Karen’s housewarming party started off wonderfully. Her new home was stunning—modern, spacious, and filled with expensive décor that she proudly showed off. But the centerpiece of the entire evening was, without a doubt, her massive 75-inch 4K TV, which sat like a trophy in the middle of the living room.
“Oh, you have no idea how incredible the picture quality is,” Karen gushed, flipping through channels to show us the crystal-clear resolution. “It’s like—better than real life. Honestly, this is the ultimate addition to my home. I don’t know how I ever lived without it.”
Everyone nodded politely, offering compliments. “Wow, it looks amazing.” “That’s a huge screen!” “You’re going to have the best movie nights.” The usual small talk at these kinds of gatherings. I thought nothing of it. It was just Karen being Karen—dramatic and over-the-top.
But then, as the party wound down and most of the guests had left, Karen approached me with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her voice was casual, but there was something sharp about her tone.
“So,” she said, tilting her head slightly, “when can I expect your $1000 for the TV?”
I blinked, caught completely off guard. “Excuse me?”
She let out a sigh, as if I was the one being ridiculous. “The TV,” she repeated slowly. “I bought it as my housewarming gift to myself, and I expect everyone to pitch in. It cost $4000, so I’m asking for $1000 from you, Mom, Dad, and my brother. That’s fair, right?”
I stared at her, trying to figure out if this was some kind of joke. But the way she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow told me she was completely serious.
It took everything in me not to laugh. “Karen, we never agreed to this,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “We thought housewarming gifts were supposed to be something thoughtful, something we choose to give—not something you decide for us. And certainly not something this expensive.”
Her eyes narrowed. “But I already bought it! I assumed everyone would contribute. It’s not fair if I have to pay for it all by myself.”
I took a slow, deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “Karen, gifts don’t work like that. You can’t just go buy something expensive and then expect everyone else to pay for it. That’s not how giving works.”
Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought she was going to argue. Instead, she just pressed her lips together and said, “Fine,” before turning on her heel and walking away.
I knew Karen wasn’t going to let this go so easily. So, I decided I needed to teach her a little lesson—one she wouldn’t forget.
The next afternoon, I stopped by Karen’s house, holding a neatly wrapped gift box in my hands. The wrapping paper was bright and colorful, and I had even added a little ribbon to make it look extra special.
When she opened the door and saw me standing there, her face lit up with expectation. “Oh, you didn’t have to bring me anything,” she said, but her eager hands reached for the box before she even finished the sentence.
“I know how much you love your TV,” I said with a warm smile, handing her the gift. “So I thought this would be perfect for you.”
Karen’s excitement grew as she tore through the wrapping paper, her fingers working quickly to reveal what was inside. But the moment she saw it, her face fell. She froze, staring at the object in her hands like it was a piece of garbage.
It was a universal remote control. And not a high-end one either—a basic, budget-friendly model.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you serious?” she asked, holding it up like it might burn her fingers.
“Completely,” I said, keeping my expression innocent. “Every great TV needs a remote, right? And this one fits right within our budget. Thoughtful, don’t you think?”
Karen’s face turned an alarming shade of red. “I asked for $1000, not this,” she snapped, waving the remote in frustration.
I shrugged. “Like I said, Karen, gifts are about what the giver wants to give—not what the receiver demands. This is what I could afford, and I thought it would go great with your TV.” I smiled sweetly. “You should be grateful.”
For a moment, she just stood there, mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right words to argue back. But I didn’t stick around to hear it. I simply patted her on the shoulder and said, “Enjoy your TV,” before walking out the door.
Later that evening, my husband chuckled as he relayed what he had heard through the family grapevine.
“Karen’s been complaining to everyone about your ‘insulting’ gift,” he said, shaking his head.
I raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“And,” he continued, grinning, “no one is taking her side. Apparently, even her mom said, ‘She bought the TV without consulting anyone. She needs to learn that’s not how gifts work.’”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “So, she finally got the message?”
He smirked. “Well, she’s not asking for the money anymore. So yeah, I’d say your little lesson worked.”
And as for the remote?
I heard she ended up using it.
What do you think? Would you have handled it differently? Share your thoughts in the comments below!