Last-Minute Christmas Shopping is Like Gambling

-

 

It's September and the countdown to Christmas began on September 1. One thing worth noting is why I personally hate December is the abundance of last-minute Christmas shopping. There's a lot of traffic to deal with one way or another. It's going to be a year after Odette hit last December 2021. I guess many last-minute Christmas shoppers were crying that they don't get to experience the thrill. This reminds me of a lot of stuff that was presented in regard to poor timing. Yup, timing in the Philippines is notoriously bad and the term "Filipino time" is almost synonymous with being late. 

Analyzing the logic behind last-minute Christmas shopping

Here's an article called "The Neuroscience Behind Last-Minute Christmas Shopping" by  Jocelyn Solis-Moreira. This is an excerpt that may help explain the mentality of last-minute Christmas shopping:
Gift-giving is stressful. Even if you’re excited to get someone a present, the pressure of finding something they’ll like can make you anxious. Sam Zand, DO, a practicing psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Better U, says that anxiety can make you feel jittery because the brain triggers a chemical called norepinephrine. An anxious brain also decreases levels of serotonin, which regulates anxiety and happiness. People who are serial procrastinators can live with this chronic anxiety, which may shift how the brain functions over time. 

Joseph Michelli, Ph.D., a psychologist, author, and organizational consultant, says that about 20 percent of people are chronic procrastinators and tend to use less of their executive function. They have a weaker ability to plan and act on difficult but important tasks without getting distracted by more impulsive and pleasurable items. Research also suggests that people who constantly procrastinate are less likely to learn from past mistakes. 

“The brain makes wise decisions for our survival. But executive function has changed from being an industrialized society and having more pleasurable distractions [around]. So, I think what's happened is that our brains have enabled us to get distracted by things that will take us off-task, but that doesn't necessarily kill us,” explains Michelli.

Another brain chemical known as dopamine may reinforce a pattern of procrastination. Dopamine is involved in reward and pleasure and Michelli says that we get limited dopamine from doing difficult and time-consuming tasks such as Christmas shopping.

But when we procrastinate, the brain releases a bit of dopamine to reward us for not doing the less pleasurable task. Dopamine also strengthens reward-related memory, motivating you to do it again because of how good it felt to procrastinate the first time. So, if you scored amazing last-chance deals in the past, your brain reinforces the behavior to shop last minute again.

The details above make me think of the pleasure zone of last-minute Christmas shopping. It seems that dopamine is produced for not doing the less pleasurable task. That's why procrastinating feels so good because people just want to enjoy things now. People tend to take the thrill of doing things at the last minute--never mind that it compromises work. This is probably why people just love the thrill of last-minute Christmas shopping even when it gets so stressful.

Comparing last-minute Christmas shopping to gambling

This reminds me of 1990s movie called Jingle All the Way. I was 11 years old when the film came out. It was where two competing parents, Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Myron Larabee (Sindbad) who were after the hottest Christmas toy, Turbo Man, for their sons. They both asked, "Do you have a Turboman?" and the salesmen simply laughed at them. I feel like laughing at anyone who looks for the hottest item on Christmas Eve. Yet it happened. If Howard decided to buy the toy weeks ago - he wouldn't be in the predicament he got in the movie. I even heard that Schwarzenegger dislikes the role he got caught into. Howard could've avoided all that if he bought the Turbo Man doll ahem action figure weeks ago. Instead, Howard procrastinated too much that in the end, he even forgot to give his wife, Liz, a present. 

Then again, there's always the thrill-seeking mind. That's why people gamble even if they know they could lose the money and never get it back. It's not like investing in good stocks or in a stock index fund. A stock index fund can either be profited from by either cost-averaging (putting the same amount monthly or quarterly) or value averaging. Meanwhile, gambling relies on chance. Last-minute Christmas shopping is pretty much a gamble. I can compare it to gambling because it's more focused on thrills than results. 

