Financial advisor Akshat Shrivastava's strategy to save 95% of his annual income, even while maintaining his metropolitan lifestyle, is going viral on social media. In a post on X, Shrivastava revealed that even after being married and having kids, he could significantly save his income because of one lifestyle rule.
“When I started my career, my salary was Rs 10,000, I used to live with my parents; I used a 2nd hand mobile phone. Ate home-cooked meals (almost all the time). I was not married/had kids, took no debt. And, still saved Rs 1,000-2,000 per month,” he said.
As his income rose to Rs 50 lakh per year, he maintained a debt-free lifestyle and saved Rs 20L annually. He invested most of his savings in high-growth assets, which helped build significant wealth.
[1] When I started my career: my salary was 10K, I used to live with my parents; used a 2nd hand mobile phone. Ate home cooked meals (almost all the time).
I was not married/had kids, took no debt.
And, still saved 1-2K/month.
[2] Fast forward a few years: I got a good…“Now, I have family and kids; my responsibilities are bigger. I live in an expensive city, travel the world, but my savings rate is almost 95% of the amount I make in a year. At no stage in my life: my lifestyle inflation exceeded my income,” his post read.
He added that he has enjoyed every phase of life and remains deeply grateful to God. His core financial principle is simple: never buy anything unless you can afford to buy it twice, except when investing in skill development.
With nearly 80,000 views on Shrivastava's post, many people praised his advice and shared their own experiences.
Some agreed that lifestyle inflation should never surpass income growth. Others also noted that being able to save 20-30% of monthly income is a great financial habit, but quality of life also matters.
However, some pointed to a more pressing issue: many Indians simply don't earn a decent income.
“In India, 90% of people have an average salary between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000, and the average salary growth per year is around 5 to 7%. With this situation, how much can one really save?” a user, Preety Gupta, replied to the post, originally shared on June 15.
Many social media users may not have a financial journey similar to Akshat Shrivastava, but his post on X sharing personal experience on wealth accumulation has stirred a discussion on savings, income and quality of life.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
