Pehli Naukri Ke Baad Lifestyle Inflation Ko Kaise Control Mein Rakhein

Financial Psychology

Lifestyle Inflation:
The Silent Killer

Kyun salary badhte hi hum aur zyada gareeb mehsoos karte hain?

"Jab salary 20k se 50k ho jaye, par mahine ke end mein account phir bhi khali mile—isi ko 'Lifestyle Inflation' kehte hain." Photo Credit: Pexels

Yaad karo wo din jab tum college mein the. Jeb mein 500 rupaye hote the, aur doston ke saath tapri ki chai aur bun-maska mein hi jannat mil jati thi. Zindagi simple thi, bas paise kam the.

Phir tumhari naukri lag gayi. Pehli salary aayi. Phir appraisal hua. Salary 20k se 50k pahunch gayi.

Lekin sach batana... kya aaj 50k mein bhi wahi kami mehsoos nahi hoti jo 500 mein hoti thi?

Tumhara purana Android phone, jo kal tak badhiya chal raha tha, achanak slow lagne laga. Wo bike, jo college mein "bhavkaal" thi, ab office le jane mein sharam aane lagi. Starbucks ki coffee zaroorat ban gayi aur Metro ki bheed "struggle" lagne lagi.

"Hum un cheezon ko khareedne ke liye paise kharch karte hain jinki humein zaroorat nahi, sirf un logon ko impress karne ke liye jinhe hum pasand bhi nahi karte."

Doston, is bimari ka naam hai Lifestyle Inflation. Ye wo daldal hai jisme jitna haath-pair maaroge (yani jitna zyada kamaoge), utna hi andar dhaste jaoge. Aaj hum baat karenge ki is "Sone ki Bediyon" (Golden Handcuffs) se kaise bacha jaye.

Diderot Effect: Ek Nayi Shirt Ki Keemat

18th century mein ek French philosopher tha, Denis Diderot. Use ek nayi, mehengi dressing gown gift mein mili. Par jab usne wo gown pehni, toh use laga ki uska purana furniture bada bhadda lag raha hai.

Toh usne sofa badla. Phir parde badle. Phir painting badli. Ant mein, wo karze mein doob gaya.

Hum sab Diderot hain. Ek iPhone khareedne se baat khatam nahi hoti; phir AirPods chahiye, phir Apple Watch, aur phir MacBook. Ye ek chain reaction hai.

Isse Bachne Ka 'Desi' Formula

Main ye nahi keh raha ki sadhu ban jao. Paisa kamaya hai toh udao, par "Behosh" hokar nahi.

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The 50% Rule

Jab bhi salary badhe (Increment), uska sirf 50% hissa lifestyle upgrade mein daalo. Baaki 50% seedha investment mein jane do. Maan lo 10,000 badhe, toh 5,000 ki party karo, par 5,000 ki SIP badha do.

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30-Day Waiting Period

Agar koi cheez 5,000 se upar ki hai (jaise naya phone ya headphones), toh "Add to Cart" karo par "Buy Now" mat dabao. 30 din ruko. 90% chance hai ki 30 din baad tumhe uski zaroorat mehsoos hi nahi hogi.

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Assets > Liabilities

Car ek liability hai (iski value ghat-ti hai). Gold ya Index Fund asset hai (value badhti hai). Apni salary ka bada hissa un cheezon par lagao jo tumhe sote waqt bhi kama kar dein.

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Invisible Money

Apne bank account mein 'Auto-Debit' lagao salary wale din hi. Paisa account mein dikhega hi nahi, toh kharch hoga hi nahi. Isse kehte hain "forced scarcity."

Aakhri Salah

Yaad rakhna, asli amiri wo nahi hai ki tumhare paas kitni mehengi car hai. Asli amiri ye hai ki agar tumhari boss se ladayi ho jaye, toh tum resignation letter fek kar maar sako kyunki tumhare paas agle 6 mahine ka kharcha (Emergency Fund) hai.

Lifestyle Inflation tumhari azaadi cheen leta hai. Tumhe naukri ka ghulam bana deta hai kyunki ab tumhari EMI tumhari salary se badi ho gayi hai.

Toh agli baar jab salary credit ka SMS aaye, toh naya phone lene se pehle sochna—kya main apni azaadi khareed raha hoon ya nayi bediyan?

Jio Dil Se, Kharcho Dimaag Se.