How Middle-Class Indians Are Silently Becoming Poorer (Without Realizing It)
The Illusion of “Doing Fine”
On paper, many middle-class Indians seem comfortable. Salaries are credited on time, smartphones are upgraded, and weekend food orders are normal. But beneath this surface lies a worrying reality — purchasing power is shrinking.
People aren’t becoming poorer suddenly. It’s happening silently, slowly, and consistently.
Income vs Expenses: The Gap Is Growing
While salaries increase by 5–8% annually, real expenses rise much faster:
Rent and property prices
School and coaching fees
Medical costs
Fuel and food inflation
The result? Even with a higher salary, less money is left at the end of the month.
EMIs Are the New Normal
Homes, phones, bikes, gadgets — everything is bought on EMI.
EMIs give comfort today but steal freedom tomorrow.
Many middle-class families now work only to:
Pay loans
Clear credit card bills
Maintain lifestyle image
Savings and investments take the last priority.
Lifestyle Inflation Is the Real Enemy
The problem isn’t just inflation — it’s lifestyle inflation.
What was once “luxury” is now considered “basic”:
Eating out weekly
Multiple OTT subscriptions
Frequent online shopping
Small expenses repeated daily quietly destroy long-term wealth.
No Financial Cushion
One medical emergency or job loss is enough to push families into debt.
Why? Because:
Emergency funds are missing
Insurance is insufficient
Savings rate is low
Being middle-class today means high responsibility with low security.
The Way Forward
Becoming rich isn’t the goal — becoming financially stable is.
What helps:
Tracking expenses
Reducing unnecessary EMIs
Prioritizing savings before lifestyle
The middle class isn’t failing — the system is expensive. Awareness is the first step out.
