Squanderlust is a podcast about the emotional side of money. It is hosted by Martha Lawton and recorded with technical sponsorship at Wardour Studios, London.

Episode 42: Interview: Jane Major discusses grand gestures and expensive gifts

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Show notes

Clinical psychologist and relationship therapist, Dr Jane Major, returns to talk gifts and giving in this seasonal episode. The topic was grand gestures and expensive gifts.

We discussed:

  • What do we mean by a grand gesture or expensive gift? Typically one that seems disproportionate with the income or wealth of the giver or receiver;

  • Martha’s discomfort with expensive gifts - ways they can be manipulative, set up a relationship as transactional instead of connected, buying a pass for unkind behaviour, reciprocity issues adn expectations;

  • Jane’s experiences of giving expensive gifts as cover for low self-esteem;

  • gifs in dating;

  • gifts in nuclear and extended families;

  • communicating about gift preferences;

  • setting boundaries around gift giving;

  • earning to trust and accept expensive gifts when given in healthy relationships.

You can find out more about Jane and her therapy practice at The Room Between.

You can support the show by buying a copy of a book by one of the authors we’ve interviewed at our Bookshop.org store.

Episode 43: Interview: Catherine Morgan tells women "It's not about the money"

Episode 41: Interview: Will Rainey tells us how to teach children about money