Bengaluru woman's journey from 1RK with Rs 15K rent to 5BHK at Rs 1.8 Lakh: ‘The rent isn’t the part I’m proudest of’

As income increases, people often find themselves making different lifestyle choices, from moving into larger homes to spending more on comfort and making new financial decisions. For Bengaluru entrepreneur Vertika Shukla, the homes she has lived in reflect the changes she experienced in her career and financial journey.

Her accommodation has evolved from a one-room-kitchen home to a spacious 5BHK, while her monthly rent has also changed significantly. However, Shukla says the amount she pays for rent is not the achievement she is most proud of.

Shukla wrote on Instagram, “Rs 15K rent → Rs 1.81L rent. But the rent isn’t the part I’m proudest of.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vertika Shukla (@theblackewe_)

From a 1RK to a 5BHK
Shukla shared a timeline highlighting how her homes changed as her career progressed.

In 2020, she lived in a one-room-kitchen home and paid Rs 50,000 per month in rent. A year later, she shifted to a 2BHK with a monthly rent of Rs 1 lakh. By 2023, she was living in a 3BHK that cost Rs 2 lakh per month. Today, Shukla lives in a 5BHK and pays Rs 1.81 lakh in monthly rent.

While the figures show a dramatic change in her lifestyle, Shukla’s post focused less on the cost of her homes and more on the independence and progress that made those choices possible.

She Left Home With Rs 50,000 A Month
Shukla recalled that she left home at the age of 22 with Rs 50,000 a month. She said she did not have inherited wealth or a family business to rely on and had to create her own path.

“At 22, I left home with Rs 50,000 a month. I didn’t have a family business waiting for me. I didn’t inherit wealth. I didn’t have a roadmap. I just knew I wanted a life that felt bigger than the one I’d been told to accept.”

Changing Companies, Building Her Career

Shukla said the years that followed were marked by several decisions aimed at improving her professional and personal life. She changed companies, worked on her career, pursued an MBA and focused on building her confidence.

“So I kept making better decisions. I changed companies. Built my career. Started my MBA. Invested in myself. Built my confidence. And kept going.”

According to Shukla, these choices gradually helped her create greater financial independence and a lifestyle that once seemed difficult to imagine.

‘A Home I Couldn’t Have Imagined When I Was 22’

Reflecting on where she is today, Shukla said her current home represents more than simply having access to a bigger or more expensive property.

“Today, I live in a home I couldn’t have imagined when I was 22. Not because a bigger house makes someone successful. But because I remember the girl who once wondered whether she’d be able to build a life completely on her own terms.”

For her, the journey is therefore not defined by moving from a smaller home to a larger one, but by gaining the ability to make independent choices about her life.

‘Your Current Chapter Isn’t Your Final Destination’

Shukla also addressed people who may currently be at the beginning of their own financial or career journey. She encouraged them not to view their present circumstances as a measure of where they will eventually end up.

“She would probably be a little shocked to see this. And I’d tell her: You weren’t behind. You were building. If you’re in your 1-room-kitchen era right now, save this. Your current chapter isn’t your final destination.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Instagram. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.