Money can solve many problems, but can it make someone feel financially secure? That question has sparked discussion after a 26-year-old earning Rs 2 lakh a month admitted he still feels ‘poor’.
The post, titled ‘Rant, Feeling poor: Earning Rs 2L a month with Rs 0 debt’, was shared on subreddit r/FinancialAdviceIndia, where the user reflected on his financial journey and the unexpected emotions that have come with it.
The user began by sharing his background and how life has changed for his family over the past few years. He wrote, “I don't have any debts, and neither does my family. It's just my parents and me. We grew up pretty poor, like our household income was never more than Rs 6-7k until I was 21, which is when I got my first job. We used to live in a tiny 10x10 room. After I started earning, I made sure my parents stopped working; they're retired now at our home. I moved them into a 2BHK in my hometown, and I live in my own 2BHK in Bangalore.”
The 26-year-old said improving his parents’ lives was one of his biggest priorities after he started earning. He then explained how he manages his monthly income, with a large portion going towards investments, savings and supporting his parents. He wrote, “I put Rs 30k into mutual funds, another Rs 10k into FDs or RDs, and Rs 10k into gold chits. I also send Rs 15-20k home to my parents. Then there are all my rental and other expenses, which are around Rs 25k.”
Since starting work in 2021, the 26-year-old said he has built savings across multiple assets, including Rs 4 lakh in stocks, Rs 2 lakh in fixed deposits, Rs 2-2.5 lakh in gold and Rs 6 lakh in his salary account. He added that much of his spending has focused on his family’s comfort and financial security.
The user said much of his spending has gone towards improving his family’s quality of life and securing their future. He shared that he bought a scooter for Rs 60,000, furnished his parents’ home, purchased a MacBook M2 for Rs 70,000 and a OnePlus phone for Rs 25,000. He also bought health insurance for his parents costing Rs 30,000 a year and life insurance for himself at Rs 24,000 a year. Despite these milestones, he said he still does not feel financially secure and remains focused on future expenses.
Future financial responsibilities appear to outweigh the 26-year-old’s current achievements. He shared that he expects to spend at least Rs 10 lakh on his wedding this year, wants to buy a car for Rs 3-4 lakh, purchase a piece of land worth Rs 10-15 lakh and is also considering buying a motorcycle costing around Rs 2 lakh. He admitted that while he has savings, he cannot afford everything at once and feels every financial decision comes with a trade-off.
The feeling, he said, becomes even stronger whenever he returns to his hometown and compares himself with people who earn much less but appear happier. He wrote, “At 26, it feels so strange to feel poor despite earning this much. The worst is when I go back to my hometown and see my friends who do manual labor or drive autos. They seem happy and content, and an extra Rs 1000 makes them feel rich.”
The comparison, however, is not about income alone. The user said many of his friends chose to borrow money to buy the things they wanted, while he deliberately stayed away from debt.
He admitted that this mindset even affects his everyday spending decisions. Even small purchases, he said, leave him wondering whether he should spend the money at all.
He explained, “I've checked all the boxes for a stress-free life, but I'm still stressed. Like, if I want to buy a shirt that costs more than Rs 750, I stress about it. I'm not saying I live modestly; I'm in Bangalore, I eat out, go out with friends, have occasional parties, and take trips with friends. But still, I don't feel content; I don't feel rich.”
Concluding his post, the 26-year-old admitted that despite earning well, he had been feeling unhappy for months. He acknowledged that many people would consider him fortunate and asked the Reddit community for financial and personal advice to help him feel more content with his situation.
The post quickly gained attention, with many Reddit users saying the issue was not the amount of money he earned but the mindset shaped by his upbringing. Others encouraged him to appreciate how far he had come rather than constantly focusing on future financial goals.
#Rant, Feeling poor: Earning ₹2l a month with ₹0 dept by u/Cautious-Table158 in FinancialAdviceIndia
One user wrote, “I think it’s not about feeling rich but rather getting out of the older mentality but without going into overspending mode. You are already doing better than many people out there; please don’t let overthinking steal the joy from you.”
Another added, “Don't be so hard on yourself OP, you're already doing amazing. Spend time and money on yourself without feeling guilty. There will never be enough money to be calling yourself rich; try practicing gratitude and look back in the mirror once in a while how much you've accomplished! Proud of you OP, and all the best for the future.”
A third user suggested, “If you want to feel rich by affording or buying something you want, try to reduce unnecessary spending habits so that one day you can buy that and feel good. I am not saying get rid of them right now, but slowly make yourself capable of buying it. But as we are human, everyone has a few toxic habits that keep us from going insane. I strongly believe in that.”