UNITED STATES—What is it about buying things that gives so many Americans this strange rush? It is something I have been seriously trying to understand for years, and I think it has finally hit me. I think the feeling hits more during the holidays than any other time because of all the shopping and gift buying that we do.

You become invested in the hustle and bustle that transpires from Thanksgiving thru Christmas. Yeah, it’s only about a month between the two holidays, but the chaos becomes so extensive that it can burn you out at times.

With that said, I’m starting to think as Americans, we like the notion of spending money. We work hard for our money and for many people, the ability to spend that money on things that we like, we need or want is a satisfying feeling. So imagine finding this great deal on an item; you have it in your hands and there is a giddy feeling you have as you’re about to check out.

You then purchase the item and you’re leaving the store with that item in your bag. Now the question gets raised: why do you have a deflated feeling. Well, I will tell you. That instant gratification and mental high you had as you were purchasing the item has dissipated. Yes, we get an adrenaline burst when we buy and by the time you get home, that feeling has dissipated.

Can you change that? I don’t think you can. The only way to change things is to simply not buy. That might be more difficult than many can imagine because as human beings we are always going to have that desire to want things. It is simply in our nature. Think about it for a second. You can either buy or you can create or deliver an experience to your loved one. Yes, I will admit an experience is unforgettable, but at the same time it can be beyond costly.

Not everyone has the money for those experiences so the gift buying makes things a bit more palatable and easy to digest. With that said, I think the key to buying is ensuring that you don’t overbuy things. We get so caught up in what is transpiring that we just dole out the cash, credit card or gift cards without a second or third thought. Why? It becomes wasteful spending and who does that benefit? Not you, not the person you have purchased the gift for and not your wallet.

You just tossed money away, so if you’re going to buy you need to ensure it is worthwhile. Ensure you purchase something that is going to be everlasting. The person you’re giving that gift to actually wants it and is happy with the purchase that you made for them. There is nothing worse than buying something and then seeing the person who you purchased the gift for, NEVER USING THE ITEM! You wasted your money and if you work particularly hard for your funds, like me, you don’t want anything to go to waste.

If you do indeed get a high from just spending money, I want you to think about ways to curb that sensation by doing something that might be a bit more productive and effective in your life.