Blog Entry 4 : Me, myself & others: How I behave and decide

 Blog Entry 4 : Me, myself & others: How I behave and decide

For this entry, we will be working on my personal consumption and I always described it to be always intentional in nature. I will dive into how much I think about and apply some of the theories I learned in class.

The Art of the Intentional Purchase: My Consumer Behavior Broken Down

Nowadays, online shops and social media tempt people into spending for things or services that they think they need.Before, I sometimes find myself questioning the convenience of seeing the directed advertisements for something I looked up a minute before. It is great that it helps you have a closer answer to the needs that you are looking up on the internet but it does drive a behavior of spending that does not resonate with me. I have grown to approach consumption with a mindset that is patient, intentional, and value-driven, the opposite of what social media pushes. Looking into my purchase history, I don’t consider myself a huge spender, I rarely make purchases unless I’m sure that their purpose plays a role in my life. Mostly, it has always been for school, work, or my personal fulfillment, I always ask myself if the cost will be worth it, in cost and value. I believe that buying is never just about satisfying a want, but about continuous growth to improve and sustain something more meaningful in my life.

It’s always VALUE over IMPULSE

There is a concept of delayed gratification, and my purchases are centered around that. I hold off buying something if I know for certain that I can live without it. Like buying a coke on a tiring hot day, but if that product will support my productivity in a more calm, thoughtful way, then I am willing to wait and research more so that I can confidently spend, with no regrets.

An example I am willing to share was my first ever online purchase, it was through Shopee. I had the idea that my laptop wont be enough for the needs that I will be having in the future entering university. I always needed a setup at home where I can multitask and also have a comfortable viewing angle, so a monitor would allow me to maximize all of the things I will be doing. So my first thought was to wait for a sale period to get the best deal on a gaming monitor I needed for the home setup. It wasn’t a random tech purchase because I waited for a discount, had weeks of research and comparison, with a lot of self-reflection on what I needed. Eventually, Shopee had a sale, and I saw the monitor with the specifications to me with a 20% discount and even today the monitor outperforms the other monitors that are being released. The decision reflects the limited to extensive problem solving where I had criteria in mind but waited for the right moment and price.

(A screenshot of my first purchase)

Another incident is when my laptop shows signs of wear, I don't rush to replace it or go straight to a service center, as I have a background in PC Hardware Servicing. I have a clear idea on issues, and just need additional research to the specific model, in order to buy the replacement parts myself and handle those minor repairs. This strategy saves me a lot of money and really deepens my knowledge about technology. It's a case of internal and external search where the past experience aids me in the consultations of forums and tutorials.

My photography gear is also a reflection of Value over Impulse. Since I am a production assistant during my free time, I see it as a business investment, I’ve bought extra memory cards and batteries not for show but to ensure I can deliver without having technical problems that is key for client based earning. Each item is the result of a deliberate search, and the cost is weighed against its potential to help me grow or earn.

(The first purchase now being used by my brother)

In Leisure, you should be Thoughtful

In terms of personal enjoyment, I usually attend concerts and musicals. I don't just splurge on everything. I look at all the ticket tiers and I usually just get the cheapest one because the changes in the viewing experience don't really make that extra thousand count. I wait for discount codes and assess if I actually follow the artist or if the show is something that fits within my schedule. Basically, if the event does not check enough boxes for me then it is not a sure thing. Given Maslow’s Higher Order of Needs like self-fulfillment and emotional expression, this ties into it but filtered with a high level of intentionality on my end. 

(The Cheapest Seats of the last Musical I watched)

*PS. I think you should watch it too they run until May 4! Don't miss it!

My Risk Perception and Decision-Making Style through Brand Loyalty

The hard truth is that it is very difficult to earn money. And earning and spending money have their own perceived levels of risks, mainly financial, functional, and time-related. The avoidance of regretful decisions come in the form of avoiding routine response behavior, unless there is trust. Like how I go through the groceries and always have a sure routine for the brands that I have always been using, like milk or tuna.

When it comes to the items that matter to me like my monitor or the laptop parts that are of higher monetary value, I really follow a rational decision making model. Recognizing that the laptop isn't performing the way it should be, looking into the possible issues from previous internal knowledge and looking into external help from other professionals or the internet, evaluating the different alternatives, to making the decision, ultimately evaluating if I would be doing this purchase again the moment the same thing happens.

Because of thoroughly going through these steps, I rarely feel remorse with my purchases. It reinforces the idea that I should be repetitive in the nature of my purchase cycle with regards to that product and the value it gives to me. Living up to the expectations of the purchase, it enters the evoked set of my mental shortlist. This mindset is supported by the fact that my monitor did in fact show reliable performance that is living proof of a value based decision.

From a consumer behavior perspective, I lean toward limited problem solving most of the time. I always have a set criteria but that does not limit me to always make the right choice, so I always have to dig deeper. I don't shop for fun and I don't buy into the trend based buying. Consumption should always be tied to purpose and not pressure, as I would always remind myself.

To sum it all up, I’m an intentional buyer. I don’t mind waiting, or walking away from a purchase if it doesn’t feel right. My consumer behavior is grounded in delayed gratification, internal and external search, risk awareness, and a rational approach to decision-making. Whether I’m buying for school, business, or personal joy, my standard remains the same.