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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM67809
Volume:
10 |
10 |
Oct 2026
Pages:
1-21
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Koneru Lakshmaiah University
Bachelor of Business Administration
Koneru Lakshmaiah University
Objectives: This study aims to understand the relationship between the frequency of small value (₹10-₹50) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments and budgetary control and savings behavior among young Indian consumers, to test if the relationship between small value (₹10-₹50) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments and savings behavior is mediated by budgetary control and to evaluate the mediating role of financial literacy and self-control. The design/methodology comprised a structured Google Forms questionnaire consisting of 25 five-point Likert items which were completed by 134 UPI users who were selected by convenience sampling. The five scales were reliable (Cronbach's α = .79–.89). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests of independence, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests, linear regression, mediation (Baron–Kenny, Sobel and bootstrap) and moderation (mean-centered interaction) analyses. Findings: Participants indicated that they made regular micro-payments, with 84.3% indicating they regularly make small UPI payments (agreed or strongly agreed). UPI micro-transactions was significantly associated with the level of budgetary control (χ² (1, N = 134) = 5.76, p = .016, Cramér's V = .207) and predicted budgetary control (β = .40, R² = .16) and perceived savings erosion (β = .66, R² = .44). The relationship was mediated, in part, by budgetary control (indirect effect = 0.152, 95% bootstrap CI [0.055, 0.333]). Financial literacy and self-control together accounted for .56 of the variance in budget control and significantly interacted with the UMT–savings relationship. ANOVA revealed differences between the groups in regard to age, gender and education, employment and income. Originality/value: The study highlights the micro-transactions in the range of ₹10 to ₹50 and provides an integrated framework of budgetary control (mediator) and financial literacy and self-control (moderators) in the context of young people in India. The findings are from a small, convenience sample, mostly consisting of young female students, and should be interpreted with some caution.
KEYWORDS
This study explored the relationship between UPI micro-transactions and budgetary control and saving behavior of 134 young Indian consumers. Perceived savings loss was strongly associated with frequent small UPI payments, as was also slightly higher perceived budgetary control. The micro-transaction–savings link was partly accounted for by budgetary control, and was well correlated with financial literacy and self-control, which moderated the link between micro-transaction and savings. There were no instances of acceptance of any of the four null hypotheses. The results of this study are preliminary and stand as preliminary evidence to encourage further, larger, and more longitudinal, and transaction-based studies, due to the limitations of the small, convenience-based cross-sectional sample and the wording of the saving scale. The take-home lesson for young consumers is that it is important to make the small payments tangible and develop budgeting habits so that convenience doesn't sneak in to take the place of savings.
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Publication Date
10/12/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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