COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE USE OF E-WALLETS AND CASH PAYMENTS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MEDAN CITY, NORTH SUMATRA
Keywords:
Consumer Perception, Psychological Behavior, E-Wallet, Cash Payment, High School StudentsAbstract
Technological advancements have now reached the world of transactions. The development of digital-based transactions has now changed the payment habits of various groups, including teenagers. This study used a sample of high school students in Medan City as the research object. This study aims to determine the differences in perceptions regarding practicality and security as well as the level of tendency towards psychological behavior, especially wasteful behavior and impulse buying, between the use of e-wallets and cash payments among high school students in Medan City. This study used a comparative descriptive quantitative method using a survey approach to 100 high school student respondents in Medan City. The results of this study indicate that e-wallets are perceived to be faster to use than cash payments, with average values of 4.24 and 4.12. The use of e-wallets also causes a higher level of psychological wastefulness with an average of 3.94, compared to cash payments with an average of only 3.11. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the ease of transactions in the digital era can increase efficiency in terms of payments, but on the other hand, it has great potential to support consumptive behavior among students. Therefore, the use of e-wallets needs to be balanced with financial literacy that can help students control their consumer behavior wisely.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Farhan Raditya Tarihoran, Aini Syifa Thoha, Arifa Putri Syahira, Muhammad Ryu Dava Irawan, Azka Ahmad Syah, Rahmawiyah
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