Every year a brand new sparkling box appears on the shelves of malls, and grocery stores: as if luring you with a mystical sense of cheer. Marked with 25 numbers wrapped tightly in a bow this box is none other than the infamous advent calendar. Advent calendars don’t discriminate. They come in all shapes, brands and products typically with a bright red sign next to them explaining how getting that sparkling calendar is cheaper than you would if you bought them all separately, but is that truly the case?
In 2024 the Sephora released a beauty insiders advent calendar for 2500 points (around 2500 dollars spent.) For that hefty price tag you’d expect for there to be some crazy loot inside but that’s not the case. Inside were mostly minis of products that could’ve been obtained for free or tiny utensils such as wash pads, hair clips, and even a regular pair of socks. Compare that price tag to the Dior advent calendar with the actual price tag of 1000 dollars. Inside contained mini makeup products: even some full sized ones but also filled to the brim with ornaments that can easily be fragmented with slight pressure to the wrong spot. Some express luxury advent calendars to simply be, “paying for the packaging.”
Indeed advent calendars on occasion can really be worth the money spent, especially when all the dollars added up is truly less than the cumulative price. Except, does anyone really need 25 mini samples of a viral makeup product that all simultaneously claim that it is the new staple in your beauty routine? Most of the time certain products are put into advent calendars to begin with because they didn’t sell to begin with so maybe you’re getting your money’s worth for a product but chances are you’ll never actually use the products again. Those same products that were practically attacked to be obtained are probably lying in a dumpster somewhere in the world, or lying in a corner in your room waiting to be used.
If advent calendars sound so bad then why do people still buy them? The simple answer is: joy, tradition, and just a simple way to lead up to the holiday season. Advent calendars wires the brain to feel a reward every time a day goes by, turning it into a structured surprise. Marking off each day feels like a sense of accomplishment, inching toward the ultimate surprise on Christmas day. Brands understand the psychology behind advent calendars frequently dropping to promote seasonal marketing to increase sales on winter collection. The anticipation felt for advent calendars don’t have to disappear though as simply planning a festive activity a day can also relieve holiday stress while also brushing upon the sense of anticipation for each passing day.
Every year, a new generation of adults are released into the world fresh from high school. Now is the best time to understand budgeting and saving, and overall is that sparkly new advent calendar that comes out every single year without fail really worth your money?
