Why do so many fools blow everything on vices, thinking only of buying women?

Impulsive spending on vices can be a manifestation of the search for instant gratification, often disconnected from any long-term investment in relationships or well-being.

The debate over why some people seem to squander their resources on harmful habits and, at times, link this to the idea of "buying" affection or companionship leads us to reflect on behavioral economics and the pursuit of value. The instant gratification offered by vices, such as gambling or excessive consumption, can overshadow financial planning and investment in more lasting aspects of life.

## The economics of instant gratification

The urge to spend on immediate pleasures, without considering future consequences, is a well-documented phenomenon. Neuroscience has shown how certain activities activate reward centers in the brain, generating a pleasurable sensation that can become addictive. From an economic perspective, this translates into a disincentive to save and invest for the long term. A **2022** study by the **Banco de España** (Spain's central bank) noted that the percentage of households with high consumer debt remained at around **15%**, a reflection of the difficulty of managing non-essential spending.

## "Buying" affection? An economic perspective

The idea of "buying" relationships, especially in the context of vices, is often an erroneous oversimplification of complex social and economic dynamics. Transactions involving money in exchange for companionship or intimacy rarely translate into genuine or sustainable emotional bonds. In many cases, these interactions are based on mutual expectations of short-term benefit rather than emotional investment. The perception that affection can be "acquired" may be a symptom of a disconnect from the more traditional and reciprocal ways of building relationships, where time, effort and compatibility are the true pillars.