Let’s be honest — being broke is not fun. It’s not romantic, it’s not edgy, and it’s definitely not a personality trait. Yet, millions of people (with full-time jobs, degrees, and dreams) are broke by the 12th of every month. Why? Let’s investigate this tragedy with a mix of comedy, brutal honesty, and just a sprinkle of financial wisdom.
Reason #1: The “YOLO” Budgeting Strategy
Yes, you only live once — but that doesn’t mean you should live like Mukesh Ambani with an Ola Money balance.
- Symptoms: “I deserved this!” purchases… every day. Impulse buys at 2 AM (thank you, Zomato). Subscriptions you forgot about from 2019.
- Fix it: Create a budget. Not the scary Excel kind. Just something that stops you from spending ₹1,500 on a scented candle called “Cashmere Cloud.”
Reason #2: Equating Salary Day to a Festival
When your salary hits, it feels like Diwali + Holi + New Year rolled into one. New clothes, dinners, “Let me pay the bill bro” vibes. And by the 10th? You’re on Maggi and moral support.
Fix it: Pretend your salary is your annoying sibling. You love them, but they can’t stay long. Put them into savings or SIPs before they ruin everything.
Reason #3: BNPL = Broke Now, Poor Later
Ah, Buy Now Pay Later — the devil in an EMI outfit. You bought a phone, jeans, headphones, a gaming chair… and now your entire income is just paying back last month’s vibe.
Fix it: Unless it’s for emergency surgery or your laptop literally exploded, pay in full. Or better — just wait. Remember patience? It’s like Amazon delivery, but for peace of mind.
Reason #4: Investing = “I’ll Start Next Month”
We say we’ll start SIPs “next month” more times than we say “I’ll start gym on Monday.” And we all know how that ends.
Fix it: Even ₹500 a month is a start. You don’t need to become Warren Buffett in one quarter. Start small. Grow big. And maybe don’t wait until you’re 49 to open your first ELSS.
Reason #5: Credit Card = Cheat Code (Until It Isn’t)
Swipe. Swipe. Swipe. You feel rich. Then the statement arrives — and you suddenly develop chest pain and trust issues.
Fix it: Use it like debit. Pay it back immediately. Or freeze it in an ice tray — literally.
Reason #6: No Emergency Fund, But ₹10,000 on Diwali Lights
Look, fairy lights won’t fix a flat tyre or a dental emergency. Build an emergency fund. Even your 5-year-old niece has a piggy bank.
Fix it: Start with ₹10,000. Keep it in a high-interest savings account. Don’t touch it unless you’ve been hit with an actual emergency — like getting invited to a Goa trip where everyone’s expecting you to pitch in.
Reason #7: Lifestyle Inflation (a.k.a. Champagne Life on Chai Salary)
You got a raise and immediately upgraded from 2BHK to 3BHK, moved from Uber Pool to Uber Black, and now own 3 types of air fryers.
Fix it: It’s okay to treat yourself. But if your bank balance hasn’t improved in 2 years, it’s time to scale back from almond milk cappuccinos to regular filter coffee.
Final Words
If you laughed through this post and also felt personally attacked — good. That means we’ve hit the jackpot of awareness.
“Being broke is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.”
The truth is, you don’t need to earn crores. You just need to spend less than you earn, invest consistently, and build some damn habits.
You got this. Just maybe don’t start fixing it tomorrow. Start today. Before Swiggy convinces you to order that ₹900 sushi roll again.
