It started with a pair of wireless earbuds. They were on sale, and the checkout page offered a “split into 4 payments” option. ₹499 per month for four months sounded like pocket change. It felt like I wasn’t even spending money; I was just allocating

I was checking my bank statement last Sunday, looking for a duplicate UPI transaction from a Swiggy order, when I stumbled upon a recurring charge I didn’t recognize. It was for a photo editing app I downloaded three years ago for a single project. I

It starts with a notification. The bank app pings, and suddenly, your account balance looks like a respectable, life-changing number. You pay the rent, clear the credit card bill, and transfer some money to your investment account. You feel responsible. You feel stable. Then, the

You open your bank app, expecting to see a healthy balance, but the number staring back at you feels wrong. You earn ₹60,000 every month. Your rent is ₹18,000, and you budget about ₹10,000 for food. By all accounts, you should have a solid ₹32,000

I looked at my bank statement last Sunday night, and for a second, I thought there was a glitch. I’m currently paying ₹15,000 for rent in a decent part of the city, which feels like a big chunk of my salary every month. But then,

I have a habit of telling myself that “it’s just toothpaste.” When you live in a city like Gurgaon or Bengaluru, the convenience of quick commerce is intoxicating. It isn’t just about the toothpaste, of course. It’s the packet of peanuts because I’m feeling peckish,