How to tell friends (30s) that the gift they’ve chosen is too expensive?

So we're a couple (early 30s) that just moved countries and an old childhood friend (for 15yrs) living in this new city invited us to stay with her and her boyfriend while we settle in and look for a home to rent.

We ended up staying 2 weeks before moving to our own place and we were really appreciative of their hospitality and left some treats with a note that we owe them big time.

A few days later, I sent my friend a message, that we'd like to gift them to a cooking class by a famous chef in the area (they love cooking and experimenting with new dishes) and sent them a website link with options for different courses for a half day experience which would total £220 / $270.

For some context, only one of us has secured an average paying job while the other person is actively looking still. The whole moving countries thing wasn't a cheap exercise so we aren't exactly balling now, especially since we're arriving in a country where the currency is significantly stronger so we can get by but don't have excessive amounts of savings once converted.

Back to the story... My friend since responded and thanked us. She did however say that they'd love to do a full day course which then totals £380 / $470. £160 / $200 extra is a significant jump from what we were originally budgeting but we aren't sure how to address it with my friend. We should have maybe been more explicit when sending the half day courses to them but we're in this situation now and need advice...

1. Are we being unreasonable in not wanting to pay the extra?
2. They are fairly well off so we're not sure if they see the extra amount as pocket change or it they are implying, they'd pay the difference in price?
3. Do we just send them a gift card with the original amount?
4. How do we respond as the dreaded blue tick on Whatsapp is giving me anxiety?

EDIT: I may have worded it incorrectly but to elaborate on our financial situation. Our one income isn’t enough to get us through a month so we are utilising savings. We’re by no means living month to month and have enough savings to get us through the next few months but if the second income isn’t secured then we will be in a position where we actually can’t then afford it. It’s just in the interim where we can technically afford it from savings.

TL;DR A friend invited us to stay with them when we immigrated to a new country. We stayed 2 weeks and gave them options for a £220 / $270 thank you gift but they’ve chosen a £380 / $470 option. Not sure how to address it now.

Submitted March 22, 2023 at 04:15AM by CinnamonBalls00 https://ift.tt/z8CtuLh