Grocery shopping presents unique challenges for international students, as it involves navigating unfamiliar retail environments, financial constraints, and impulse-driven decision-making. Unplanned purchases, often influenced by emotional and environmental triggers, can be both a financial strain and a means of cultural exploration. This study examines the factors influencing unplanned grocery shopping among international students in Toronto, Canada, using impulse buying theory to analyze the drivers of spontaneous purchases and self-regulation theory to explore strategies for managing them.

The research employs a Research through Design (RtD) approach, focusing on the iterative development and testing of a digital tool prototype designed to help manage unplanned grocery spending. This tool incorporates features such as a “spontaneity budget,” purchase tracking, and reflective prompts to help students regulate unplanned purchases while allowing space for cultural engagement. User testing with international students provides insights into the tool’s usability and its potential role in fostering self-awareness and adaptation in the context of Canadian grocery stores.