Imagine having a tight-knit group of friends since high school, with a tradition of giving each other birthday gifts on a fixed budget. Now, imagine the drama that unfolds when one friend's new girlfriend enters the picture and the budget suddenly skyrockets! 🚀💸 In this story, our protagonist (26F) finds herself in a heated debate over whether or not to contribute to a birthday gift for her friend's girlfriend, Leah, whom she barely knows and doesn't particularly like. 🎁😒

Diply | Diply
The Gift-Giving Tradition 🎁

20birthdaybudget | 20birthdaybudget
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Enter the New Girlfriend 👩

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Alice's Change of Heart ❤️

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Accusations Fly 🗣️

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Just Trying to Be Fair? ⚖️

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The Verdict: Fair or Unfair? 🤷♀️
So, our protagonist finds herself in a tough spot, accused of being insensitive and harsh for refusing to contribute to an overpriced birthday gift for her friend's girlfriend. 🎁😤 Was she just trying to be fair and maintain the long-standing tradition of a $20 budget, or did her dislike for Leah cloud her judgment? 🤔💭 Let's see what the internet thinks of this situation...
Standing up against group think and unreasonable budget demands. NTA 👏

Ars3nicc | Ars3nicc
NTA. Alice should have bought the book herself. 💰

dart1126 | dart1126
NTA enforces gift rules, confusion over Leah's group classification 🤔

Parzeval_Whatts | Parzeval_Whatts
Don't break the bank for a gift. NTA.

Kewege | Kewege
Alice seems manipulative and Leah should stand her ground. 🙌

bubbleuj | bubbleuj
NTA sets good boundary, raises valid questions about gift financing 👍

ManateeFlamingo | ManateeFlamingo
Friend refuses to contribute to gift, accused of manipulation 🤔

[deleted] | [deleted]
Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift. NTA wins.

WallabyInTraining | WallabyInTraining
NTA stands up to friend's overpriced gift drama 🙌

bellsofwar3 | bellsofwar3
NTA! Friend being cheap, friends have no common sense. 😱

theaa2000 | theaa2000
Girlfriend's friend tries too hard to be part of the group 😑

[deleted] | [deleted]
Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift: NTA wins.

Moonbyully | Moonbyully
Rare book gift dilemma: NTA for not overspending, limited edition.

Bangbangsmashsmash | Bangbangsmashsmash
NAH - Group dynamics change, spending limits too. OP not liking Leah.

AugustNClementine | AugustNClementine
NTA for not contributing to overpriced gift, suggest group presents going forward 👍

AffectionateSorbet47 | AffectionateSorbet47
Friend group's $20 gift budget causes birthday present drama 😱

Ateosira | Ateosira
Stand up for yourself, don't let friends take advantage 💪

[deleted] | [deleted]
Gift drama at 26, $3 gifts without partners? ESH 😑

LWdkw | LWdkw
Friend demands free money for overpriced gift, commenter calls out entitlement 💯

FlahBlast | FlahBlast
NTA defends friend against accusations of being cheap 💪

you-sirrr-name | you-sirrr-name
Generosity is key in gift giving 👍

Livid-League-1700 | Livid-League-1700
Suggests changing gift rules and finding new friends if necessary 😱

jillianleemonroe | jillianleemonroe
Alice's greed causes tension among friends over birthday present 💰🎁

gnimmuc6898 | gnimmuc6898
Group gift drama: Will Leah have to chip in now? 🤔

HeatherAnne1975 | HeatherAnne1975
Commenter defends OP's pettiness over a $10 gift, NTA 😎

VivianCold | VivianCold
Crowdfunding expensive gifts? NTA calls out the trend. 😱

Compassion-1st | Compassion-1st
Short and sweet: commenter says NTA. 👍

drawingmentally | drawingmentally
NTA for sticking to budget, but could have handled it better 😕

barbaramillicent | barbaramillicent
Don't get scammed! NTA for refusing overpriced gift 💪

Collieshangles | Collieshangles
Friend demands overpriced gift, OP refuses. Is $7 worth arguing?

