Have you ever found yourself scrolling through property apps at 2 AM, only to realize that a basic one-bedroom apartment in a decent area starts at ₹75 lakhs? You do the math and realize that even if you saved every single penny of your salary without eating or traveling, it would take you decades just to afford it.
So, what do you do? You close the app and order a ₹400 dessert on Zomato and tell yourself, "What is the point of saving? I’ll never afford a house anyway, so I might as well enjoy this moment."
This is what we call as Financial Nihilism.
It is a state of "giving up" where the future feels so out of reach that you decide to spend everything on the present. As your Finance Gurudeva, I want to break down why this is happening to Gen Z and how you can break free from this trap.
The Math Just Doesn't Add Up (And It's Not Your Fault)
Back in 2012, a starting salary in the IT sector was around ₹3-4 lakhs. Today, that same entry-level salary has only crawled up to about ₹4-6 lakhs. Meanwhile, look at what happened to house prices:In Bangalore, rates jumped from ₹3,500/sq. ft to ₹7,500/sq. ft. (Approx.)
In Mumbai, the house-price-to-salary ratio is a staggering 14.3x, often exceeding 20x (Approx.)
In Delhi NCR, the average home now costs around ₹1.70 crore. (Approx.)
While the cost of living has more than doubled, salaries have barely moved. This creates a massive gap that makes traditional milestones, like buying a home, feel impossible.
Comparison Trap
In the past, our parents compared us to one neighbor's kid. Today, thanks to Instagram, everyone is "Sharma Ji ka beta." Every third swipe shows you a 22-year-old driving a luxury car or a 21-year-old vacationing in Switzerland. This constant comparison makes you feel like a failure if you haven't "made it" by 25. To cope, many are turning to high-risk gambling like F&O (Futures and Options) or crypto, hoping for "super-normal" returns because the "boring" way of saving feels too slow to ever matter.
The Trap of Convenience
It has never been easier to spend money. With UPI, we don't feel the "pain" of payment anymore. Small spends of ₹17, ₹55, or ₹60 eventually turn into a mountain of debt. Combined with the explosion of easy credit and "Buy Now Pay Later" apps, we are spending money we don't have on things we don't need because we’ve given up on the big goals.
The Finance Gurudeva Roadmap: How to Exit the Nihilism Loop
If you feel like you are running a race you can't win, remember: You are not alone. Here is how you can start winning on your own terms:
Discipline Over Wealth: Don't start a ₹1,000 SIP thinking it will make you a crorepati tomorrow. Start it to build the habit of discipline.
When your income eventually grows, that habit will ensure you invest ₹10,000 or ₹1 lakh effortlessly.
The 30% Guilt-Free Rule: Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish."
Cutting out a Starbucks coffee won't buy you a house. Instead, allocate 30% of your income to spend guilt-free on whatever makes you happy, as long as you are managing the rest of your budget.
Avoid Early Financial Burdens: In your 20s, the only loan you should consider is an Education Loan.
Do not tie yourself down with a Home Loan EMI at age 25. Use your youth to be mobile, take risks, and find the right career path without being "caged" by a 25-year debt.
Stop the Comparison: Your journey is yours alone.
Your parents bought homes in a different era when land was cheap; don't judge your success by their timeline.
Final Thoughts:
Money is a tool for your happiness, not a scorecard for the world.
Live for yourself, invest in your habits, and don't let the "impossibility" of a house stop you from building a secure future.
Stay disciplined, stay wise.
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