Let's think of this situation. I remembered going to the toystores during the Christmas break (or first week of December) in the 1990s. One of my biggest memories was that I was asked what I wanted for Christmas when November struck. Christmas shopping was usually done in the first week of December as the latest. I still think about the Christmas sale hit a month before to encourage early buying. Yet, we know that certain people prefer thrill over results. It's like how gambling may make you lose millions more than you earn it. However, there's a thrill in winning millions via a risky game of roulette than getting millions via the "boring" world of investments such as bonds and stocks, right?

A scene in Jingle All the Way had the scene where both Myron and Howard joined a raffle. The raffle would get the winner a chance to get the Turbo Man toy. There was more thrill in it than if they bought the Turbo Man weeks ago. The Turbo Man was sold and it's all empty. They even went as far as to cause mayhem in a radio station only to find out it was a Turbo Man gift certificate. Howard should've bought the Turbo Man toy weeks ago. That's why I can laugh along with the salesmen and the shoppers when the two asked for a Turbo Man. I mean, it's the hottest Christmas toy, and finding it on Christmas Eve of all times is stupid. 

Basically, it's a gamble to do last-minute Christmas shopping. You go to the mall on Christmas Eve which is pretty much the last minute. I could imagine going to SM Toystore right now looking for whatever the hottest Christmas toy is there on Christmas Eve. I deserve to be laughed at by the salespeople if I asked for it on Christmas Eve. The gamble is there--will I get the toy or will I not get the toy? It's boring to buy the hottest Christmas Toy weeks ago, right? Boring but practical like buying stocks (or stock-related investments) and then waiting for them to grow. I've bought some equity funds and I haven't had a lot of money yet. Some even say it's best to simply cost average into a stock index fund for a certain period of time. Warren Edward Buffett even recommends cost averaging into a stock index fund for beginners. Yet, we know gambling has the addictive thrill that even people who lost a lot will still gamble. 

This makes me think smart shoppers tend to buy what they need weeks ago before Christmas. They manage the money all year round. If they live paycheck to paycheck--they avoid practices that will drain their salary after payday (read here). One of the worst ways to lose your money after payday is gambling. Maybe, one has decided to play Axie Infinity instead of buying stock index funds for a start (read here). If one has the lifestyle of a gambler and overspender--it might mean thrill-seeking has overcome reason. It's certainly boring to do early Christmas grocery and shopping. It would be "boring" to get what you need for Noche Buena or the toys you want for your children. However, a thrill seeker could care less about results--they just want the thrill. Then such thrill seekers may start complaining why they're always stuck in debt traps.

Seeking thrills via Christmas shopping is very short-term. True, it can be boring to do things on time in the short run. Yet, the thrill is built up better. If you did early Christmas grocery and shopping--you can now have the thrill of awaiting a well-prepared feast. You now have the thrill of giving the gifts before December 24 to people you intend to give the gifts such as your children, nephews, nieces, and so on. It would also mean having saved time and money. It's really time to reconsider this--it might be "boring" (at first) but it'll build up better excitement later when everything is well-prepared. 

Popular posts from this blog

The "Kahit Konting Awa" Attitude Wouldn't Help Alleviate Anyone from Poverty

-
Image
  As the countdown to Christmas continues--it's easy to expect the toxic Filipino trait that I'll dub as "Kahit Konting Awa". The literal meaning is "Just a Little Pity". I named it after that song by Nora Aunor, the theme song of The Flor Contemplacion Story . I wasn't a bit surprised when the hit movie was uploaded on VIVA Films' YouTube page last 2013 (read here ). Back on the topic, I noticed it's easy for people to desire to reconcile because it's the Christmas season. The Philippines has the longest Christmas season. However, people love to do last-minute Christmas shopping presumably due to their poor budgetary habits. Ever heard of the one-day paycheck pandemic in the Philippines? It's a common abusive trait in the Philippines to have that "Kahit Konting Awa" attitude. There's the problem of "Utang (debt) is life." It's no surprise that financial literacy is that low in the Philippines. A not fun fact a
Read more

The Philippines 60-40 Equity Scheme Doesn't Prohibit FDIs But It's Still VERY DISCOURAGING for International Business

