{"id":293247,"date":"2025-06-14T18:11:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T18:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/uncategorized\/is-it-ever-ok-to-return-a-gift\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T18:11:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T18:11:41","slug":"is-it-ever-ok-to-return-a-gift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/?p=293247","title":{"rendered":"Is It Ever OK To Return A Gift?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Though there are plenty of (terrifying) stats about the price of a wedding<\/a> in the UK, it\u2019s much harder to find out how much people fork out for their anniversaries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But for all milestone events, a third of Brits feel<\/a> that gifts are the most expensive part. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Among wedded couples, though, this dynamic is unique; after all, most couples share finances, meaning (very common<\/a>) arguments about money can ensue following a gift meant to celebrate the pair\u2019s wedding. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That\u2019s what happened to Redditor u\/Nearby_Zebra_8889<\/a>, whose beautiful new necklace set, given on her and her partner\u2019s 10-year anniversary, has caused more stress than delight. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So, we spoke to the founder of Etiquette Expert<\/a>, Jo Hayes, about whether (and when) it\u2019s ever okay to return a gift. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The original poster (OP) often argued with her husband about money<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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OP wrote that she<\/a> and her husband had argued a lot about money in the previous years, mostly due to his spending. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Recently, though, they hit their 10-year anniversary; he bought her a very beautiful necklace set, which she loved. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But when OP\u2019s husband saw her going about her day without wearing the jewellery, he was upset and complained that she should \u201cat least\u201d wear the set he said he\u2019d gone \u201chungry\u201d paying for. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So, she asked her husband how much the set cost. He revealed the sum, which OP says was enough to cover many of their bills (the couple had been struggling financially). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She is thinking of returning the gift as a result of his comment about how much he\u2019s struggled to pay for it, asking the members of the forum, \u201cAITA [Am I The Asshole]?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The couple need counselling, the expert says<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Hayes told us that in this particular case, the couple likely need some intervention; counselling might be a good choice. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And \u201cFrom an etiquette expert\u2019s perspective, this situation is not the \u2018typical\u2019, \u2018is it ok if I return this gift?\u2019 scenario, mainly because the gift giver is essentially using the receiver\u2019s own funds to purchase the gift,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In this unusual example, she shared, it\u2019s \u201cunderstandable\u201d that the wife is prioritising paying bills over donning bling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But for a \u201cstandard\u201d case, you should ask yourself some questions before returning the gift. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Do you have a receipt, for instance? If not, don\u2019t bother. Are you super close to the gifter? Then you might need to try \u201cpolitely, graciously, speaking to them about the possibility of returning\u201d an unwanted pressie. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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If they\u2019re not close, though, discretion is your best bet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Still, a reassuring insight: \u201cAs to the ethics of returning a gift: Essentially it\u2019s fine,\u201d Hayes wrote. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cA gift is a token of appreciation, love, or thanks, from one person to another. As such, the item should be something that is welcomed by the giftee and given with no strings attached.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She ended, \u201cIt\u2019s meant to be something that \u2018adds value\u2019 to, or benefits, the giftee\u2019s life. If it\u2019s something they don\u2019t want, they should feel free to swap it. Or give it away (re-gifting is also, usually, ethically A-OK).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n