Some Thoughts on "Giving it Awayâ--Equal and Fair, But "Will They Blow It?" By Francis H. Morrison Do You Really Need to Control the Use of the Gift? In 1933, my paternal grandfather, an A&P executive, gave his sister a $50 Christmas giftâreal money in 1933. The sisterâs family was not well off and struggled to put food on the table and pay the rent. There was no money for âluxuries.â His sister and her family promptly used the $50 to buy a radioâthey didnât have one. My paternal grandmother was outraged at such a âsillyâ use of the $50 gift. My grandfather told meâin 1955 when I was 8âthat âwhen you give someone a gift you get no say in how they spend it.â His reported comment to his sister was âenjoy the radio.â