Cover image via Getty
There are only two weeks to go till Christmas and shopping has never been this urgent!
Christmas is just around the corner and shopping perfect gifts for our loved ones is our main concern now that the day is hovering like those LED balloons in Pangasinan—twinkling (thousands of) promises of a better tomorrow.
Christmas shopping, to be exact, is an essential act itself. You do not just shop for yourself's contentment. You are shopping to make someone happy in this season of giving — to say the least.
**The idea of Christmas shopping led us to ask ourselves these questions:**
"What drives women to shop?"
"How do they spend their money?"
"To whom would they give the gifts?"
To answer these questions, we quickly interviewed our girl friends from different walks of life to know how they spend their money on a daily basis
We are also curious enough to ask that **1) if a stranger gives them P1,000 – what they would do with it**, and **2) if the stranger asks them to buy a gift for someone – what they would buy and to whom would they give it to.**
**Here are their answers:**
Glice, Backpacker
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
My P1000 should cover the essentials first (food, transpo allowance, etc) before I can think of any other way to spend it. But most of the time, if I still have something to spare, I keep it in my wallet for future 'essentials' spending.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
If I have an extra P1000, I would save it for my travel allowance. I have an adventure-based lifestyle so I make sure to keep some cash to support my leisurely activities.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
If my donor would ask me to buy a gift, I would definitely buy something useful or edible and not something that just gathers up dust. The gift would also depend on to whom I'm giving it to. For this particular instance, I would give it to my sister who will be celebrating her birthday in a few days. She just bought a new car, so most probably I would buy her a few car accessories–a car phone holder and her favorite Green Tea scent for her car humidifier.
Image via Facebook
Baki, Copy Editor
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
World peace char! Food, food, food! I spend it on one week's worth of food.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
I'd buy food, but not for me. I'll use it to treat my parents out to lunch or dinner.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
I would buy my mom P1,000 worth of beauty services like massage, hair coloring and, if there's change I'll buy us, *merienda* (afternoon snack).
Image via Facebook
Liezyl, Graphic Designer
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
If talking about my weekly budget, I spend it on food and transportation — mostly on food.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
I must be dreaming. Haha. But you know, I'd really like to buy a new calligraphy set. :))
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
Food *pasalubong* and a shirt for my papa because I miss him. *Uwi na ako mamaya* after a long week at work. Yaaay!
Image via Facebook
Juno, Artist
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
It depends on what day it is. Usually I would reserve this for my transportation expenses. If all other expenses are already covered, I buy:
a. Chocolates
b. Coffee
c. Art materials
d. New books
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
I would treat my husband and son to a movie and ice cream.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
I would buy my husband a new action figure, The Flash to be exact, and my son, different colored pens and unlined notebooks for his comic book making.
Image via Facebook
Frances, Musician
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
I would spend an extra P1000 for something like musical instrument or something that I just want just for the sake of wanting, hahaha.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
Probably buy a nice mallet.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
A flower to a friend who is going to celebrate her birthday on the 20th!
Image via Facebook
Malaya, Managing Editor
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
Beep card for LRT, prepaid card.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
Have a date with myself. Buy a book (300), see a movie (250), and get a massage (400 plus tip)
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
Buy ingredients for a new recipe the whole family and the significant other can all enjoy.
Lorna, Teacher
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
If the P1,000 comes from my salary, it would go to my daily expenses and/or debts.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
If someone gives me P1,000 during my birth month, I would reward myself with new stuff (books or clothes) or something experiential (adventure or new restaurant). If not, I would probably save it up.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
I would buy my daughter wooden toys or new shoes for my husband.
Image via Facebook
Graciella, Film student
**1. How do you usually spend your P1,000?**
If I have 1,000 pesos, I will save it to support my love for filmmaking. As a Film student, there are countless and required production works. In terms of filmmaking expenses, my 1,000 pesos is equivalent to one short film with one character, shot in a nearby location. It will cover the talent fee of the artist; transportation and food expenses.
**2. If someone gives you P1,000, how would you spend it?**
If someone gives me 1,000, I will spend it to buy myself a gift. It is easier for me to spend my 1,000 pesos in books and films if someone gives it to me.
**3. Now, what if the one who just gave you P1,000 asked you to buy a gift for someone you love? What would you buy and to whom would you give it to?**
If someone gives me 1,000 pesos and asked me to buy someone a gift of love, I would give it to my mom to give her spa and salon treatment. My mom deserves to receive this gift of love because she literally spends her personal money to buy us our needs. Just like me, it will be easier for her to get her wants if someone gives it to her.
Image via Facebook
Conclusion:
We've come to realize after the interviews that most of us would rather give gifts to our families than buy something *nice* for ourselves!
It's beautiful to know that these Filipinas (like some of you and, hopefully, most of us) would rather prioritize buying thoughtful gifts for their loved ones instead of buying themselves something deemed as 'want', especially this season when everyone is expected to buy a celebratory gift for a year of blessings. Christmas shopping for a *want* is considered a basic human right after working hard the whole year.
However that will turn out, whether you'll buy a gift for yourself, for a loved one, or both, Christmas is almost as tangible as the *adobo* on your dining table — so plan ahead, list down the specific people you wanted to surprise, and wear flats while shopping!
And for those who have yet to complete their holiday shopping and are still on the lookout for gift ideas, here's a video of photographer [Shaira Luna] (http://says.com/ph/kulture/filipina-photographers-on-instagram-that-you-should-follow-right-now), her brother Von, and their Ate Nimfa as they shop at [The SM Store] (http://www.thesmstore.com) with just a P1,000 budget each!
Download **The SM Store Gift Guide** for well thought-out gift ideas [here] (https://goo.gl/ATXBGx).
Visit [The SM Store] (http://www.thesmstore.com) to shop gifts online!
**Did you know that your P1,000 in The SM Store can buy you this?**
