30-year-old man with ₹50 lakh net worth says he still feels financially behind
A 30-year-old man has written a post on Reddit describing how crossing a combined net worth of ₹50 lakh with his wife has not eased his financial anxiety. The man wrote that he has around seven years of work experience and moved to a new job last year, taking his annual income to approximately ₹20 Lakhs Per Annum (LPA), up from ₹11 LPA earlier. He said his wife earns close to ₹12 LPA, and together the couple takes home about ₹2.2 lakh every month.
Despite these earnings, the man said the couple continues to live in a rented house and does not own a car. He said some of his friends already own two flats each, with one rented out, while most others in his circle own cars and travel to destinations such as Bali and the Maldives. “And honestly, that makes me question myself,” he wrote. He said he wanted to hear from people further along in their financial journey about how they balance saving, investing, and enjoying life without constant comparison.
The post, which detailed his earnings, expenses, and comparisons with peers, has drawn a range of responses from other users on the platform. He wrote that he still rides an eight-year-old motorcycle with a broken self-start mechanism and one non-functional indicator, adding that the vehicle occasionally stalls mid-journey and has to be kick-started again. He also mentioned that the couple has not been on a proper honeymoon since their marriage almost two years ago. The man wrote that conversations with college friends often leave him feeling behind. He also admitted to occasional irritation when his wife buys expensive makeup or other products after seeing them promoted on social media. In the post, the man asked whether he was being excessively cautious with money, whether he was saving too much and living too little, and whether he was comparing himself with others more than necessary. He wrote about wanting to buy a home, travel with his wife, and improve their standard of living, while also fearing the loss of financial stability.
One user wrote, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and suggested he instead think about what would make the next five to ten years fulfilling for him and his wife. Another user told him that a car was worth buying if it would meaningfully improve his quality of life, suggesting he consider “a second hand smaller car” rather than a new one. A third user, recalling advice from their father, wrote that “if you look up you’ll always be sad,” and noted separately that his current savings placed him well above the national average for his age group. A fourth commenter told him not to be too hard on himself given rising costs, writing, “These are expensive times, don’t be too hard on yourself,” and encouraged him to also spend on his own wellbeing, referencing the Hindi film title “Kal Ho Naa Ho” as a reminder to live in the present.
Several Reddit users responded to the post, and most advised him to spend less time comparing himself with others. Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.