A recent chat with friends made me realize the true value of personal finance. A few weeks ago, I decided to take my first international trip. I got my passport last year and felt it was the right time. So, I asked a few close friends if they'd like to join me. I planned a trip to South Korea. The responses were eye-opening. One friend completely disappeared after hearing the expected cost. Another friend was excited, but when he asked his parents for money, they said they couldn't afford it due to slow business. A third friend initially agreed but made excuses and backed out. Two of them are a year older than me and have no personal savings. They've never worked either. That experience made me reflect on my own journey. I'm 25, from a small city in India, and started working at 16. I always wanted to earn my own income and not depend on anyone financially. For years, I worked in our family business, but things slowed down. I panicked and started looking for jobs. I landed a role paying around ₹65,000 per month. Since then, I've been saving and investing to build financial security. Today, I have around ₹42 lakh in savings, but I don't feel rich. I still worry about inflation, housing prices, healthcare costs, and retirement. I think about how I can make myself more secure, which is why I'm considering a professional qualification like CMA India. The biggest lesson I've learned is that personal finance isn't about becoming rich; it's about having options. It's about having the freedom to book a flight without asking anyone for money, to survive a bad year, to change careers if necessary, and to support your family instead of depending on them.
I agree with you. I earn a decent amount but crave freedom and time for myself and my family. After a point, money doesn't matter; it's time and freedom that count.
I live in a small town in India and agree with you. Some of my friends are 27-28 and still sit at home idle, sleeping at 3-4 am scrolling through reels. I'm 24, earning, and stressed, but I think this is the right approach. These people will struggle a lot in the future unless they have generational wealth.
Why are we turning this into a LinkedIn thread? This is a place for serious discussions, not emotional venting. You're stating the obvious.
What's the point of saving money if the plan is to hoard it till 60 and not enjoy life? I think the key is balance and crossing things off your bucket list. If you love to travel, plan it and do it, even if it means doing it solo. Just make sure you have 6-8 months' worth of expenses saved up. Don't delay excitement and enjoyment; there will come a time when you'll have a lot of money but not the energy to travel anymore. As they say, money will come back, but you won't be in your 20s having ramen at 2 am in a dimly lit restaurant in Korea.
I don't know how people sit idle. I went on a 9-day trip to Vietnam and had fun solo, but after 4-5 days, I started to miss my job. I have friends who never worked after school and are now planning to get married without any personal savings.
I see both sides.
Freedom to ignore, freedom to walk away, freedom to say no.
Hi OP, I relate to you so much. I'm about to hit 25 and have the same amount of savings as you. I hustled hard early and got into a high-paying startup, then pursued security research in web3 as a freelancer. I have no friends who can travel with me abroad, but I took a 1-month workation trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and enjoyed my solo time. I realized I don't have to wait for others; I can be happy with my own company.
Your attitude is correct, but some things require compromise and balance. Take your own example - South Korea is an expensive tourist destination. Consider replanning the trip to a closer destination like Singapore or Thailand. You may easily afford a business-class ticket to Seoul in your 40s, but your friends won't be there anymore. This will give you an idea of your actual estimate vs expenses, which will help your planning while living a good life later.
You're so true