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💸 The EMI Epidemic- The silent trap that’s swallowing an entire generation- one “milestone” at a time. Most Indian graduates start their careers earning < ₹50K/month at 22 or 23. By the time they’re 27 or 28, many manage to reach ₹1-2L/month. Sounds like progress, right? But this is exactly when society whispers: “It’s time to settle down.” That whisper quickly becomes pressure. And that pressure becomes EMIs. What does "well-settled" mean today? Let me break it down: ✅ Car EMI – ₹15K/month for 5 years ✅ Home loan EMI - ₹80K/month for 20+ years ✅ iPhone EMI - ₹5K/month for 2 years ✅ TV, trips, gadgets - ₹5-10K/month ✅ Wedding loan - ₹30K/month for 3 years (yes, wedding loan is a thing) Even if you do everything right and hit ₹2–2.5L/month in a Tier 1 city- you’re still spending ₹1.5L+ on EMIs every month. But life doesn’t care about your Excel sheet. 🛑 You could get laid off. 🛑 You could get into an accident. 🛑 You could burn out. And just like that, you’re trapped. Not because you weren’t capable- but because you played someone else’s game. I’ve seen so many friends get stuck in this cycle. Living paycheck to paycheck in Gucci belts. No emergency fund. No breathing room. Just status symbols bought on monthly payments. 👉 My advice to young professionals: If it’s a personal expense, avoid EMIs. Avoid debt. You’ll breathe easier, sleep better, and live your life- not one dictated by relatives, rishtedars, or Instagram reels. Don’t buy a house because society says you must. Buy it when you have the cash- even if it’s at 35 or 40. You’re not late. You’re just not rushing. Break the cycle. Choose freedom over flex. Be smart. P.S.- I had to write about this after a long conversation with a close friend who is super stressed about all his EMIs and never ending expectations.