'Income Rs 1.7 lakh per month, savings just Rs 2,250': Couple say they are living paycheck to paycheck, mentally exhausted

A Reddit post by a married couple in their early 30s has struck a chord with thousands of Indians struggling to balance rising expenses, loan repayments, and future goals.

The couple revealed that despite bringing home a combined monthly income of Rs 1.7 lakh, they are effectively living paycheck to paycheck, with only Rs 2,520 remaining at the end of each month. Their post, titled “Earning 1.7L, living paycheck to paycheck, mentally exhausted,” quickly gained attention as users weighed in with financial advice and hard truths.

According to the breakdown shared online, the husband earns Rs 1.02 lakh per month while his wife earns Rs 68,000. However, a massive chunk of their income disappears into loan repayments.


The couple pays nearly Rs 86,000 every month toward various EMIs, including a personal loan, an education loan, a bike loan, and a newly started phone EMI. Their personal loan alone costs them more than Rs 70,000 every month.

Apart from debt obligations, they spend around Rs 53,500 on essential expenses such as rent, utilities, groceries, travel, medical bills, and internet services. Another Rs 28,000 is allocated toward personal spending, outings, travel, dining out, and family-related emergencies.

After accounting for all expenses, they are left with just Rs 2,520.

The financial reality has left the couple overwhelmed. In their post, they asked questions that resonate with many young professionals today: How do they save for a house? When should they start planning for children? How can they build an emergency fund? And when does retirement planning even begin?

As the discussion gained traction, the husband clarified that the largest burden—the Rs 30 lakh personal loan—was taken to consolidate high-interest debts originally incurred by his parents. According to him, local lenders were charging interest rates as high as 18%, forcing him to step in and refinance the debt through a personal loan at 13%.

He also addressed criticism surrounding the couple’s recent phone purchase and bike loan. The bike, he explained, is an electric scooter that actually reduced commuting costs, while the phone was bought after his old device became unusable following years of use.

The post has sparked a wider conversation about financial pressure among India's middle class, where even six-figure salaries often struggle to keep pace with debt, family responsibilities, and long-term financial goals.

Commenting on the post, one Redditor said the phone loan was unnecessary and that they could have cut down personal spending for 3-4 months to buy it.

"At this point, you’ve to reduce your variable expenses. Whatever extra money you are saving needs to go towards the EMIs to close them ASAP. Phone -> Bike -> Education. You’ll free up 16,000 free cash monthly. Put that towards Personal Loan to reduce the number of months. You need roughly 10 Lakhs for a kid. From pregnancy to delivery to initial 6-9 months of infancy."

Another advised them to switch jobs. "There is only one way to fix your condition. Switch company for higher ctc. Believe me that’s the only way. If you both are in IT and early 30’s , you both are underpaid. You gave you context, I am 28 single earning 1.75 l after taxes. Your CTC should be 4-5 times * your year of experience . I repeat increasing income is the only way."