A 26-year-old Bengaluru professional who earns Rs 2 lakh a month, has over Rs 14 lakh in savings, carries zero debt, and has already retired both his parents says he cannot shake the feeling of being left behind, and that watching his hometown friends, auto drivers and manual labourers who live on loans, appear genuinely happier than him is the part that bothers him the most.
His post on Reddit, titled "Feeling poor: Earning Rs 2 lakh a month with zero debt," has drawn widespread responses from people online.
Where he started and where he is now
The man grew up in circumstances that make his current position all the more striking. His household income never crossed Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 a month until he turned 21 and landed his first job. His family of three lived in a 10x10 room.
Since then, he has moved his parents into a 2BHK in his hometown, furnished it entirely, bought them health insurance for Rs 30,000 a year, and taken out a life insurance policy for himself. He lives in his own 2BHK in Bengaluru. He bought a scooter for commuting, a MacBook M2, and a OnePlus phone. He sends Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 home every month.
His savings since 2021 include Rs 4 lakh in stocks, Rs 2 lakh in fixed deposits, around Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh in gold, and Rs 6 lakh sitting in his salary account. Every month, Rs 30,000 goes into mutual funds, Rs 10,000 into FDs or RDs, and Rs 10,000 into gold chits.
On paper, by almost any measure, he has done extraordinarily well for someone five years into his career, as he himself says.
So why does it not feel that way
"I feel satisfied with what I've achieved, maybe even a bit accomplished sometimes, but I never feel rich," he wrote.
Part of it, he explains, is the gap between what he has saved and what he still wants or needs. A wedding this year will likely cost Rs 10 lakh. He wants to buy a car for under Rs 3 to 4 lakh. He feels he should have an asset in his name as a soon-to-be groom. A piece of land in his hometown would cost at least Rs 10 to 15 lakh. He has even started looking at motorcycles at around Rs 2 lakh, something he never wanted before.
"I have money, but not enough for everything. Choosing one thing means I have to let go of others," he wrote.
But the deeper discomfort, he says, comes from somewhere else entirely.
The friends who felt richer on less
When he goes back to his hometown, he sees friends who do manual labour or drive autos. They appear content. An extra Rs 1,000 makes them feel wealthy. Years ago, these same friends were buying Royal Enfield Meteors, MT15s and Pulsars on loans, spending freely, living fully, even while constantly in debt.
He, with his financial literacy and discipline, never did any of that. And yet something about watching them nags at him.
"Even though they were constantly in debt, they bought things, spent money, and lived life to the fullest. I don't understand why I feel so left behind when, on paper, I'm miles ahead of them," he wrote.
The stress shows up in small ways too. "If I want to buy a shirt that costs more than Rs 750, I stress about it," he wrote, adding that he does eat out, socialise, travel with friends, and live what most would consider a full life in Bengaluru.
"I've checked all the boxes for a stress-free life, but I'm still stressed," he said.
