How do you handle friends that spend like the Trumps?

[ncarr]

400?!?!?! That's an awful lot of money. I don't think declining would be out of line at all!

[oheoh's momma]

Don't let your self be pressured into doing what u don't want to do . this is not high school. Invite and her hubby over to eat homemade pizza and play board games and see if she goes for it.
I am the Jones when it comes to my friends I have more seems like. We don't go out, they come over for dinner or drinks. We will have lunch $5 pizza or 3/$5 bucks sammies.
We go for walks, watch movies, and play cards...
I have 2 friends who are much better off than I am.We go to yard sales, and have coffee together...
None of our friendships revolve around money we are true friends......

[ansley]

Have you ever had a friend/friends that as time went on and your friendship evolved they now want to pressure you into buying or spending your money- for their benefit?

The "for their benefit" really got my attention. I have a sister that takes 4 or 5 vacations a year. For the past 3 summers this sister has set up a vacation that was supposed to be a big family deal with my mom and all mom's descendants. This past summer I found out that my sister was just using us to help fund another vacation for her and her family. She also hates anything house work related and she wanted us for cooking and cleaning. Needless to say there won't be a big "family" vacation next summer.

[bookwormpeg]

Sometimes you just have to let people go. In the end you'll be better off....