Dear Case,
I have been married for 10 years. With the gift giving season just past us, my annual anxiety over our financial inequality has kicked in. Every year, my husband showers me with holiday presents that are thoughtful and extremely generous. I find myself trying to reciprocate, but I am stretched very thin. I have a large family with a long gift list that requires me to be creative and frugal with my budget, whereas he only gets presents for me. Even though I know it is not a contest for the largest gift pile, I still feel guilty. He is gracious and says that he just likes to see me happy, but I always feel embarrassed. I find myself stretching even more to give back, going into debt, worrying and still not even coming close to his openhandedness. How should I have gotten over being the poor sap and embraced the holiday spirit and the thought that counts? Read more>