Unsure if I'm on the right track

[Madhu]

I am a 29‑year‑old married DINK living in a metro city on rent. My salary is about 2.6 L per month and my wife earns around 1.2 L per month. We got married a few months ago and our savings took a big hit, so I am trying to rebuild our net worth.

Right now I have roughly 25 L in mutual funds, about 3 L in international ETFs and around 9 L in illiquid assets like EPF, PPF and NPS - all after more than six years of work. It feels like I am not making enough.

I see people my age going on overseas vacations and splurging, and I want that too, but after the wedding expenses I can't just throw money around.

A year before the wedding I stopped all new SIPs and put everything into a wedding fund, even withdrawing some investments to buy gold for the ceremony.

These days I invest 1.8 L a month and my wife puts in 75 k. I also support my sibling's education, which costs about 18 k a month. Our regular household spend is roughly 75 k, covering rent, bills and occasional one‑off costs.

In the future our expenses will rise - kids, maybe parents staying with us, and inflation. We don't own a car yet; we might buy one after five years, but traffic makes me hesitant. Cab apps work fine for now.

I would love to stop paying rent and buy a home, but property prices are sky‑high and I don't want a decade‑long loan weighing me down.

Seeing trillionaires while I can't afford a decent house feels crazy.

I feel I'm not doing enough despite the savings, especially when I compare myself to peers who live extravagantly. I wonder if aiming for financial independence and early retirement is a mistake, or if there's some truth I'm missing. Maybe you only live once.

Am I on the wrong track? I'm open to suggestions. Is upskilling, higher pay and better opportunities the only way out?

[Amrita]

When layoffs hit, that Europe trip won't save you. Having a solid savings cushion and a balanced lifestyle gives you peace of mind.

My cousin splurged on an extravagant lifestyle and now lives paycheck to paycheck, constantly worrying.

I trimmed my expenses and still enjoy travel within what I can afford. Now I sleep peacefully.

Find a balance - don't go to either extreme.

Budget for savings, travel and other goals each year, then stick to it throughout the year.

[Naveen]

Comparison is the thief of joy - you're actually doing better than most people your age.

You're already investing close to 2.5 L in mutual funds each month; keep it up and you'll build a solid financial safety net for retirement.

For foreign trips, set up a separate fund and keep adding to it, then take the trip when it's ready.

Plan and execute, don't let emotions drive you. Talk with your partner, get her input and find a middle ground.

[Malini]

First, write down your actual goals. Maybe you can plan one international trip every year or two.

Regarding a house, property prices in tier‑1 cities are out of reach for most salaries right now. If you're serious about buying, consider building a secondary income stream to boost your buying power.

[Sharmila]

Congratulations on the marriage! Hope you're enjoying married life.

Bro, please don't compare yourself with others. Your combined monthly income is what many earn in a whole year.

Compare yourself with yesterday's you and see the progress.

Your investments are good; just segment your goals and allocate SIPs accordingly. For example, if you plan an overseas trip every two years, start setting aside 15‑20 k a month in a liquid fund.

And remember, enjoy life while you can - the corpus will keep growing as long as you're alive.

[Dhruv]

Bro, there will always be people doing better and worse than you. Don't compare yourself to others or get swayed by social media. Congratulations on your wedding, by the way!

[Ananya]

Feeling inferior to someone like Musk is common, but remember there are crores in India who would love a salary like yours. Comparison steals joy!

Don't be too hard on yourself - you're doing great. Just curious, how much did you spend on the wedding?

Once you have an emergency fund and basic health and life insurance sorted, start allocating money for trips, shopping, etc., as per a plan. Keep an eye on lifestyle creep; if you can't balance enjoyment and savings, the whole FIRE idea loses its purpose. Good luck!