-
Image
First and foremost, I'd like to tell people that I don't believe that the Marcos Years were the "golden years". I still agree with economist Cielo Magno that land ownership isn't a factor, since some countries without equity restrictions, don't allow foreigners to buy land. In contrast, inflation and the like were rampant during that time. However, we need to realize that any gains after EDSA 1986 weren't realized. As I was looking at Facebook, a page called Punch the Lies by Atty. Mike Navallo stated this:  FACT: The 1987 Constitution does not prohibit entry of global investors into PH. What it regulates is foreign investment in areas deemed critical such as public utilities; exploration, devt and use of natural resources; and certain investments as determined by Congress. (Art XII)   Public utilities (water, electricity, petroleum distribution, seaports, PUVs) are considered vital to socio-economic devt that's why they're subject to foreign owner
Read more

The Irony the Philippines Starts the Christmas Season in September BUT Many Filipinos Love Last-Minute Christmas Shopping

-
Image
  Uproxx As Christmas is just around the corner--I feel more stress coming in! It doesn't help when people try to use the late Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" to try and skip the problem. It's already known that most Filipinos love to start Christmas in September . However, the irony is that Filipinos start Christmas early but do their Christmas shopping late. If they began the Christmas Season early, shouldn't they think about what to do before December strikes?  Two years ago, I wrote a post discussing last-minute Christmas shopping . Many Filipinos tend to do last-minute Christmas shopping. They had all of November (when the Christmas sale usually begins) but why do the Christmas shopping in December ? One of the things I blame is the one-day paycheck lifestyle (see here ). It can be observed that many Filipinos never learn to prioritize more important things . One can get their stars when they see their paychecks. However, the
Read more

If You Want to Make the Philippines Better, Study... HARDER?

-
Image
I grew up complaining and complaining about stuff. I always looked at the Philippines as a hopeless case. I hated studying the Tagalog subject--which was mandatory by the DepEd. I was told, "Look lazy bum! If you want to make the Philippines a better place--study harder!" In college, I began to apply myself more seriously even if I didn't graduate summa cum laude. I felt a sense of achievement when I won a commerce award for making an outstanding difference. What I never thought was that during the practicum--it was working smart and not working hard. Sure, hard work is there but smart work allows more hard work to be done at a better pace. Not long after, I took my MBA course but it was also at that time, I was scammed . I discovered I wasn't alone in being scammed--many MBA students were scammed during the same time I was scammed! However, what I discovered was the problem of saying, "Your grades will determine your future!" It was typical in Philippine sc
Read more

Hussam Middle Eastern Restaurant: A Trip Into Authentic Syrian Cuisine At Ayala Center Cebu

-
Image
  The last time I ate at a Hussam Middle Eastern Restaurant branch last year, I couldn't give a good assessment. I haven't been to Hussam's main branch at Il Corso, so I didn't formally meet its owner, Hussam Alfakeh Alkourdi. The branch I ate was in Ayala Center Cebu instead. This is the interior of the restaurant. Ayala Center Cebu has Persian Palate on the third floor, above Timezone. Hussam is near one of the entrances of Ayala Center Cebu--near a Chinese restaurant. Persian Palate was my entry point to Middle Eastern cuisine.  Hussam serves authentic Syrian food. There are dishes similar to those from the Persian Palate. They serve Syrian bread, different from my favorite Pita bread served at Shawarma Gourmet (read my review here ), a Lebanese restaurant. So far, I tried their mixed meat platter with Syrian bread. My second dish there was actually baked Arabic rice with grilled beef kebab. I love their tomato sauce (which I mistook for ginger sauce) and garlic sauc
Read more

The Philippines will NEVER Get Richer by Blaming Its Richer Asian Neighbors

-
Image
iStock It would be nice to talk about the typical blame game in the Philippines. I could rememeber that, as a child and a teenager, I had this habit of blaming people I dislike that I failed an exam. The reasons are mostly imagined. What I remembered in my later college years was when I met a couple of super irresponsible students. They had this attitude to say something like, "My parents don't care if it'll take me 20 years to finish my bachelor's degree." Some people even say something like, "It's the fault of the rich that we are poor." It was a backfire when I told such people, "Isn't it any wonder why your finances are down? It's because your parents don't even value the money when they don't care if it'll take up to 20 years to finish college!"  Understanding the blame game and why it feels so good Psychology Today presents this on why some people will always blame others . These findings can help understand the st
Read more

Can Diehard 1987 Constitution Defenders Prove Their Claims to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy?

