Four years ago 3X hikes, now facing layoffs: Techies urged not to just depend on their Rs 50 LPA jobs

Remember 2021? IT folks were celebrating back-to-back hikes, salaries doubling, even tripling overnight. An X user pointed out how fast-forward to 2025 and the same techies, some earning Rs 50 LPA, are suddenly staring at pink slips at the age of 40. The message from the internet is loud and clear—don’t let a fat paycheck fool you into thinking you’re safe. Jobs can vanish. What really saves you is a rock-solid portfolio that works even when your company doesn’t.

Internet reacts

People online pointed out how the IT boom created a false sense of security. Many believed salaries would keep climbing forever, but layoffs are a brutal reminder that skills age and industries shift. A recurring theme across reactions was simple—your Rs 50 LPA job is temporary, but a Rs 10 crore portfolio can buy you freedom and peace of mind. Wealth outside your paycheck isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s survival.

Good CTC, but still broke?

This isn’t the only money trap people are waking up to. CA Nitin Kaushik recently shared how even Rs 8 LPA salary in a metro doesn’t guarantee a comfortable lifestyle. Rent, food delivery apps, OTT subscriptions, weekend parties, EMIs, and shopping burn through income faster than pay hikes can catch up. What’s left for actual wealth-building? Just Rs 7,500 a month. On paper, it looks like “making it,” in reality, it’s a paycheck-to-paycheck hustle with little savings.

The lesson? High salaries don’t automatically equal financial independence. Whether you’re earning Rs 8 LPA or Rs 50 LPA, without discipline, investments, and a long-term plan, you’ll always feel broke. The real flex isn’t your CTC—it’s having capital that works while you sleep