Earning Rs 1.8 lakh per month and still struggling to save? CA points out the financial mistake that leaves you broke every month

Ever felt like your salary just vanishes into thin air the moment it lands in your account? You start the month feeling like a boss, only to end it wondering where your money disappeared. The rent’s gone, the card’s billed, the car’s thirsty, and that one “quick dinner” turned into a weekend spree. Welcome to the great urban illusion—where a high salary feels rich only until the bills start rolling in.

CA Nitin Kaushik nailed this feeling in a viral X post that’s making every salaried person pause. He wrote that earning Rs 1.8 lakh per month in a metro city feels like you’ve made it… until reality hits. The moment the monthly expenses line up, that illusion of wealth crumbles fast.

Kaushik broke it down brutally: Rs 32,000 on shared rent, Rs 25,000 for groceries and eating out, Rs 28,000 on the car (EMI, fuel, and parking), Rs 12,000 for credit card minimums, Rs 6,000 on OTTs and subscriptions, Rs 10,000 on shopping and social life, another Rs 10,000 on dating, and Rs 7,000 for insurance or emergencies. What’s left? Around Rs 50,000—if you’re lucky.


And that’s before you even think about weddings, family expectations, or savings goals. The CA calls it what it really is—a financial treadmill disguised as success. You keep running, earning more, but not moving closer to financial independence.


His point hits home for a reason. Many urban professionals chase bigger paychecks without realising that expenses expand to fill the income. The fancy apartment, the car EMI, the dinner dates—all look like progress, but can quietly trap you in lifestyle inflation.

Kaushik’s reminder? A high salary doesn’t automatically mean wealth. What matters is planning—intentional spending, building savings early, and resisting the urge to keep up appearances. Because in today’s world, financial freedom isn’t about earning more. It’s about spending smarter.