Housewarming gift price range?

[NoCanoe]

I originally offered to buy a gift once my friends were settled and knew what they wanted. There had been talk of wanting to replace dinner plates, bed linen , towels etc.

They now have said they will forgo the non essential items in favour of something more practical.

That's fine. But because I never stipulated a budget at the time when it was a general idea, Im now being presented with an invoice far greater than anticipated.

Im just wondering if Im out of touch with price range these days, or am I being taken advantage of?

Id like some idea of what you'd consider normal price range before I say how much I am actually being asked for.

I do feel I have no option but to honour the commitment. But I'm a bit miffed.

I'm grateful for someone realizing it's years to get over, not just months.

The mumsnet support has been excellent and more than I could have wished for.
Im bluddy grateful to all of them.

But, sometimes there are no tidy finishes.....no ribbons and bows.

Hearing that you are going to lick your wounds with a £100 gift to yourself and resolve to never be taken advantage of again is more than enough for me, NoCanoe.

For what it’s worth I can see how accepting friends or so called friends have used and abused your nature is very hard. A gradual reduction of contact might be easier on you or a no reply one day then let it face

These things take time. A friends husband took advantage of us financially on several occasions. DH and I put up with it for 18mths as dumbstruck, shocked, felt sorry for friend, worried she was financially abused etc then finally cut the tie knowing I lost dear friend as a consequence.

It has been five years now and I still miss her terribly, but could not go on being taken advantage of. Real life is bumpy and muddled, your doing great!

Two weeks is nothing, take no notice of that poster. It's heartbreaking to find out you've been 'had' it's going to take a long time to come to terms with

Let it fade is what post should have said sorry. It’s hard letting go when it’s not been all bad

No canoe.....
I am actually beyond shocked at the triple birthday gift extortion.
You are obviously a lovely kind person and very generous.Take your time to digest what has happened and get over the loss of a friend.
In time I hope you might get some vicarious enjoyment out of their antics as they try for more before they realise they have been rumbled.
But better to be a nice person who may be taken advantage ,of than to be a horrible leech !!
At least you can look at yourself in the mirror and know you always had the best of intentions.
Ps Im not surprised you had nice moments and encounters , Its easy to be nice to someone as generous and kind as you!!
💐💐💐💐💐💐

MovieStar I agree with your sentiments. I always take people at face value, sometimes to my detriment. DH is shrewd and can see things I don't, and I have had my fingers burnt before. Not really with money, but emotional investment when he could see it for what it was.

I felt upset and humiliated when I discovered he was right all along, but it was a learning process, and I would rather be that way and make a few mistakes, than be completely cynical.