Help! I've Feel like I've Been "Over-Gifted"

For her it was probably meant like a Christmas bonus for you, not just a present. Employers are supposed to be able to give more than their employees:)

She obviously appreciates you, and obviously can afford to give you a generous gift. Enjoy it!! She knows that you cannot reciprocate financially; and she does not expect that. Your gift to her (the cookie project) is super thoughtful and lovely! She is grateful to have someone she can trust to take care of her house and dogs (which is *priceless*, by the way), and she is simply expressing her gratitude. Thank her warmly for the generous gift, and just be happy. :-) You deserve it.

Remember that some people have time to give (that would be you), and others have money to give (that is probably her). She probably thinks that you went way over and above by making those cookies to decorate with her grandchildren. To her, that $150 might not seem like much. Perspective is everything. If you think about how much time you spent putting that gift together, wouldn't you think it has more value than you might think at first glance? If it took you 3 hours to bake, clean up, prepare the rest of the ingredients, that's $50/hour, which is not an unreasonable cost. Enjoy the gifts, and thank her. She obviously thinks you are worth every penny she spent on you. And I would be also. :)

How does the $150 compare to your weekly pay from her on average? I know for nannies, 2 weeks pay at Christmas is fairly standard so she may be using that type of benchmark which would make your gift probably very nice but shouldn't make you uncomfortable. She likely loves having someone like you and it's totally worth it to her. If she travels that much for work, likely she's making good money and can afford it. So just be psyched! Your gift to her is a great idea btw.

While reading your post I thought of how grateful GRATEFUL I would be to have someone as competent as you if I were in this ladies situation. Grateful posted twice because of the peace of mind you must give her to know things are taken care of while she's traveling.

She also may be a very smart shopper, a few examples I know of without really looking, recently restaurant.com offered $25 gift certificates for $1.50 and you could get more off through ebates. Some schools sell Scrip (Gift Cards) at a discount and keep the rebate for fundraising.

So, She may not have spent $150 on the cards but even if she did, take it as a sign or how much she appreciates you! You are definitely worth it!

Wow! If you did all of that stuff for me, I'd give you $150 worth of gift cards too! You seem like such a thoughtful person. That's great that your employer really appreciates the effort. Maybe she gave you the generous gift because she is feeling guilty that you do so much work for her and do such a great job of it. No need to pay the guilt forward :-)

Have a great Christmas, and buy yourself something nice with those gift cards!

well, my boss is a spectacular lady as well. she also makes a ton more than i do...and ALWAYS out gifts me. in fact this year my husband was laid off for 3 months this fall so i did cards only for work people. she gave me a REALLY nice LL Bean personalized canvas tote, and a cashmere scarf/glove set. last year she got us $70 lotion/manicure sets from the mall, AND gift cards to a restaurant. SHE GOES NUTS! but she does this for EVERYONE in her life. she goes overboard on her kids, ALL her grandkids, neighbors...she just really loves it. this year i set aside the guilt. we have somewhat of a mother/daughter relationship, and she knows the details of our situation. even if she didn't she's not the type to take measure in things like that. it does bother me, but i feel the best thing i can do is be comforted by the fact that i gave her a card with a really well thought out, heartfelt note and that has to be enough this year.

i know it's awkward but we have to just look on the bright side and be grateful that someone thinks so much of you. i am sure she won't think a thing of it. especially if you explain or write in a card, that the cookies are to help her spend time with her kids/grandkids. she will love it. moms and grandmas love that kind of stuff! it was a really good idea :)

Considering all the tipping questions on this site this past month...I think you should feel well respected, appreciated and loved. She wants you to know how valuable your services are to her with that kind of generous gift.

So - enjoy it dear!!! She wouldn't give it if she didn't mean it...and..that was incredibly thoughtful of you to put together cookies and decorating stuff....you have quite an entrepreneurial idea for those busy Grandma's....I'd consider marketing it next year.

Your gift was thoughtful and required your time and energy. She appreciated that more than any monetary gift you could give her. Her gift to you was to show appreciation for that and for the work you do for her. Don't feel bad. She was just showing you her gratitude. You must be really great with her dogs. That's important to dog people!

