The Income Lab | Smart Money Tips for Middle-Class Indians

  Most people don’t go broke because of one big mistake — they go broke slowly, quietly, and unknowingly through small habits that feel harmless in the moment. The ₹30 tea that happens three times a day. The online subscriptions you forgot. The weekend food delivery that feels “just this once.” The EMI that was manageable… until you took another one. These tiny decisions, repeated daily, trap millions of middle-class Indians in the same loop every month: Salary in → Bills → Random spends → Zero savings → Regret → Repeat. If this feels painfully familiar, you’re not alone — but you also don’t have to stay stuck. The truth is simple: You don’t need a higher salary to grow wealthy. You need better habits. Here are five small but life-changing habits that can turn your entire financial life around — starting this month. 1. Track Every Rupee You Spend — For 30 Days Yes, every single rupee. Not in a fancy app. Not in a complicated Excel sheet. Just a simple notebook or ...

🧠 “Where did all my money go?” If you've ever asked that question by the 15th of the month, this blog is for you. It doesn’t matter whether you earn ₹25,000 or ₹2,50,000 a month—most Indians are stuck in a financial hamster wheel : Salary in. Swipe, spend, splurge. Regret, wait, repeat. Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. And you're not bad with money . You're just trapped in a cycle no one taught you how to break. That’s why we created the 30-Day Salary Detox —a practical system that helps you reset, reflect, and rebuild your money habits in just one month. 🚨 Why the Salary Detox Is Needed Now More Than Ever Inflation is rising. Salaries feel stagnant. Even with a ₹60,000/month job, people are financially exhausted by the third week. And no, it’s not just because of spending. It’s because we: Get paid monthly Spend emotionally Budget reactively (if at all) Rely on credit to survive the last week 👉 Related: Why You’re Broke by the 2...

  Your salary hits your account on the 1st. You feel rich for 10 days. You survive for another 10. By the 20th — you’re broke. And by the 25th, you're counting coins and waiting for payday. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. This is the silent crisis of the Indian salaried class — especially the middle class. 🧠 Why Does This Happen Every Month? Let’s break it down: 1. No Plan for the First 10 Days You get paid, and suddenly you’re: Ordering in daily Paying all EMIs at once Shopping on Amazon Saying “yes” to every plan In 10 days, 70% of your money is gone — and the month has just begun. 2. EMIs + Subscriptions = Salary Slayers Most people have: Phone EMI Laptop EMI Credit card minimum due Netflix, Prime, Disney+, YouTube Premium... That’s ₹15,000–₹25,000 gone without you realizing. 3. No Daily Spending Limit Your salary is treated like an infinite pool in the first week. But you don’t budget daily . By the time reality hits — you...

  Most people think: “If I just earned more… all my problems would disappear.” But here’s the truth: More money won’t solve your problems Unless your habits change with it. In fact, for many — a salary hike leads to more expenses, not more peace. 💭 Think About This: You made ₹30K/month and felt broke. Now you make ₹70K/month… and still feel broke. So the real question is: Is the problem your income — or your behavior with money? 📉 The Problem: Income Rises, Habits Stay the Same Most people fall into a pattern: Get a raise Upgrade lifestyle Start new EMIs Increase online orders Still save ₹0 They believe they have an income problem , but it’s really a discipline problem . 🚨 Signs You Have a Habit Problem — Not an Income Problem You don't track your spending You save “what’s left” (which is usually nothing) You depend on salary day for emotional relief You keep upgrading things, but not upgrading wealth You don’t invest co...

  You got the raise. You’re still broke. Here’s the psychological trap most Indians fall into—and 5 science-backed ways to escape it. What Is Lifestyle Creep? Lifestyle creep (or lifestyle inflation) is what happens when your income increases—and so does your spending. You used to get by on ₹40,000/month. Now you're earning ₹80,000 or even ₹1.2 lakh. But strangely, you're still living paycheck to paycheck. No real savings, no investments, just... fancier shoes, more Swiggy orders, and a slightly nicer phone. Sound familiar? This is lifestyle creep in action. And it’s more dangerous than it seems. Why It’s So Dangerous Lifestyle creep is subtle. It feels like you're improving your life (and in some ways, you are). But it’s a trap because: Your expenses rise with your income, leaving your savings unchanged (or worse, declining). You develop expensive habits that are hard to reverse. You feel financially stuck, even when you’re earning more than ever. W...

We all have a money leak we pretend doesn’t exist. Mine? Late-night food delivery. Every Friday night, I’d tap “Order Now” without thinking—spending around ₹500 on something that satisfied my cravings but added zero value to my future. One month, I reviewed my spending and realized I’d spent ₹6,000+ on takeout. That’s when it hit me: “If I can afford to waste ₹500 weekly, I can afford to invest it.” And that’s exactly what I did. That single ₹500 shift became the habit that transformed my entire financial life. 💡 The ₹500 Habit That Changed Everything I didn’t wait for a raise. I didn’t read 10 finance books. I just made one decision : 👉 Every Friday, instead of spending ₹500 on a craving, I automated it into a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) . I picked an index fund using an app (Groww, Coin by Zerodha—any easy platform works). I started small and stayed consistent. ₹500 a week. No excuses. ✅ Why This Tiny Habit Works (Even If You're Broke) You don’t need a fat salary to bu...