Economics and Digital Business Review
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2027)

The Effects of Financial Literacy, Income, and Lifestyle on University Students’ Consumer Behavior in Labuhanbatu Regency

Nadhila Nastiti Putri (Management, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Indonesia)
Pohan Muhammad Yasir Arafat (Management, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Oct 2026

Abstract

This study examines the partial and simultaneous effects of financial literacy, income, and lifestyle on university students' consumptive behaviour amid the rapid growth of buy now pay later (BNPL) services in Indonesia. It used an explanatory quantitative cross-sectional survey of 115 undergraduate students in Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra, with a 22-item, five-point Likert questionnaire. Data were analysed with multiple linear regression after validity, reliability, and classical assumption tests. Lifestyle had a positive, significant effect (β = 0.325; p = 0.002) and was the strongest determinant. Income had a positive but non-significant effect (β = 0.187; p = 0.058), while financial literacy had no significant effect (β = 0.085; p = 0.389). Jointly, the three variables were significant (F = 12.195; p < 0.001) and explained 22.8% of the variance in consumptive behaviour. These findings indicate that students' consumptive behaviour is driven more by lifestyle than by financial knowledge. Financial education by universities, OJK, and local governments should therefore shift towards behavioural interventions such as budgeting, real-cost paylater simulations, and self-control training. This study tests all three determinants together among students in a non-metropolitan agricultural region outside Java, after OJK's July 2026 age and income restrictions on BNPL users took effect. It also shows that the positive correlation between financial literacy and consumptive behaviour disappears once lifestyle is controlled.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ecotal

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Economics and Digital Business Review, is published by STIE Amkop Makassar in 2020, with registered number ISSN : 2774-2563 (Online), is a peer-reviewed journal published Economics and Digital Business Review published two times a year (January & July) by STIE Amkop Makassar, It provides an academic ...