How female student migrants in Dhaka adapt to the urban economy through money management apps

Abstract

Many students migrate from rural areas to urban centers for education, and a significant portion are female. Many rural female students in Dhaka have limited financial literacy as they previously had little involvement in household budgeting, making money management challenging. This study explores how smartphone financial apps, particularly Wallet and Money Manager, assist these students in handling their finances. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research examines how perceived usefulness of these apps influences behavioral intention and actual use. Using qualitative methods, structured surveys were conducted with 100 female students from public and private universities in Dhaka. The study assessed participants’ financial knowledge, budgeting habits, and views on mobile financial tools. Findings show that money management apps enhance financial competence. About one-fourth of participants used these apps, while one- third reported improved budgeting habits through expense tracking and personalized monthly planning. Most users adapted well to the apps’ interfaces despite varying digital literacy levels.