Being middle class in India often feels like being stuck in a loop, working hard, paying taxes, and still not feeling financially free. It’s a reality many live with, but few openly talk about.
CA Nitin Kaushik wrote on X, “The Harsh Reality of Being Middle Class (Nobody Admits It), Not poor enough to qualify for subsidies or government aid, Not rich enough to retire early, take big risks, or skip the monthly EMI grind.”
SALARY GROWTH, BUT NO REAL RELIEF
For most salaried households, every pay rise brings mixed feelings. On the one hand, income increases. On the other hand, the higher tax slab quickly eats into the gain. The result? Savings still feel small, and financial independence remains far away.
As Kaushik points out,“You earn more, you move into a higher tax slab, you still can’t save enough to feel free.”
The frustration grows because the middle class often carries the weight of both ends of society. “The wealthy have loopholes and better investment vehicles. The poor have support systems & schemes. The middle class? They fund both,” he says.
RISING COSTS, SHRINKING FREEDOM
The burden is not just about taxes. Price hikes on fuel, food, education, and healthcare hit the middle class the hardest. Unlike the rich, they cannot hedge against inflation with high-value assets. Unlike the poor, they don’t receive government relief.
The struggle is silent, but real. Families keep running to stay in the same place, working, paying EMIs, and planning endlessly for a future that seems to move further away.
BREAKING THE TRAP
Kaushik highlights the way forward: “Financial freedom for the middle class isn’t about earning crores, it’s about breaking out of this silent trap.”
He concluded his post by saying, “Your salary alone won’t save you. Learn to invest, protect assets, and create income that the taxman can’t fully touch.”
– Ends
Tune In