What's the proper etiquette?

[Chigga]

I have these three female friends who had birthdays within two weeks of each other. I had bought personal presents for two of the girls; the last is having her dinner party this weekend. A bunch of the girls wanted to just pool money together and get her something and asked me if I wanted to pitch in...

What's the proper etiquette here? Should I pitch in; so it doens't look like I am trying to be better than everyone by getting her my own present? Or would she feel like she doesn't mean as much to me as the other girls because I didn't get her a personal present?
She's friends with the other two girls, and they haven't made it a secret that I got them something

[STEELERSFAN]

You could buy your own gift and just explain the situation as it is, like you did here. I would not be offended if you wanted to buy your own gift. I do not feel like you would "be better than everyone else" by doing this. I would probably think, "wow, good, now she has more gifts to open".

Do your own thing!

[Marysia]

since she knows the other two girls got something from just you.... if you went in with the group instead she might feel slighted - like you didn't have enough time to do something just for her so you went with the group. depending on your budget AND what the group is giving her.... you may opt for both - a little of this and a little of that. but if its only one.... I would stick for doing something on your own.

[Katie G]

I think its meaningful when someone takes the time to individually pick out a gift for me! Since they're all your friends, its perfectly fine to tell the group of girls that you actually already have a gift picked out. Or you can just be honest and say that you feel like you need to get her something individual because you did so for them. I'm sure they'll understand! Girls get that kind of thing.