-
Image
It's not enough to say something. The question is, "Where's the substance or the empirical evidence?" When I start quoting from the late Lee Kuan Yew, these diehard 1987 Constitution of the Philippines defenders start diverting the topic by pointing out my errors to spite me than to correct me. They would ask if I know the Deming Theory of Management which talks about quality management in the company culture. Okay, that was something worth asking but as said, can these people really understand the problem of the Philippines has been more systemic (that is, within the system ) than just the people running the system? What allowed the legislative to be filled with people who know-nothing anyway? That's why I didn't want to vote for Senator Robin Padilla (who ironically understands the need for reforms, read here ). Unfortunately, so many Ad Hominem attacks have been done.  A past article I wrote was Should you  listen to either Davide Jr. or Kishore Mahbubani
Read more

My Experience With Delicious ITealicious' Filling in the Milk Tea Demand in Cebu City

-
Image
It's been some time since I did a food review, right? Back then, I remembered how my first love with Taiwanese milk tea was Chatime. Though. when I went to Chatime--I usually ordered fruit tea since I was trying to lose weight. I ended up trying Tiger Sugar which ordering something without sugar doesn't make sense. So, another milk tea I decided to try (via delivery, haven't gone to the branches yet since the pandemic) is ITealicious. ITealicious is founded by Taiwan-born Yuwen Chiu (who's also a Chinese teacher in Cebu Eastern College). It was founded in 2018--the time when I was so devoted to weight loss that I didn't try it until I lost some pounds. In trying to renew my driver's license--I discovered I went from 85 pounds to 79 pounds since I've been doing a lot of cardiovascular exercises during the pandemic. I decided to give ITealicious a shot after I had tasted the food at Jolly Bubble. Jolly Bubble is pretty much the ideal place to get a delicious m
Read more

It'd Be Stupid to Continue Using Obsolete Chinese Language Textbooks to Teach Mandarin Chinese

-
Image
I remember writing about how to make Mandarin Chinese more accessible in the Philippines . I remembered the day when I ended up not liking school not because I didn't want to learn. I was eager to learn. Science and history are interesting subjects. However, mathematics is taught in such a way that it's almost irrelevant. "You just need to study it, it's required by the DepEd and you can't graduate without it!" was the only reason. You're not allowed to think, just be a robot, and then parents get mad about why their children have almost no initiative and need to be programmed like robots. It's because the school system kills initiative and nobody does a robot's job better than a robot .  Bahay Tsinoy, museum of Chinese life in the Philippines I just found this photo shared on Facebook. It was the picture of childhood trauma that I'd like to talk about. The standard Chinese textbook. At first, I was excited to learn Chinese but that excitement
Read more

Red Lizard: Wrestling With Your Taste Buds With Delicious Mexican Food

-
Image
During the late 2010s, I remember one of the greatest things I got into was Mexican food. I remembered a delicious Mexican restaurant opened in I.T. Park Cebu but it was later closed down. From what I heard, the owner closed it down out of grief and I don't blame the person for it. Years later, there was El Taquito at SSY which I also enjoyed. However, El Taquito is now located on Governor M. Roa Avenue in Cebu City. I would like to talk about the Red Lizard--Taqueria which has branches in SM Cyberzone, IT Park (where I usually get my deliveries), and Ayala Center Cebu.  I had quite a wild imagination thinking the restaurant was founded by a retired wrestler. I thought Red Lizard was a real luchador or Mexican wrestler. On the contrary, the character of Red Lizard is as fictitious as Jollibee's mascot, an anthropomorphic bee named Jollibee. Further research showed that Red Lizard belongs to the Abaca Group of Companies founded by Jason Hyatt and his Chinese wife Anna (whom he m
Read more