Bengaluru: A Bengaluru woman's views on how young professionals spend their money have sparked a lively discussion on social media after she questioned why many people in their early 20s prioritise expensive lifestyles over building savings.
Her comments on lifestyle inflation drew both support and criticism from users, with many sharing differing perspectives on financial planning and personal spending.
Instagram video goes viral
The debate began after Simridhi Makhija, who has been living in Bengaluru for the past seven months, posted a video on Instagram sharing her observations about spending habits among young professionals in the city.
In the video, she said she struggled to understand why many people were willing to spend Rs 5,000 during a single visit to a café, pay Rs 40,000 a month in rent when, according to her, a comfortable home could be rented for around Rs 20,000, or spend Rs 20,000 on shopping in one outing.
She clarified that her comments also applied to people who could comfortably afford such expenses, arguing that individuals in their early 20s should focus more on saving than increasing their lifestyle costs.
Warns against lifestyle inflation
Makhija said a rise in income should not automatically lead to a corresponding increase in spending.
She argued that people should aim to earn more while keeping their expenses limited to essential needs and saving as much as possible for the future.
According to her, financial uncertainty makes it important for young earners to build savings instead of upgrading their lifestyles each time their income increases.
Her remarks centred on the concept of lifestyle inflation, where higher earnings often result in higher discretionary spending rather than greater financial security.
Social media users divided
The video quickly attracted widespread attention, with social media users expressing differing opinions on the issue.
Some agreed with Makhija's advice, saying that uncontrolled lifestyle inflation could prevent people from achieving long-term financial goals.
One user commented, "Don't let lifestyle inflation eat up every raise."
Others, however, felt that young professionals should not focus exclusively on saving.
Another user wrote, "Don't focus too much on saving money in your 20s. Focus more on increasing your income."
Several users also argued that spending choices depend on individual priorities, financial responsibilities and quality-of-life preferences, making it difficult to apply a single approach to everyone.
Debate reflects changing financial priorities
The discussion has highlighted the contrasting attitudes towards personal finance among young professionals, particularly in cities such as Bengaluru where rising salaries are often accompanied by increasing living costs.
While some advocate disciplined saving and controlled spending during the early stages of a career, others believe that investing in experiences, comfort and personal well-being is equally important.
The viral conversation underscores the growing interest among young Indians in topics such as budgeting, financial planning and managing lifestyle inflation as they navigate their careers.