Sigh 762: The Return on Investment for Tributes

When investing in tributes, choosing the cheaper option will result in a loss.
If there are items priced at 40,000 yen and 60,000 yen, choosing the 40,000 yen one will make the other party feel like they have lost 20,000 yen.
If you give a 40,000 yen tribute next time as well, you will be labeled as stingy.
Even if you contribute 80,000 yen in total, you will still be thought of as stingy.
On the other hand, if you add a 5,000 yen bonus to a 60,000 yen tribute, it might move the recipient's heart a little. They might even mistake you for being generous. Investing 65,000 yen at once can be expected to have a better return on investment than 80,000 yen split into two occasions.