Buying friendship with gifts

I've once read a story about a multimillionaire in the Daily paper like decades ago. How he went from riches to rock bottom trying to buy expensive gifts for his fake friends who simply abandoned him the moment he went broke.

[Random two cent mind dump]

Made me think about a post a few days ago. How easily people can take advantage of these types of people. I don't think I could accept free stuff ...it makes one feel obligated to them... nothing in life is free without any consequences.