Yes, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara but EMIs will keep coming...: CA shares harsh money truths for salaried people

Living on a salary in 2025 feels like running on a treadmill — the moment your pay goes up, so do your expenses. Exotic vacations, weekend splurges, and those tempting “easy EMIs” keep pulling you in, while savings often take a backseat. But Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik has a reality check for every Indian professional who thinks a bigger paycheque means financial freedom. In a viral X post, he listed nine brutal money rules that could change how you look at money management forever.

Here’s the breakdown of Kaushik’s advice, explained in simple terms:

1. Spend only half your salary
Kaushik warns against lifestyle creep. Just because your salary grows doesn’t mean your expenses should too. He stresses living on 50% of your income and saving or investing the rest. More money doesn’t mean more shopping sprees.

2. Don’t put all your money in one basket
Your savings shouldn’t sit in just one asset class. Kaushik says diversifying investments is the simplest way to reduce risk and grow wealth steadily.

3. Build a second income
Relying solely on one salary is risky. Freelancing, consulting, tutoring, or even YouTube can become your backup. Kaushik cautions that your spouse’s income isn’t Plan B, it’s an emergency cushion — not something you should depend on for everyday survival.

4. Insurance is non-negotiable
According to Kaushik, skipping insurance is like sitting on a financial time bomb. Health insurance for the whole family and a term plan until you’re wealthy enough to self-sustain are musts.

💼 9 Brutal Money Rules Every Indian Salaried Person Must Know in 2025 💼

(If you follow even 5 of these, your future self will thank you)

Let’s break it down 👇🧵#stockmarketscrash #finance #nifty #investingtips pic.twitter.com/H3Xr1v5Dl8

— CA Nitin Kaushik (@Finance_Bareek) August 17, 2025

5. Stop comparing lifestyles
Instagram might flaunt luxury cars and fancy homes, but Kaushik says competing with your friends’ EMIs will kill your financial future. Instead, match their work ethic, not their liabilities.

6. Choose good loans, avoid bad ones
Kaushik breaks it down clearly: good loans include education, an affordable home where EMI doesn’t exceed rent, or a business loan with stable returns. Bad loans? Luxury cars you don’t need, overpriced flats in stagnant markets, and Insta-worthy trips on EMI.

7. Don’t rely on inheritance
Your parents don’t live off your income, so you shouldn’t plan your future around theirs. Kaushik insists on building your own financial fortress rather than banking on what may or may not come.

8. Plug lifestyle leaks
UPI payments, food delivery apps, and impulse shopping are silent wealth killers. Kaushik recommends cutting back on convenience costs and choosing smarter habits like public transport to save more.

9. Experiences are great, but balance them
Referencing Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Kaushik acknowledges the importance of living life fully. But he adds a twist: don’t confuse indulgence with joy. A ₹70,000 vacation gives memories, but a ₹70,000 SIP could give you freedom. The trick lies in finding balance.

Kaushik wrapped up by urging people to share his advice with their office WhatsApp groups, saying they’ll “secretly thank you.” He also added a clear disclaimer: “This post is for educational purposes only. Do your own research before investing.”