Miss Manners: Friends, kin keep making sales pitches

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am confounded on how to reply to the numerous requests/demands from family and friends to buy whatever merchandise they are selling – such a variety of jewelry, miracle skin treatments, cleaning products, etc. This doesn’t even begin to cover all the times they sell things for their children.

It seems the only time they want to talk to me is when they want me to buy something or host an event at my home. I would never dream of inviting people into my home to sell them something.

Be assured that all these people are financially comfortable, and mainly do this as a way to make money while they stay at home and raise their children – a decision I fully support, if that is what they want to do.

However, I have bought all these people shower gifts, wedding gifts and baby gifts. I was happy to celebrate the happy occasions in their life. I married early and have no children, so it is not as if my contributing would be “payback” for gifts given to me.

I would like to know the best way to respond to these incessant requests. Ignoring them seems rude, but I don’t see any other way of dealing with it.

GENTLE READER: How do you normally respond to the sales pitches with which we are all constantly bombarded?

By ignoring those that do not interest you, and responding to those that are made face-to-face with, “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”

This is not rude: It saves both your time and theirs, and your money. So do that when your friends and relatives turn commercial.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Are there any correct uses for a round-bowled cream soup spoon other than for cream soups?

GENTLE READER: Breakfast cereal. You can get away with a lot at breakfast.