Sometimes we want things we’ll really use and enjoy. And sometimes we just think we want things, especially at Christmas when friends and family start asking, “What do you want for Christmas?”
Can you think of a few things that you said you wanted, but later found annoying or boring? How often do you use Christmas gifts of years past? One thing I had asked for but never use is a CD of yoga music. I never remember to put it on or think it’s even necessary. I can’t remember whether or not my waffle maker was a Christmas gift, but I rarely use it. And, yes, I thought of asking for an ice cream maker, but I was honest with myself about how often I’d use it.
However, maybe you’re not the the best person to ask about how often you’d use a potential gift. According to a new study, other people are better predictors of how often we’d use a gift. Plus, the study showed that we tend to overestimate how often we will use a gift. The study revealed that 59% of gifts were used less often than the recipient had expected. The gift recipients in the study predicted they’d use gifts twice more often than they actually did.
“… the reality of owning an object doesn’t quite measure up to our expectations. The cappuccino machine is a hassle to clean, the fancy navigation system is not necessary for most driving, and no one has time to play the new piano,” said study author Jeffrey Vietri, instructor of psychology at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Vietri hopes that the study findings (particularly the part about consulting others) will help inform consumers so that they may lead more clutter-free and eco-friendly lives without overspending.
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Post from: Blisstree