A 27-year-old software developer from Gurugram has sparked a viral financial discussion on Reddit after revealing that his monthly salary of ₹1.5 lakh "feels like 15,000." Recently married and managing heavy financial obligations, he detailed his struggles with EMI, rent, family expenses, and an outstanding debt to friends. The techie confessed how hard it is to see peers earn double his salary as he struggles to provide a carefree life for his family.
“1.5L feels like 15k , I need advice,” the man wrote, adding that he is a 27-year-old and newly married. In the following lines, he gave a detailed breakdown of his income and expenses.
He wrote, “Monthly income : 1.44L. Plot Emi : 44k. Rent in Ggn : 25k. Groceries : 6-7k. Fuel : 8-10k. To Wife for her Personal Expenses: 15k. Misc. eating out & all - 7-8k. Expenses come to around 1.1L.”
{{/usCountry}}He wrote, “Monthly income : 1.44L. Plot Emi : 44k. Rent in Ggn : 25k. Groceries : 6-7k. Fuel : 8-10k. To Wife for her Personal Expenses: 15k. Misc. eating out & all - 7-8k. Expenses come to around 1.1L.”
{{/usCountry}}The individual explained, “Every now and then, some major expense comes along too, car service & maintenance, car insurance , my insurance , other medical bills, groceries for parents, that reduces effective in-hand too.”
The techie continued that, in addition to these, he also has a loan of ₹2.55 lakhs from friends. “So monthly I try to return back asap.”
Asking for help from Reddit users, the person continued, “It literally kills to see people of my age earning twice and I am not able to provide much for my wife & family , so they can live carefree.”
“How can I manage it better , so I don't regret it in future. I am a Software Developer by profession, things might get easy in the time to come with appraisals , bonus and promotion, but currently feels like way much less.”
What did social media say?
An individual posted, "1.5 L already is better than 97-98% people in India, so if others are surviving, you'll too.” The Op responded, “Can’t argue with that, not saying I can’t survive with it, feels like a struggle on daily basis, constantly thinking of we only have one life and I have chosen a profession where there will be always a cap on what I can make, with other professions, it might be a struggle initially but far more rewarding later on, so there is resentment.”
Another commented, “With 1.5 at 27, you are doing really well. Please don’t put yourself down, we are living in some tough times with inflation.” A third expressed, “Me at 32 with 45 k monthly income in state government service.”
A fourth wrote, “I'm in a similar setup. However, no EMI. But I have some advice for you. If you're in an IT/Tech/corporate job, and as the sole earner, set aside at least 4-6 months of your income, lock it, FD it, or whatever, just forget that it exists. Your emergency fund should be there in case something happens to you, your wife, or your job. It's a crucial step if it hasn't already been taken. And yes, open a separate account for this fund, so you don't spend it.”
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