Students Experience with Food Spending.
Author: Nandini Bhandarwar, Rohan Dhivar, Akash Gaikwad.
Introduction: Managing food expenses is a common challenge for students, influenced by social interactions, daily habits, and impulse buying. Many students tend to spend more when eating with friends, make frequent purchases of snacks and beverages, and sometimes feel guilty about overspending. Impulsive buying, especially when hungry, further affects their budgeting. This study explores student food spending patterns, tracking habits, and financial awareness to understand the factors shaping their expenses.
Objective: To understand the underlying issues of the Students spending habits on Food
Literature review:
1. Impulsive Food Spending
Gerona et al. (2025) examine the impact of fast food consumption on students’ impulsive buying behavior. The study identifies convenience, affordability, peer influence, and marketing strategies as key drivers of spontaneous food purchases. Psychological triggers like hunger, stress, and emotional states also contribute to impulsive spending, often leading to financial strain and guilt. The research highlights how fast food establishments capitalize on impulsivity through promotions and accessibility. To address this issue, the authors suggest that budgeting, self-regulation, and awareness can help students make more mindful food choices.
2. Food Spending Habits Among Students
Rasid et al. (2023) investigate the key factors affecting students’ food spending habits, including, personal preferences, and cultural trends. The study finds that promotional ads significantly shape students’ food choices, often leading to impulsive spending. Personal preferences, such as taste and affordability, strongly influence students’ decisions, while cultural trends play a crucial role in shaping dietary habits. The findings suggest that financial literacy and budgeting strategies can help students make more sustainable and mindful food choices. The study emphasizes the need for educational institutions and policymakers to implement awareness programs that promote responsible financial management and healthier eating habits.
Data Collection: For the above problem we framed 5 questions on the Likert Scale and We approached 100 students of KBS with google form.
The following questions were asked during the survey
1) I spend more on food when I am with friends.
2) I purchase snacks or beverages (eg tea, coffee etc) daily.
3) I feel guilty when I spend too much on food.
4) I buy food impulsively when I am hungry.
5) I track my food expenses
Data Analysis:
|
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
|
MEAN |
3.65 |
2.9 |
3.25 |
3.51 |
3.05 |
|
STANDARD DEVIATION |
1.32 |
1.31 |
1.30 |
1.25 |
1.49 |
|
STANDARD ERROR |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0.15 |
|
Z |
4.92 |
-0.77 |
1.93 |
4.08 |
0.34 |
|
Result |
POSITIVE |
NEUTRAL |
NEUTRAL |
POSITIVE |
NEUTRAL |
Conclusion
Students spend more on food when they are with friends
Students are neutral towards purchasing snacks or beverages daily.
Students are neutral towards feeling guilty when spend too much on food.
Students buy food impulsively when they are hungry.
Students are neutral about tracking their food expense.
References
Gerona, K. Z. A., Podunas, S. M. B., Cruz, A. M. G., Balbes, J. A. M., Maglana, L. M., & Neri, C. E. C. (2025). Fast Food Consumption on Students’ Buying Impulsivity.
Mohd Rasid, M. F. R., Mohamed Razali, M. Z., Firdaus Mohd Ariffin, M. A., Mohd Affendi, M. E. J., Mohd Hisham, M. A. I., Suhaime, A. H., … & Mohd Faimi, M. A. F. (2023). The antecedents of food spending habits among students. Journal of International Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship (JIBE), 8(2), 89-97.