I agree with the others before me, although they don't really address directly how NOT to feel any guilt. Maybe it would help if you look at it as time = $. How much time do you think this lovely lady would have had to spend to get a batch of homemade sugar cookies for her grandkids to decorate? 1) search for a recipe, 2) trip to the store 3) actually MAKE them.... hmmm... a couple of hours at least, right? So, do you think her time is worth $50-60hr? I'm betting it is. Your gifts are probably more equal than you realize!

I actually do not like looking at that, though. It takes away the whole point: It's a GIFT. Enjoy it! Be glad you were able to do something for her that she probably wouldn't be able to do otherwise. (decorate homemade cookies with the grandkids). And everyone knows home made is WAY better than store bought or pre-made freezer baked at home (Pillsbury sugar cookies?)...

I'm sure she could afford what she spent. And she obviously wanted to do that, so say thank you and then enjoy them!

Don't feel guilty. What you did for her is well worth $150 in my opinion. You gave her a memorable experience with her grandkids she would otherwise not have had. That's priceless. It's not just about how much you paid for the ingredients or time you spent (although those things are certainly worthwhile, too). She obviously *really* appreciated your effort and thoughtfulness (gotta say, I'm kinda impressed, too). Send her a nice thank you card and enjoy the gift cards.

I've been overgifted and it is uncomfortable especially when the person overdoing it isn't as well off.

I think to address your specific question. Do not feel guilty because she most likely had planned to give you these gift cards AS a christmas bonus type dea., it was probably already planned. You just happened to beat her to it by giving the cookies first. Do you see what i'm saying? Is wasn't like you gave the cookies and she thought to herself, OH Bleep now i have to go out and get Bridgette a gift because she gave me cookies. She would have given you the gift cards had you not done anything at all, and i'm 100percent sure she would have given it gladly with no thoughts at all about a return gift.

So accept that as your bonus, pat yourself on the back for being so sweet and creative with the cookie basket and consider it incentive to keep doing the wonderful job that you do.

You gave a wonderful gift. Being a mother of young children and always busy I would be so greatful not to go through all the steps of baking and just to enjoy the frostening of cookies which the kids enjoy so much. Like I said I don't have much time so I do gift small items with money attached and I hope they feel greatful to receive and in my giving I am very thankful for the individual in our life.

$150.00 is not too much. It is what she wanted to give you. Relax and enjoy it. Your gift to her was so thoughtful. I am sure she loves it.
I once was given a $1000.00 by a parent who's children I watched in my home. Now that was over the top!!!

You've been blessed and take it as just that! She obviously appreciates you and you are blessing her too with your skills and thoughtfulness! If she can do those things for you like gift cards then let her. I'm sure in her heart it wasn't even enough...for all you do. Enjoy it and just don't ever take if for granted, which I don't think you will:)

This same thing just happened to me. I do bookkeeping for a woman who owns a roofing business. We work side by side are very close. She doesn't want me to call her my boss, but rather my friend. I got her a nice gift of personalized soaps, ralph lauren hand towels and a soap dish- I was so excited to give them to her. She in return gave me, about 10 gifts (including for my 2 boys) and tickets to a Broadway show. All about $300 worth of stuff! I honestly couldn't believe it and felt like a chump for showing up with my little gift.
I guess you just have to be grateful and let them know how much you appreciate it all. I thanked her a 1000 times!!! I guess they are the boss so should get us more- I don't know. But I was in your shoes 100%

I overgift people but I swear I do not want to. I really appreciate the people who help me get through life and I want to bless them. Money and a listening ear are the two things I have. I don't expect anything in return and do try to give anonymously but it is not possible always.

Please enjoy the gifts and don't feel guilty. The peace of mind you give her is worth far more than $150.

Think of it as a bonus :D I have the fortune of very generous parents. They enjoy giving - don't feel guilty! And, your gift was very thoughtful. Both seem completely appropriate.

Don't feel guilty! She obviously values you! Honestly, she probably gets more out of giving it to you than you know. Let her know how you used it & enjoyed it and you will give her far more in return!