2 weeks ago
Techie Earning 8x More Questions Life After Friend's Simpler Choice
A computer worker earns eight times more money than an old classmate, but he feels unhappy.
Even though he earns so much, his job leaves him stressed and busy.
His old classmate Rakesh earns much less but has a calm life.
Rakesh's job is not stressful, and he spends weekends going out with his wife.
When his home loan ends next year, Rakesh plans to open a small kirana shop.
The high earner complains about a difficult boss, unkind co-workers, and no time for hobbies.
People who read his story online had different opinions.
Some said saving money matters, especially if someone gets very sick and needs a private hospital.
Others said he should try living Rakesh's simple life before judging which one is better.
A software engineer on Reddit earning about eight times more than a former classmate began questioning his choices after comparing their lives.
His classmate Rakesh earns about Rs 3 lakh a year at a relatively unknown company and has a low-stress job.
Rakesh spends weekends going out with his wife and plans to open a small kirana shop once his subsidised home loan ends next year.
The engineer said he is stuck with a 'dumb manager,' toxic co-workers and office politics, leaving him almost no time for hobbies.
Reddit users debated the comparison, with some warning low-cost lifestyles fail in medical emergencies and others saying the engineer's real problem is job dissatisfaction.
- Who
- An anonymous software engineer who posted on Reddit, and his former classmate Rakesh, who earns about Rs 3 lakh a year.
- What
- The engineer, earning about eight times more than Rakesh, questioned his choices after learning Rakesh leads a calmer life with a less stressful job, weekends with his wife and plans for a kirana shop.
- Where
- Not explicitly stated; the context (rupees, kirana shop, rural schools, government hospitals) suggests India.
- When
- The two reconnected after four or five years; the story was published on August 13, 2026.
- Why
- The engineer rethought what financial success means after seeing that his friend found peace without a high salary or an early-retirement plan.
Financial security first
Simplicity and peace first
Is a high salary worth the stress?
Financial security first
Earning eight times more provides financial security and options, such as access to private hospitals in emergencies, making the extra stress worthwhile.
Simplicity and peace first
A modest salary at a low-stress job buys time for family, weekends and hobbies, which the engineer's high pay could not provide.
Can a low-cost lifestyle last?
Financial security first
A frugal, low-cost lifestyle can become difficult during a major medical emergency that requires large amounts of money for a private hospital.
Simplicity and peace first
Rakesh's simple life - public transport, government hospitals and a soon-to-end home loan - appears calm and sustainable for him.
What is the real issue in the comparison?
Financial security first
The engineer's unhappiness comes from his own job situation - a difficult manager, toxic co-workers and office politics - not from Rakesh's income or lifestyle.
Simplicity and peace first
The comparison fairly shows that a high salary does not automatically lead to a good life, and judging only by money or free time misses each person's real problems.
Key facts
- Income difference
- Engineer earns about 8 times more than his classmate
- Rakesh's annual salary
- About Rs 3 lakh
- Rakesh's job
- Software engineering at a relatively unknown company
- Rakesh's plan
- Open a small kirana shop after his subsidised home loan ends next year
- Rakesh's wife
- Government teacher at a rural school
- Engineer's complaints
- Difficult manager, toxic co-workers, office politics, no time for hobbies
- Publication
- News18
- Published
- August 13, 2026, 18:00 IST
Quotes
Software Engineer (Reddit user)
A tech worker sharing his experience on Reddit
“And here I’m stuck with dumb manager telling me to memorize the codebase, toxic co-workers, full of politics. I’m not getting even time for my hobbies.”
news18.com
Sources
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