2 weeks ago
Woman Saves Rs 7.2 Lakh by Cutting Five Expenses
Ria said she was exhausted by corporate life and wanted more freedom.
She stopped spending money on several things she considered non-essential.
These included restaurants, shopping, subscriptions, social events and weekend trips.
Together, these changes helped her save Rs 40,000 each month.
After 18 months, she had saved Rs 7.2 lakh.
She said she did not stop caring for her health or spending meaningful time with her partner.
She also developed side income while still working.
Some people praised her discipline, while others said friendships and family events should not be abandoned completely.
Ria said she saved Rs 40,000 monthly for 18 months, building a Rs 7.2 lakh freedom fund.
She reduced spending on dining out, shopping, subscriptions, social outings and weekend getaways.
Dining out and food delivery accounted for about Rs 20,000 of monthly savings.
She continued prioritizing health, time with her partner, quality food and home life.
Her post sparked debate over whether reducing social commitments is practical or harmful to relationships.
- Who
- A 33-year-old social media user named Ria.
- What
- She said she saved Rs 7.2 lakh by cutting five categories of spending and later resigned from her corporate job.
- Where
- In posts shared on Instagram.
- When
- Over an 18-month period; she said she was hospitalised with severe burnout at age 30.
- Why
- She wanted to respond to the physical and mental toll of corporate life and build financial freedom.
Ria's Priorities
Critics' Concerns
Cutting social spending
Ria's Priorities
Ria presented reducing events, birthday dinners and brunches as a way to redirect money toward a freedom fund.
Critics' Concerns
Some commenters said friendships, family connections and one-time events such as weddings should not be eliminated entirely.
Lifestyle sacrifice
Ria's Priorities
Ria said cutting expenses was not deprivation, but a matter of choosing priorities while continuing to fund health, quality food and time with her partner.
Critics' Concerns
Commenters questioned whether avoiding restaurants, travel and shopping for the rest of one's life would be viable.
Leaving corporate work
Ria's Priorities
Ria reportedly resigned after her side income crossed her corporate salary, following an earlier burnout-related hospitalisation.
Critics' Concerns
She also argued that quitting abruptly out of frustration is wrong, underscoring that others should not treat her approach as an immediate template.
Key facts
- Total savings
- Rs 7.2 lakh over 18 months
- Monthly savings
- Rs 40,000
- Dining and delivery savings
- About Rs 20,000 per month
- Shopping savings
- About Rs 10,000 per month
- Subscription savings
- About Rs 5,000 per month
- Social outing savings
- About Rs 3,000 per month
- Weekend getaway savings
- About Rs 2,000 per month
- Reported side income
- It reportedly exceeded her regular corporate salary of Rs 1.6 lakh per month by month 18
Quotes
A third online commenter
A commenter asking Ria about maintaining friendships while budgeting
“That's real! Takes discipline & some sacrifices. Did you find ways to still connect with your friends that were meaningful?”
NDTV
“Human connections are pretty important in general day-to-day life.”
NDTV
Sources
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