Bengaluru CA’s first salary story is a big financial lesson for young professionals

Receiving your first salary, be it your first job, internship or freelance gig, is always special. It is not just a paycheck but a milestone that marks the beginning of financial independence and personal growth, carrying a mix of pride, excitement, and responsibility. Some buy their long-desired favourite thing with the money, others save it, while a few give it to their parents as a token of love. But a Bengaluru-based CA, Meenal Goyal, recently shared on LinkedIn that she now regrets not setting aside even a small portion of her first salary, having given the entire amount to her parents.


Meenal Goyal, in the post, revealed that she earned her first paycheck of Rs 15,000 at the age of 20. Without thinking much at that time, she gave away the entire amount to her mother, a gesture that left her mother emotional as she broke into happy tears with her chest swollen with pride.

First paycheck regret sparks investment awareness

While the heartfelt act earned Meenal Goyal praise from everyone around her, she now admits regretting not keeping even a small portion of her remuneration for herself. Explaining her point, the chartered accountant shared that the issue was not about the money she did not keep, but the missed opportunity to begin her financial learning journey earlier.

For the next three years, Meenal Goyal continued to park her savings in low-interest accounts and fixed deposits, unaware of better investment avenues like mutual funds or the power of compounding. It was only when she turned 23 that the professional understood how even a modest monthly investment could grow significantly over time.

Early money lessons reshape future financial choices

After the realization hit her, Meenal Goyal admitted that she learnt a big lesson on smart financial planning and the power of early investing. Her key takeaway from the mistake was to strike the right balance by supporting one’s families but also setting aside a portion to invest and build financial literacy early on in the career. She encouraged young earners to do the same as well.

The post was soon flooded with reactions. One user pointed out that while the first salary teaches emotions, the first investment teaches direction. Although both of them matter, ‘financial awareness early can quietly change the next decade.’ ‘Many of us learned earning before learning investing. The earlier we close that gap, the stronger our financial future becomes,’ noted another. Someone else emphasized that supporting family and building financial independence don’t have to be opposite choices. The real win is maintaining balance.