Birthday Present Drama: Friend Refuses to Pay for Overpriced Gift

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.

The Gift-Giving Tradition

Enter the New Girlfriend

An Unexpected Group Chat

The $60 Book Dilemma

A Suspicious Offer

Standing Her Ground

Alice’s Change of Heart ❤️

The Book Returns

Friends Take Sides

Drawing the Line ✋

Backing Out ‍♀️

Leaving the Group Chat

Accusations Fly ️

Just Trying to Be Fair? ⚖️

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

NTA. Alice should have bought the book herself.

NTA enforces gift rules, confusion over Leah’s group classification

Don’t break the bank for a gift. NTA.

Alice seems manipulative and Leah should stand her ground.

NTA sets good boundary, raises valid questions about gift financing

Friend refuses to contribute to gift, accused of manipulation

Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift. NTA wins.

NTA stands up to friend’s overpriced gift drama

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

Girlfriend’s friend tries too hard to be part of the group

Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift: NTA wins.

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

NAH – Group dynamics change, spending limits too. OP not liking Leah.

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

Friend group’s $20 gift budget causes birthday present drama

Stand up for yourself, don’t let friends take advantage

Gift drama at 26, $3 gifts without partners? ESH

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

NTA defends friend against accusations of being cheap

Generosity is key in gift giving

Suggests changing gift rules and finding new friends if necessary

Alice’s greed causes tension among friends over birthday present

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

Commenter defends OP’s pettiness over a $10 gift, NTA

Crowdfunding expensive gifts? NTA calls out the trend.

Short and sweet: commenter says NTA.

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

Don’t get scammed! NTA for refusing overpriced gift

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

Friend refuses to pay for gift, commenter calls out stinginess

NTA stands up for themselves in gift drama

Pitching in to avoid drama: NTA doesn’t owe expensive gift

NTA: Don’t force someone to buy a disliked gift

Don’t break the bank for a distant friend’s gift

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

Clear-cut judgement! You’re not the a**hole

Gift-giving as a group may need to end.

Declining to pay for overpriced gift for disliked person. NTA

NTA, no obligation to buy overpriced gift for friend’s tradition

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

Redditor expects birthday money, declares themselves NTA.

Suggests a cheaper alternative for a birthday gift. NTA.

Friend group dragged into girlfriend’s gift drama. NTA.

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

Friend refuses to pay for overpriced gift, commenter says NTA

Don’t let anyone bully you into buying an overpriced gift

Group gift buying sucks! NTA, stand your ground

Clear-cut case of not being the a**hole

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

Crowdfunding for partner’s gift but can’t afford $40?

Friend demands expensive gift, commenter says NTA. Drama ensues

Commenter is not the a-hole in birthday present drama

Don’t let anyone bully you into giving a specific gift

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

Excusing oneself from birthday present drama. NTA wins

Commenter questions why ‘she’ deserves an overpriced gift

Friendship and money don’t always mix. NTA for opting out

Group pressured to buy expensive gift for friend’s girlfriend

Friend expects group to pay for her girlfriend’s gift

Friend being cheap and manipulative, NTA for calling him out

Defending oneself on internet; NTA, but communication is key

Group gift drama: NTA for not paying for overpriced present

Is Alice’s behavior strange or normal gift-giving etiquette?

Commenter believes OP is not at fault

Friend group changes, tough times. NTA for refusing payment

NTA for not wanting to pay for overpriced gift

Stand up for yourself, but don’t lose your friends

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

Don’t let Alice manipulate you into paying for overpriced gifts

Commenter defends OP’s decision not to buy expensive gift

Commenter suggests OP’s delivery could have been better.