Balancing budgets and emotions: The dual influence of economic and psychological factors on furniture purchase decisions during relocation

Furniture purchasing is a high-involvement consumer decision, particularly during relocation, when consumers must navigate both financial and psychological considerations. Despite extensive research on consumer behaviour, limited attention has been given to how these factors jointly shape furniture purchase decisions during relocation, particularly in the Malaysian context. This exploratory study employed a quantitative research design to examine the influence of economic and psychological factors on furniture purchase decisions before relocation. Data were collected from 218 adult consumers through a structured online questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The findings show that both economic and psychological factors significantly influence consumer purchase decisions, with psychological factors emerging as the stronger predictor. This suggests that, alongside financial considerations, consumers place considerable importance on comfort, personal preferences, lifestyle compatibility, and adjustment to their new living environment. The findings extend the application of the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Theory of Planned Behaviour to relocation-related consumer behaviour and contribute to a better understanding of high-involvement purchasing during significant life transitions. Practically, the findings suggest that furniture retailers and marketers should combine affordability and flexible purchasing options with strategies that address consumers’ psychological and lifestyle needs.