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A corporate employee earning Rs 2.5 lakh a month said life felt more exciting on a Rs 25,000 salary, as rising income brought bigger savings but less joy from everyday spending.
News18
Many people work hard with the hope that earning more money will make them happier and more satisfied. But for one corporate employee, a higher salary has not brought the feeling they expected. Instead, they say they feel less excited about life now than they did when they earned much less.
The employee shared their thoughts in a Reddit post, explaining how reaching a monthly income of Rs 2.5 lakh has left them feeling emotionally disconnected. Their post started a discussion online, with many people relating to the idea that financial success does not always lead to happiness.
Employee Says Life Felt More Exciting On A Smaller Salary
In the post titled, “Earning Rs 2.5 Lakhs a month, but I’ve never felt poorer. The Rs 25k version of me was happier,” the worker described how different life felt when they were earning Rs 25,000 a month.
They wrote, “I hit the milestone. The golden number. Every month, a notification pings on my phone: Rs 2,50,000 credited to your account. By all societal standards, I made it. I am winning. So why do I feel absolutely nothing?”
The employee said that when their income was lower, even small purchases felt meaningful. They remembered celebrating simple things and enjoying experiences that now feel ordinary.
“When I earned Rs 25,000 a month, life was electric. A simple Rs 500 dinner felt like a hard-earned victory. Buying a new shirt was an event. Every single rupee had a pulse, a purpose, and a sense of absolute freedom. I was alive.”
Savings Are Growing But Joy Is Missing
The worker explained that a large part of their salary now goes directly into savings and investments. While they understand the importance of planning for the future, they feel they are giving up too much of the present in the process.
Describing themselves as a “glorified data entry clerk” for their own finances, they said nearly half of their income disappears as soon as it arrives.
“Snatched away into investments, mutual funds, and emergency reserves. I am building a future fortress for a person I don’t even know yet, while starving the person I am today.”
They added that after spending more than 40 hours a week working, very little money is left for personal enjoyment.
“I trade 40+ hours a week of my youth, stress, and sanity for a high-score screen I’m not allowed to spend. How do I get the spark back? How do I stop feeling like a highly-paid spectator in my own life?”
Users Share Advice And Their Own Struggles
The post led to many reactions from people who either related to the feeling or offered suggestions.
A user wrote, “Spend more, go on foreign trips, live life fully, bring the fire/need back to earn more,” while another said: “You just learned about the diminishing value of happiness that money can buy. At 25K even 2K expense was an achievement, now it’s just a normal expense that don’t give that feeling.”
Another user shared their own situation, writing: “I can understand you completely I make 50k a month and atleast you are able to save and invest I can’t even do that It just feels shi**y being an adult like spend a month slogging and then when the money credits your account boom it vanishes I’m so done with life at times that I don’t feel like waking up in the morning and just sleep forever in peace.”
A commenter suggested finding a middle ground. “Maintain balance buddy. Balance your future needs and today’s needs as well. Life may start to become boring for you at a point. You need to have bigger aspirations. I mean, that is how you get motivated to work. Your aspirations should grow with your salary.”
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