BALANCING FUN AND FUNDS: THE IMPACT OF ONLINE SHOPPING ON PERSONNEL FINANCIAL BEHAVIOR AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This quantitative study aims to explore the impact of online shopping on the financial well-being of personnel at St. Mary’s College of Quezon City (SMCIQC). This study employed a descriptive qualitative research design, using Google Forms and Microsoft Teams as data collection instruments, with purposive sampling as the chosen method. RQ1: Financial Impact of Online Shopping The study found that most respondents occasionally exceeded their budget when shopping online (12 participants), while 6 did so frequently, another 6 rarely, 3 always, and 7 never. In terms of how much of their monthly income was spent on online shopping, 24 respondents reported spending 10% or less, 5 spent between 11% and 20%, 4 spent between 21% and 30%, and only 1 spent more than 31%.  When asked about financial stress, only 8 participants reported experiencing it due to online shopping, while 26 said they did not feel financially stressed. Impulse purchasing was reported occasionally by 13 respondents, frequently by 6, rarely by 9, always by 1, and never by 5.  Despite this, only 8 respondents reported setting spending limits for their online purchases, while the majority (26) did not. In terms of financial management, 4 participants rated themselves as extremely effective, 13 as very effective, 12 as moderately effective, 4 as slightly effective, and 1 as not at all effective. Regarding the perceived impact of online shopping on their finances, 5 respondents believed it was extremely impactful, 7 said very impactful, 10 moderately impactful, 7 slightly impactful, and 5 not at all impactful.  RQ2: Frequency and Amount of Online Shopping In terms of frequency, most respondents shopped online less than once a month (19 participants), while 10 did so monthly, and 5 did so weekly. When asked how many purchases they typically made per month, 18 participants reported 0 to 2 purchases, 13 made 3 to 5 purchases, 2 made 6 to 8 purchases, and 1 made more than 11.  Regarding the amount spent per month, 3 participants spent between ₱51 and ₱150, 18 spent ₱151 to ₱500, 9 spent ₱501 to ₱1,000, and 4 spent more than ₱1,000.  RQ3: Budgeting and Payment Behavior When asked if they allocated a specific budget for online shopping, 15 participants said yes, while 19 said no. In terms of reviewing their finances, 7 respondents said they always check and review their finances, 10 said frequently, 8 occasionally, and 9 rarely. No respondents indicated that they never review their finances.  As for payment methods, the majority of respondents did not use credit or debit cards for online purchases. Only 2 used cards always, 4 used them frequently, 6 occasionally, 3 rarely, and 19 never used them.  RQ4: Motivations and Online Shopping Habits The most common reason for shopping online was convenience, cited by 31 participants. Other reasons included discounts and promotions (25), product variety (14), faster delivery options (11), and other unspecified reasons (2).  When asked about their tendency to compare prices before making a purchase, 9 respondents said they always do, 9 said frequently, another 9 occasionally, 6 rarely, and 1 never.  Regarding the importance of online reviews and ratings, 17 participants found them extremely important, 12 very important, 3 moderately important, 1 slightly important, and 1 not at all important. RQ1: The findings suggest that online shopping does have some influence on individuals’ financial behavior and management. Based on this, it is recommended that personnel establish spending limits and prioritize essential needs to maintain financial stability.  RQ2: The data indicate that the majority of personnel do not frequently shop online, and when they do, their spending typically remains at ₱500 or below per transaction. To maintain this responsible behavior, it is recommended that personnel remain consistent and avoid overindulging in unnecessary purchases.  RQ3: Results show that personnel demonstrate varying levels of financial awareness. To improve this, it is advised that they adopt budgeting practices, including the allocation of funds specifically for online shopping, to better manage their finances.  RQ4: A significant number of respondents value the convenience of online shopping, which appears to be their primary motivation. However, a certain degree of uncertainty remains when making online purchases. The researchers recommend that personnel seek further knowledge and awareness about safe and informed online shopping practices.