After opening presents from the family, I quickly ran upstairs and secretly logged into the internet to look up the gifts that I received to see how much they were worth. At that point I decided whether or not to return the gifts. Tell me I’m not the only one to do this!
Also, if you had done this… What was the most surprising value that you found on a gift?.. Were there any gifts that you said, “Damn, it’s worth that much?” or “Damn, what cheap-ass relatives I have.”
I’ve never intentionally looked up the price of the gift, and I certainly wouldn’t do so in order to decide whether to return it or not. How does that work? “Ooh, this gift is worth 75 bucks! I’m taking this puppy back!”
If I like the gift, I keep it. If I don’t like it, or can’t use it, I exchange it for something else. It may be cliche, but it’s true - it’s the thought that counts, not the price tag.
I can honestly say I’ve never done this. Even when I was relatively poor, I only returned a present if it was damaged, didn’t fit, or it was from someone I barely knew and I really, really didn’t like it.
Now that I’m livin’ in the days of shared finances, I don’t WANT to know what my presents cost. They ultimately come out of my checkbook; why not suspend the disbelief that they just appeared under the tree as long as possible?!?
I’ve never looked up the price of a gift and find it surprising that some people care, let alone as much as you evidently do. If it’s a good present, what does it matter?
I’m a poor college student, forty bucks is more valuable than a bright orange sweater. It’s not that I care that much, it’s just a matter of weighing what I would want more, the money, or a sweater or shirt that I would wear maybe twice.