She cut restaurants, OTT subscriptions, shopping and social plans: How one woman saved Rs 7.2 lakh to buy herself freedom

Quitting a corporate job can sound liberating, but getting financially ready to make that leap often requires difficult choices. Social media user Ria recently shared how she prepared for a life beyond corporate work by cutting Rs 40,000 from her monthly expenses for 18 months. She gave up eating out, subscriptions, shopping, weekend trips and several social commitments. However, she deliberately protected her health, relationship and quality of food, showing that saving money was less about deprivation and more about deciding what mattered most.

Saving Rs 40,000 every month

Ria took to social media and shared that she wanted to quit corporate life, but knew she needed to create a financial cushion first. “40k/month for 18 months. That was the math,” she wrote, explaining that cutting Rs 40,000 was not simply about reducing a number on a budget sheet. For her, it meant deciding what she was willing to let go of.

Over 18 months, those monthly savings added up to Rs 7.2 lakh, which she described as money redirected towards her freedom.

Eating out: Rs 20,000 saved

The biggest cut came from eating out. Ria said she eliminated Rs 20,000 a month that previously went towards restaurants, coffee runs and food delivery. This was not a matter of eating out less often. She stopped completely and cooked every meal at home. The change allowed her to redirect a substantial portion of her monthly spending without giving up the ability to eat well.

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A post shared by Ria | From Corporate to Freedom (@riahassomethingtosay)

OTT Subscriptions: Rs 5,000 saved

Next came subscriptions. Ria cancelled services including Netflix, Spotify and apps she realised she barely used. She said she eventually recognised that she was not watching or using many of them anyway. Cancelling those subscriptions helped her remove another Rs 5,000 from her monthly expenses.

Shopping: Rs 10,000 saved

Shopping was another major expense Ria decided to eliminate. She stopped buying new clothes for 18 months and simply wore what she already owned. While she acknowledged that the decision might sound dramatic, she said it made her realise how many clothes people actually need.

The move saved her another Rs 10,000 every month.

Weekend trips: Rs 2,000 saved

Ria also cut back on weekend travel, despite admitting that she loved exploring. She described this as the hardest cut, but ultimately considered it necessary for her larger goal of leaving corporate life. That decision freed up another Rs 2,000 a month.

Social commitments: Rs 3,000 saved

The final cut was one Ria said people rarely talk about: social commitments. She began saying no to events, weddings, brunches and birthday dinners. The decision was not simply about money. As she put it, “every rupee mattered. And every hour mattered more.”

Cutting these commitments saved another Rs 3,000 each month.

The three things Ria refused to sacrifice

Despite making significant cuts, Ria was clear that saving money did not mean sacrificing everything she enjoyed. She kept her gym routine, walks and sleep intact, describing health as non-negotiable. She also protected her evenings with her partner, calling them “sacred” and saying there was no negotiation around them. Food was another area where she refused to compromise. Although she cooked at home, Ria said she continued to eat quality food.

For Ria, the exercise was ultimately about priorities rather than simply spending less. “Cutting isn't about deprivation. It's about priorities,” she wrote. Her approach was to identify expenses that did not add enough value to justify their cost, while protecting the areas that mattered most to her. After 18 months of cutting Rs 40,000 from her monthly spending, Ria calculated that she had redirected Rs 7.2 lakh towards freedom. “I cut the things that didn't matter. I protected the things that did,” she wrote.

Netizens react

Ria’s post sparked debate online, with some questioning whether cutting social commitments was sustainable. One user said giving up family events, especially weddings, felt “sad” and not viable long-term. Another argued that a simple, non-materialistic life requires “a lot of control” and commitment. A third praised the discipline but asked how she maintained meaningful friendships. Another stressed that “human connections are pretty important,” saying expenses around socialising can be reduced, but completely giving it up may not be worth it.