Advanced International Journal for Research

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The Effect of Food Delivery Apps on Spending Patterns and Lifestyle of College Students

Author(s) Amaldev Shabu, Jyothi Shah, Dr. Bhawna Sharma Padroo
Country India
Abstract The proliferation of food delivery applications (FDAs) in India has profoundly influenced the daily routines, spending habits, and lifestyle patterns of college students. Platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Dunzo provide unprecedented convenience by enabling instant access to a wide variety of meals at competitive prices, often augmented with discounts, cashbacks, and promotional offers. While these applications simplify food procurement and offer flexibility in time management, frequent usage can lead to substantial changes in financial behavior, dietary habits, and social interactions among students. This study investigates the impact of FDAs on the spending patterns and lifestyle of college students in Mumbai, examining how frequent use of these platforms affects budgeting practices, meal planning, nutritional choices, and time allocation for academic and personal activities.
A structured survey was conducted among university students to gather primary data on ordering frequency, average expenditure, types of meals ordered, motivations for using FDAs, and perceived lifestyle changes. Secondary data from industry reports, academic literature, and market analysis provided a broader context regarding trends in the online food delivery sector, highlighting its rapid growth and increasing penetration among young urban consumers. Analysis of the data revealed that FDAs significantly increase impulsive purchases, leading to higher monthly spending than initially planned. Students reported decreased frequency of home-cooked meals, increased reliance on processed or fast food, and changes in social behavior, including more solitary dining experiences and altered interaction patterns with peers and family.
The study also identifies positive outcomes of FDA usage. Students benefit from time-saving convenience, exposure to diverse cuisines, flexibility to manage academic schedules, and access to digital financial tools for payment and order tracking. However, these benefits coexist with challenges related to budget management, nutritional quality, and lifestyle balance. Behavioral factors, including the “painless payment effect” associated with digital transactions, app notifications, and gamified promotions, exacerbate impulsive spending and reduce financial self-regulation. Furthermore, the study highlights a gap in awareness regarding nutritional content, calorie intake, and balanced meal planning, which may have long-term health implications.
Overall, this research underscores the dual impact of food delivery applications on college students: they provide convenience, variety, and time efficiency while simultaneously influencing financial discipline, dietary habits, and social behaviors. Recommendations are provided for students, educational institutions, and app developers to encourage responsible usage, including budget monitoring, nutritional awareness campaigns, app-based alerts on spending and calories, and workshops on digital financial literacy. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of how FDAs shape the modern student lifestyle and offers insights for promoting a sustainable balance between digital convenience and financial, social, and nutritional well-being.
Keywords Food Delivery Apps (FDAs), College Students, Spending Patterns, Impulsive Buying, Budget Management, Lifestyle Changes, Nutrition, Dietary Habits, Time Management, Social Interactions, Digital Convenience, Urban Youth, Financial Self-Regulation, India
Field Business Administration
Published In Volume 6, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On 2025-12-12
DOI https://doi.org/10.63363/aijfr.2025.v06i06.2535
Short DOI https://doi.org/hbf932
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