When we talk about "topping up” game like Genshin Impact, ang unang pumasok sa isip natin ay usually ang pag-load sa ating mga cellphones. Pero beyond that, 'topping up' has become a common practice in our daily spending habits.

Alam natin na every peso counts, and how we decide to spend it has repercussions hindi lang for us, but for the whole nation. Let’s dive deeper into this behavior and find out the "why" behind it.

Instant Gratification

Gusto natin 'yung immediate pleasure or benefit. 'Pag may nakita tayong bagay na gusto, the urge to get it agad-agad is strong. Eto ay connected sa dopamine release sa ating brain, 'yung feeling na happy and satisfied tayo every time we buy or get something on the spot.

Loss Aversion

Takot tayo na baka ma-miss out ang isang magandang deal or offer. Kaya naman, mas prefer natin na i-avoid 'yung feeling ng pagkatalo kesa sa pag-gain ng equivalent benefits. Halimbawa, mas pipiliin natin 'yung buy 1 take 1 promo kesa regular price kahit parehas lang naman ang value.

Social Proof

Base sa actions ng iba, minsan doon natin fino-form 'yung decision natin. 'Pag nakita nating madaming tao sa isang store, we think na baka maganda yung sale or products doon. Advertisements use this strategy by showing na "best-seller" ang isang product or limited stock lang para maramdaman natin 'yung urgency to buy.

Anchoring Bias

Madalas, we rely too much sa first piece of information na nakita natin. Kaya 'pag may nakita tayong item na originally priced at P5,000 pero on sale for P2,500, we think na sobrang laking discount na 'yun. Pero in reality, baka yung P5,000 na price was just set to make the discounted price seem mas attractive.

Mental Accounting

Iba't iba ang tingin natin sa pera depende kung saan ito nanggaling or saan ito gagamitin. Halimbawa, 'yung bonus or reward money na natanggap natin, feeling natin pwede natin ito gastusin sa mga luxury items or non-essentials, kasi "extra money" siya. Kahit na in reality, mas better sana if we saved or invested it. 

Sana, with this understanding, mas maging aware tayo sa ating spending habits and decisions sa pera.

Topping Up: Not Always Bad

Hindi naman laging masama ang 'topping up'. Actually, may mga situations na magiging beneficial siya for us. Kunin natin ang example ng bulk buying. 'Pag binili mo ang isang item sa paborito mong games like Genshin Impact in bulk, mas mataas ang initial cost, pero in the long run, makakasave ka kasi mas mura 'pag wholesale. Lalo na 'yung mga items na always mo ginagamit sa bahay, like toiletries or basic groceries. 

May mga times din na may genuine offers or sales na talagang worth it i-avail, kagaya ng sa Lapakgmaing. Mga end-of-season sales sa mga boutiques or 'yung mga big discounts during special holidays. Sa ganitong paraan, you're not just topping up; you're actually maximizing the value of your money. 

Pero, ang pinaka-importante dito is being aware and informed. Bago tayo mag-decide mag-spend or mag-top up, research muna tayo. Is it a need or a want? May budget ba tayo for it? 'Pag handa tayo with the right information, mas magiging wise tayo sa pag-handle ng ating finances. At the end of the day, it's all about making smart choices na magbe-benefit sa atin in the long run.