GrayManGroup | GrayManGroup
Friend refuses to pay for gift, commenter calls out stinginess 😱

THE_Lena | THE_Lena
NTA stands up for themselves in gift drama 👏

kisukona | kisukona
Pitching in to avoid drama: NTA doesn't owe expensive gift 🙌

[deleted] | [deleted]
NTA: Don't force someone to buy a disliked gift 👍

tri220987 | tri220987
Don't break the bank for a distant friend's gift 💰

jaysolomongrundy | jaysolomongrundy
Friend accuses OP of being cheap for not overpaying. NTA.

Violet351 | Violet351
Clear-cut judgement! You're not the a**hole 👍

Previous_Magician_85 | Previous_Magician_85
Gift-giving as a group may need to end. 🎁

salice_piangente | salice_piangente
Declining to pay for overpriced gift for disliked person. NTA 👍

Quicksilver1964 | Quicksilver1964
NTA, no obligation to buy overpriced gift for friend's tradition 👍

Standard_Engineer724 | Standard_Engineer724
Friend expects expensive gift, refuses to pay. NTA wins.

Throwawaytown33333 | Throwawaytown33333
Redditor expects birthday money, declares themselves NTA. 🤣

firefightersgirl76 | firefightersgirl76
Suggests a cheaper alternative for a birthday gift. NTA.

jammy913 | jammy913
Friend group dragged into girlfriend's gift drama. NTA.

that_was_way_harsh | that_was_way_harsh
Boundaries matter, even in gift-giving. No obligation to overspend. 🙏

greenswizzlewooster | greenswizzlewooster
Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift, commenter says NTA 😊

MoodySpidey | MoodySpidey
Don't let anyone bully you into buying an overpriced gift 🙌

benji950 | benji950
Group gift buying sucks! NTA, stand your ground 🙌

LurkerToPoster100 | LurkerToPoster100
Clear-cut case of not being the a**hole 👍

ScubaSteve00S | ScubaSteve00S
Gifts are optional, and adding people without consent is wrong.

Eladiun | Eladiun
Crowdfunding for partner's gift but can't afford $40? 🤔

MarinCrops420 | MarinCrops420
Friend demands expensive gift, commenter says NTA. Drama ensues 😱

thicklover | thicklover
Commenter is not the a-hole in birthday present drama 👏

thezatch2 | thezatch2
Don't let anyone bully you into giving a specific gift 👍

thedorchestra | thedorchestra
No friendship, no gift: NTA for not paying over budget 🙌

besupergood | besupergood
Excusing oneself from birthday present drama. NTA wins 🎁

AmandaPandaLyn | AmandaPandaLyn
Commenter questions why 'she' deserves an overpriced gift 🤔

Massive_Ambassador_6 | Massive_Ambassador_6
Friendship and money don't always mix. NTA for opting out 👍

HealthyBox5 | HealthyBox5
Group pressured to buy expensive gift for friend's girlfriend 😒

PoundCritical1160 | PoundCritical1160
Friend expects group to pay for her girlfriend's gift 🎁😒

autumncurly14 | autumncurly14
Friend being cheap and manipulative, NTA for calling him out 😱

asymphonyin2parts | asymphonyin2parts
Defending oneself on internet; NTA, but communication is key 👍

MrAvalanche1981 | MrAvalanche1981
Group gift drama: NTA for not paying for overpriced present 😱

TheMommaResa | TheMommaResa
Is Alice's behavior strange or normal gift-giving etiquette? 🤔

the-happy-sisyphus | the-happy-sisyphus
Commenter believes OP is not at fault 👍

[deleted] | [deleted]
Friend group changes, tough times. NTA for refusing payment 👍

[deleted] | [deleted]
NTA for not wanting to pay for overpriced gift 😊

PsychologicalNews573 | PsychologicalNews573
Stand up for yourself, but don't lose your friends 👍

Hifen | Hifen
Gift-giving etiquette: significant others excluded from group presents. NTA 👍

ElimGarakOfCardassia | ElimGarakOfCardassia
Don't let Alice manipulate you into paying for overpriced gifts 😡

Liverbones | Liverbones
Commenter defends OP's decision not to buy expensive gift 💸

SweetSue67 | SweetSue67
Commenter suggests OP's delivery could have been better. 🤔

ImFinePleaseThanks | ImFinePleaseThanks