Miss Manners: My partner keeps buying me things while I’m trying to downsize

Miss Manners provides guidance on two distinct social dilemmas. First, she addresses a partner who continues buying gifts despite the recipient's efforts to downsize, leading to clutter stored in the garage. Second, she discusses the frustration of individuals who snub a person's Spanish skills by speaking to their spouse instead. While some native speakers offer genuine compliments, others maintain a condescending approach, requiring a tactful response to handle these interpersonal challenges effectively.