20-30 years of EMIs just to show off? A home may be the ‘most expensive flex’ of your life, warns CA

Buying a dream home has long been considered the ultimate marker of success. But Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik has a stark warning: for many Indians, this so-called achievement could become “the most expensive flex of your life.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kaushik cautioned that people often purchase houses beyond their means just to impress others who “aren’t even paying the mortgage.” The result, he wrote, is decades of EMIs, doubled costs due to interest, and little room to take risks in career or business.

“Because a home should give you shelter, not financial chains,” Kaushik said in his post.

The Brutal Math of Overstretching

According to Kaushik, maxing out your loan eligibility may make for an Instagram-worthy living room but leaves you financially handcuffed. His advice is to keep EMIs under 25–30 percent of monthly income and to prioritize breathing space over social approval.

The Chartered Accountant, who has years of experience in taxation, audits, and financial advisory, says the hidden cost of overleveraging is not just money but also freedom. Living paycheck-to-paycheck, he warns, can stop people from pursuing better opportunities or building long-term wealth.

A Bigger Reality Check

Kaushik has previously shared what he calls “brutal money rules” that go far beyond home ownership. In a separate viral post, he urged professionals to live on half their salary, diversify investments, and build a second income source to reduce financial vulnerability.

He stressed the importance of health and term insurance, warned against lifestyle creep fuelled by UPI swipes and food delivery apps, and encouraged people to stop comparing themselves with peers flaunting cars and flats on social media.

His definition of good loans includes education, affordable homes, and business ventures with stable returns. Bad loans, he said, are luxury cars, overpriced real estate in stagnant markets, and holidays financed on credit.

The Cost of Keeping Up

Kaushik’s advice comes at a time when salaried Indians are navigating rising costs and temptations of easy EMIs. As he pointed out, the desire to “look successful” often overrides practical financial wisdom. “Your future self won’t care if guests thought your living room was Instagram-worthy,” he reminded. “But they will care if you were free enough to live life on your terms.”

In an age where social media glorifies material markers of success, Kaushik’s message is clear: the true luxury is financial independence, not a house that drains your future.