1. I would put back enough stuff to cover what money I did have.
I once drove back to a mechanic after my car was serviced once I realized he incorrectly added my bill and he shorted himelf. I offered him his money.

2. No. I would not refuse it. I don’t see that as a gift. The car dealership is getting something from me, interest. This is not a gift.

3. No. But don’t married people do that ALL the time. It is called divorce. Alimony, child support etc.. Why am I different? It seems some are hung up on married vs not married and think the relationship rules are completely oppposite.

4. The circle of friends I have never split bills. When we go out one person always gets the bill for everyone. And I mean always. I can not remember a time when this did not happen. It does not matter if I am alone and there are 3 of them. There is a fight for the bill. Sometimes I get up and fake going to the bathroom and pay so they don’t have too. Their turn to pay is guaranteed to come back around. Again, not a gift. Just trading off.

I would just add that these are not arguments as you called them and have no problem with you questioning them in such a thought out manner. However, you call them arguments but I call them principles that I live by.

Also, implying I am not happy is way off target.

Thanks for reading my long emails Geek.

saladdin

1) Saladdin is buying $50.55 worth of groceries with cash and while paying finds himself short by five cents. The cashier is having a good day and waves Saladdin on saying that a nickel doesn’t matter. According to Saladdin, he would rather not buy the food than accept that “gift” of a nickel from the cashier.

2) Saladdin is buying a car and after all the haggling is done arrives at a price he and the dealer feel is fair. As Saladdin is about to pay his girlfriend mentions some ad for cash back on the car that Saladdin was unaware of. Would Saladdin refuse that “gift” of cash back because he’d already negotiated a fair price?

3) Saladdin puts his girlfriend through school, buys a house and furnishes it for himself and his girlfriend all by himself. Two days before his girlfriend’s graduation she makes it clear that she has fallen in love with someone else and is leaving him. Will Saladdin then demand money from her for the house, furnishings and her tuition?

4) Saladdin is hanging out at a bar when an old friend he hasn’t seen in a long time joins him. This old friend and Saladdin have a good time catching up while drinking, each person paying for their own drinks. At the end of the night, Saladdin goes home only to recall that his old friend paid for the last round of drinks. Would Saladdin hunt down this old friend to “pay him back” and remove the strings of owing him a drink?

Personally, I agree with Tim. Most of the time, a gift is a gift, is a gift. It sounds to me that if Saladdin would learn to just accept a gift every now and again, or maybe even give a gift without expecting anything in return, his life would be much happier.