Friend spends too much on my gift!

[Yippiedoo]

Every year my friend and I get each other a Christmas gift. I always spend around £25. This year I bought her a nice scarf and some fancy truffles. My problem is, every year she spends around £80-100 on me. We are both married and not well off, but pretty average (comfortable). I've asked her not to spend so much, a token little gift is lovely- but every year she does it again and I feel bad - but I don't really want to start spending that much for a friend's gift (we have 2 daughters, my Mum and other close family to buy for and we spend around that amount on them!) What would you do?

I would feel uncomfortable with this and be inclined to put a stop to the gifts especially since you have already tried to get her to spend less.

My friend was like this so I just decided to put a stop to the gifts altogether. That's didn't go down too well but I had her 3 children too buy for as well as her. Now I just get the kids.
Alternatively give a budget. If she chooses to go ott, that's on her.

Do you definitely know she spends that much? Could she have found some good deals or discounts which mean she isn't spending as much as it appears?

Admitting just clutching at straws here. This would make me uncomfortable too.

No advice, because in my experience telling people not to buy gifts,when they want to, achieves nothing except even more grief. Just don’t feel guilty if you spend less than she does

Just for a laugh, I have a friend that I made the mistake of buying a gift for, a few years ago, when they were going through a bad time. Now, it’s turned into an obligation, that frankly I’d prefer to knock on the head!but he won’t hear of it. This year, he found out the name of the perfume I particularly like. It’s expensive and I was very clear that he wasn’t to spend that much on me. Well, he did - except he bought the aftershave with the same name - still no idea what to do about it 🙈🙈😂

She definitely does as I've been with her when she's bought Birthday gifts for other people. She's very kind hearted and generous so it's coming from a nice place, but she had 3 children (she spends imo extortionate amounts on them too but obviously that's her call)

Just continue what you're doing. Gift giving is clearly her love language, I'd let her crack on.