DEAR ABBY: My husband gives me gift cards for my birthday and special occasions, but with it comes, "I want to know everything you buy!" I tell him it's a gift and I shouldn't have to tell him what I use it for. If I do tell him what I bought, he invariably says, "Did you really need that?"
It ruins the whole thing for me when I must reveal what I bought with the card. So who's right -- he or I? -- RELUCTANT RECIPIENT IN ALASKA
DEAR RELUCTANT RECIPIENT: You are, for the reason you stated. The object of a gift is to bring pleasure, and there are few comments your husband could make that would put a bigger damper on your purchase than, "Do you really need that?" The next time he asks what you bought, tell him, "None of your beeswax!"