that wedding invites are equivalent to a 'family get together' or a family reunion kind of thing.
So if it's family - I don't mind.

But I HATE getting invites to graduation parties and birthdays. Come on! that's a dime a dozen.
I never go. PERIOD.

My children graduated from HS - I didn't bother one family member with an invite. I still get them left and right.

From cousins we haven't seen in 15 years! Give me a break.