Dive into the psychology of holiday spending and learn how retailers exploit cognitive biases. We discuss how “psychological friction” is minimized, and tactics like loss aversion and anchoring bias are used to encourage spending frenzies. With Australians planning to spend nearly $600 on gifts, financial planning is crucial. Learn strategies for a financially savvy Christmas: set a strict budget, understand “buy now pay later” repayment terms, and embrace the “making do” spirit with unique, personal gifts. The most important takeaway is that the most valuable gift is time, connection, and presence—not material consumerism.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drryana.substack.com