35-year-old spends Rs 1 lakh per month. CA explains why he will need at least Rs 13 crore to secure his future

Most people think retirement planning is about saving whatever is left at the end of the month. But the reality is far less comforting. Lifestyle costs don’t stay still, they quietly grow year after year. A recent breakdown shared by Chartered Accountant Paaras Gangwal has brought this idea into sharp focus, showing how today’s monthly expenses can translate into a much larger financial requirement in the future, especially when inflation and long-term planning enter the picture.

Paaras Gangwal shared an example of a 35-year-old man named Vedant who currently spends around one lakh rupees every month to maintain his household lifestyle. On the surface, it feels like a manageable and stable expense.

However, the calculation changes dramatically when viewed through the lens of time and inflation. Assuming an average inflation rate of 6 per cent, Gangwal explained that the same lifestyle 25 years later, at the age of 60, would not cost the same one lakh rupees anymore.



Instead, it would require nearly Rs 4.3 lakh per month just to maintain the same standard of living. That adds up to roughly Rs 51 lakh a year in retirement expenses. The next question naturally becomes how much money one would need to generate that kind of annual income without actively working. Using a standard 4 per cent withdrawal assumption, the required retirement corpus comes to around Rs 12 to 13 crore.

CA points out the financial truth

Gangwal used this example to highlight a simple but often ignored financial truth. Retirement planning is not about reaching a certain age. It is about replacing your active income with passive financial security that can sustain your lifestyle for decades.

He also pointed out how small disciplined investing today can create a meaningful difference over time. In the example, Vedant begins a systematic investment plan of 50,000 rupees per month, building long-term assets gradually rather than relying on last-minute accumulation.

The message behind the calculation is less about the exact numbers and more about awareness. Expenses evolve, expectations rise, and time quietly reshapes financial reality.