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Most people give presents during the holidays without a hidden agenda.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t true for a teen who received a gift during Christmas from her cousin. Things turned out unexpectedly when her cousin’s jealousy surprised her.
Passionate Meets Opportunity
The original poster (OP), who we’ll refer to as Lily, is a passionate crafter who loves to sew and knit, among other hobbies.
Lily’s older cousin, Emily, gifted Lily a knitting machine one Christmas. Little did Lily know this gift would cost her.
The Gifted Knitting Machine
Lily was excited when Emma gifted her the knitting machine she had wanted for a long time.
Lily didn’t take long to figure out how to use her new machine. She tried knitting using a variety of patterns and enjoyed learning along the way.
A Tale of Generosity and Unexpected Controversy
After a few weeks, Lily could knit sweatshirts, beanies, handbags, and much more.
By then, she was using her knitting machine to its full potential. Eventually, Lily decided to open a small online store to sell the knitwear she was creating.
From Passion to Profit
Things slowly picked up for Lily’s small business.
Although she produced all her knitwear with her knitting machine, she still had to purchase all the supplies.
However, soon after, things headed south.
Teen Entrepreneur Faces Conflict
The news about Lily’s small business soon spread around her family, and it didn’t take long for Emily to find out.
Most family members would’ve been proud that someone in their family was finding success, but this wasn’t the case for Emily.
Cousin’s Claim
Emily felt it was unfair that Lily was earning money from the gift she had bought her. After all, if Lily hadn’t had a knitting machine, she wouldn’t have made any money, right?
Debating the Fairness of Demanding Repayment for a Gift
Quick to react, Emily demanded Lily pay her back the full price for the knitting machine she had gifted her.
Was she right to do this?
“I find this extremely unfair as it was their gift to me and I shouldn’t be expected to pay them back, especially as all the other materials are paid for by me.”
Weighing the Financial Impact
Lily felt this was unfair because the knitting machine was given to her as a gift.
Now she’s left with a bittersweet feeling.
On the one hand, she’s earning money doing something she loves. On the other, she’s now being asked to pay for something that was initially given to her as a gift.
Exploring the Cost–Benefit Analysis
Fortunately for Lily, she can pay Emily back.
The problem is that it doesn’t feel right to pay someone back for a gift.
What People Really Think About Gifts
“That’s ridiculous! They gave you a gift; what you do with it is entirely your business (pun intended).”
Reflecting on the Value of Support
“Someone in my family got me a Cricut machine. I’ve since become obsessed with it and wouldn’t say I started a business but I definitely make custom pieces for money when asked. I would laugh if the person who got it for me wanted me to now pay for it.”
Gratitude and Boundaries in Creative Pursuits
“Is this for real? You’re using a tool to create products, the machine itself isn’t generating value. You’re using it to produce. I’m asking if it’s real because it’s otherwise embarrassing that a 26-year-old doesn’t understand.”
When Gifts Stir Controversy
It’s rare that we ever have to think about paying someone back for a gift received during the holidays.
In Lily’s case, she now has to decide whether to save her relationship with her cousin or refuse to pay.
While the answer may be obvious to many, it’s never easy when family is involved.
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