• Source:JND

Making Rs 8 -10 LPA in a metropolitan city like Delhi and Mumbai is not bad. However, what is surprising is how even these amounts of money can't build a financially sustainable future ahead. If somehow, at every month's end, your salaries come down to almost a negative account balance, it's high time to reflect on your mistakes. Because high paychecks do not always equate to financial good standing

If you also have a life where you have enough money left even after paying all your bills and spending on various other things, take a look back at alarming habits that could be secretly draining the money out of your wallet without you even realising it. Here are seven ways that will help you identify these habits and solve them once and for all.

7 Brutal Reasons You’re Always Broke Despite a Good Salary

1. The Lifestyle

The biggest reason for your broken financial health is your lifestyle, because when your salary goes up, so does your spending. The purchase of an iPhone or brunch at a fancy cafe becomes synonymous with your salary rise. From travelling to the overall standard of living, everything gets better along with the salary hike.

Solution: Don't allow your lifestyle inflation to increase more than 50 per cent of your pay rise; save the other half.

2. No Budgeting:

Spending on things without a proper plan? If yes, then you are not tracking your expenses and living like a king on a daily basis. It is high time you stop binging on quick commerce apps. Without a budget, 30-40 per cent of your income might vanish on ‘small’ stuff.

Fix: Follow the rule- 50 per cent needs, 30 per cent wants, 20 per cent savings.

3. Debt Trap:

EMIs for the EMI-paid car, credit card statements from festive purchases, or personal loans for marriages. The interest is no less than the amount of the loan, making a purchase completely fail.

Solution: Clear the debts with higher interest rates first (snowball technique); don't take any more loans.

4. Impulse Purchase Obsession:

Sales and discount offers from quick commerce apps release dopamine rushes, which leads to the purchase of unnecessary things that you might not even need, and now it is just sitting at your place,e useless.

Solution: Adopt the 48-hour rule. Take 48 hours of time before buying anything new to see if you really need that thing.

5. Junk Binging:

Junk food not just drops your bank account but also your health in the long run. Opt for homemade meals, with fresh food ingredients and time to spend time with your family, while cooking together.

Fix: Cook in batches on Sunday; stick to dining out twice a week only.

ALSO READ: 5 Clear Signs You’re Overspending Without Even Noticing

6. Zero Emergency Savings:

Without at least Rs 1-3 lakhs buffer, just one expense or health crisis can bankrupt you. Always have savings for Unexpected days. Regular monthly savings lead to a safe and secure future ahead.

Fix: Automatically divert 10 per cent of your salary to an FD or a savings account.

7. Excessive Subscriptions:

Last but not least is the subscription trap. Nowadays, from food apps to music, every app comes with a monthly subscription. These silly expenses lead to broken finances, which can turn into real-life hardships in the long term.

Fix: Audit your expenses every three months and cancel the unused ones.

ALSO READ: Why 'Luxury' Now Feels Like A 'Necessity' For Gen Z And Millennials

Reason Quick Fix
Lifestyle Inflation Freese spending for 3 months
No Budget 50/30/20 rule
Debt Debt snowball ( debt-reduction strategy) 
Impulse Buys 48-hour wait
Dining Out Home-cooked meal prep
No Emergency Fund Build small and steady bliquid savings
Subscriptions Quarterly audit

These causes are no excuse but red flags. Track your expenses for a month, and you’ll easily find out where you’re losing more money than you actually should. Get rich through a reversal of habits, like strict budgeting, SIPs or any other mode of saving, and see your net worth rise. You don’t have to be broke for life; it’s your choice.


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