Kiran Srinivas, Kushi Chikane, Stuti Balit
Introduction
With the rapid growth of online food delivery platforms, eating habits among students living away from home have changed significantly. Students who migrate to Mumbai from other cities and live in hostels, paying guest (PG) accommodations, or rented houses often rely on food delivery apps due to convenience, time constraints, and limited cooking facilities. While these platforms provide ease of access, they may also influence spending behaviour and savings patterns.
This study aims to analyse whether online food delivery usage has a significant impact on food-related spending and savings among students living outside Mumbai.
Objective
- To examine spending behaviour related to online food delivery among students living in hostels, PGs, or rented accommodations
- To analyse whether online food delivery leads to increased spending and reduced savings
- To statistically test students’ perceptions using a one-sample t-test
Literature Review
Article 1:
According to Hamari et al. (2016), digital convenience services significantly influence consumer behaviour, often encouraging impulsive spending due to ease of access and promotional offers. This behaviour is especially prevalent among young consumers such as students.
Article 2:
A study by Agarwal and Gupta (2020) found that students living away from home tend to spend more on food delivery services due to lifestyle constraints, peer influence, and discount-driven consumption, which can negatively affect their ability to save.
Data Collection
- Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire
- Respondents were students from outside Mumbai living in hostels, PGs, or rented accommodations
- Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree)
- Sample size: 19 respondents
- Statements analysed:
- I spend more money due to food delivery apps
- I order food online more frequently than necessary
- I often exceed my planned food budget due to online food ordering
- I am influenced by discounts and offers on food delivery apps
- I notice a reduction in my savings due to frequent food delivery orders
Research Methodology
A one-sample t-test was applied to test whether the mean response for each statement significantly differs from the neutral value of 3. The test helps determine whether students’ opinions lean towards agreement or neutrality.
- Test value (μ) = 3
- Level of significance (α) = 0.05
- Degrees of freedom (df) = 18
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Statement Analysed:
“I spend more money due to food delivery apps.”
- Mean = 2.42
- Standard Deviation = 1.35
- t-statistic = –1.87
- p-value = 0.077
Interpretation:
Since the p-value (0.077) is greater than 0.05, the result is not statistically significant. This indicates that students are close to neutral regarding increased spending due to food delivery apps. While some respondents agree that food delivery increases their spending, the overall perception is not strong enough to conclude a significant impact.
Overall Findings
- Students show mixed opinions regarding increased spending caused by food delivery apps
- Convenience and discounts influence ordering behaviour, but not all students perceive a strong negative impact on their finances
- The statistical results suggest that while food delivery affects habits, its impact on spending and savings is moderate rather than severe
Conclusion
The study concludes that online food delivery apps have a noticeable but not statistically significant impact on the spending behaviour of students living outside Mumbai in hostels, PGs, or rented accommodations. Although convenience and promotional offers encourage frequent ordering, students appear to maintain a balance between spending and savings.
This suggests that students are becoming more financially aware and selectively using food delivery services rather than relying on them excessively.