1.5 lakh monthly yet barely managing; Bengaluru techie shares his struggles | READ

It has become very costly to live in a large city, and many professionals are finding it difficult to maintain their lifestyle even though they earn high salaries. The rising cost of living, family obligations, and expenses have made living in large cities financially challenging for young professionals.

Recently, an IT professional from Bengaluru posted his experience on the Indian Workplace Reddit, where he described the financial burden he has to endure despite his high income. His post went viral in no time, and many others with similar experiences found solace in it.

Making 1.5 lakh per month, but struggling to save

The 26-year-old programmer revealed, "I am married and staying with my 26-year-old wife in Bengaluru. I receive a take-home salary of around ₹1.5 lakh every month but once I set aside family expenses and loan EMIs, the savings I'm left with stand between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000."

Why does life in a metro feels so fragile ?
byu/onepoint5zero inIndianWorkplace

He went on to describe how, in his young years, he had dreamed of a life of city success—a good job, a secure relationship, and the energy of urban existence. But life didn't play out like that. Financially far from stable, he now lives in constant tension each and every day, describing the experience as "fragile and uncertain, like a fragile glass vase."

Inflation and financial pressures squeezing in

Increased cost of living in Bengaluru, along with the economic dependency on family members and the repayment burden of loans, has influenced his economic stability. He worried about losing his job, considering that sudden job loss would deplete his savings within a couple of months, making him economically unstable.

Growing concern among young professionals

His tweet resonated with the majority of young professionals, and they gave it a lot of commentary. Some users wrote the same. "Income is not wealth. Only those with generational assets are truly secure. The rest of us struggle," was one of them. Another user commented, "Welcome to adulthood! Financial anxiety and insecurity about the future are normal.".

Suggestions also came from other readers. "You should explore other sources of income—you can make your wife work, or start a business venture," was the advice offered by one reader.

This most-popular posting again brought to the forefront the merciless financial realities of city life, sparking fiery debate on income, spending, and personal finance planning among metro-city young professionals.