[9급 국가직 영어 2025년 20번]

The holiday season is a time to give thanks, reflect on the past year, and spend time with family and friends. However, if you’re not careful, it can also be a time you overspend on holiday purchases. People have an innate impulse to overspend, experts say. They are “wired” to be consumers. The short-term gratification of giving gifts to loved ones can eclipse the long-term focus that’s needed to be good with money. That’s where many people fall short. We can overspend because our long-term goals are much more abstract, and it actually requires us to do extra levels of cognitive processing to delay instant gratification. Additionally, consumers may feel ______________________________ because they don’t want to appear “cheap.” Many companies also promote deals during the holidays that can encourage people to spend more than usual.