Dynamics of discretionary spending: a statistical learning analysis of coffee consumption and food expenditure among Malaysian undergraduates

As university students navigate escalating living costs, understanding the intersection of lifestyle-driven consumption and financial management is paramount. This study investigates the patterns of monthly food and coffee expenditures among students at Universiti Teknologi MARA Pulau Pinang through a quantitative lens. Utilizing descriptive statistics, confidence interval estimation, and independent samples t-tests, the analysis identifies a mean monthly food expenditure of RM322.60 and a mean coffee expenditure of RM59.78. Despite cultural perceptions of gendered spending, inferential analysis reveals no statistically significant difference in expenditure between male and female students. Furthermore, this research underscores a pedagogical shift by integrating real-world behavioral data into statistical learning, thereby enhancing data literacy and practical reasoning skills among students. These findings provide critical insights for university administrators and financial advisors regarding student economic well-being in an evolving "cafe culture" environment.