When did the cost of buying gifts become so exorbitant?
When gifts were exchanged at a friends birthday dinner a few years ago, it soon became clear gifts have a language I may not always understand. It explains that expressions of love can be made through actions, touch, words, quality time, or gifts. The theory is that we favour one expression over another. Im pretty sure mine isnt gifts. Were not holding back on gift spending. Credit:Illustration: Dionne Gain  When one friend at this party gave the hostess a Gucci ring costing, maybe $500, I realised I was probably under-performing. I was either a bad friend or had a bad budget. Maybe both. Im not critical of the gesture. It was grand, moving and the smile on the face of the giver was just as beaming as the recipients. It was a generous, caring expression of friendship.