How much is really enough?
I’ve been trying to make sense of this question lately, how much is enough?
About 4 years ago, I was earning around ₹3.75L per year. 3 years ago, I switched jobs and started earning ₹60K a month. A year later, that went up to ₹78K. Now, I make ₹1.8L per month.
Each time I switched, I told myself, “This is it. This will be enough.” But it never really was.
At first, I had personal loans to clear - I did that. Then I wanted to buy a car - managed that last year. Wanted to get married - did that 3 years ago to my college girlfriend. Now my wife and I together earn around ₹3.5L per month.
We’re not struggling. There’s no major financial pressure apart from helping my dad with some of his loans. We live decently, save a bit, take a few trips, and don’t really deny ourselves anything basic.
Yet, I don’t feel the same excitement I used to when new opportunities come up. I’m getting calls for 40–45 LPA roles right now, and it doesn’t spark anything in me. A few years ago, I’d have been thrilled. Now, it just feels like another number.
I’m not unhappy. Not particularly happy either. Just… somewhere in between. I can’t tell if this is comfort or complacency. Maybe both.
So I wanted to ask, how do you know when it’s enough? Is there ever a point where we stop chasing the next salary jump or the next milestone and just feel content? Or is “enough” something we never really reach?
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No numbers are enough for anyone!!! I would say, if your family’s health is good, you’ve your loving spouse and happy parents then this much is more than enough.
Just FYI, I’ve 9+ YEO in python ML and data science related tech. Still getting ~1lac per month. My wife is non working, my parents are retired. However we’re happy. I’m living peacefully. You may say that I should leave my comfort zone and switch for better salaries. But sometimes numbers don’t matter in front of you and your family happiness… So enjoy your life you’ve already enough.. travel and make memories…
My mind never left the hustle mindset although the circumstances have improved. Initially I needed to hurry the f up to tick the milestones in my checklist. With marriage came new checkboxes, only way I knew was to earn more. Now that most of the boxes are filled up, I should take a step back and actually appreciate the journey. But mind is still in the hustle mindset, when i don't have much work or on weekends i dont open my laptop to work on something i feel something missing. The feeling of being content is not there. I agree and appreciate your thoughts and your life experiences shared. I think I should take a step back and actually admire what I've achieved.
Rightly said bro, you can buy anything in the world with money, but you cannot buy human emotions. Family is the only relation that can last forever.
What's your Tech stack? And can please share your Journey of Growth in technical aspects?(What,how,where did you learn from& where were you got stuck)
Fullstack dev, worked on Python, C# dotnet, Java. Azure Cloud, genai, sql & nosql dbs, React, Angular, electronjs, Scripting using powershell, Bash, Batch. Worked on legacy tech. Almost seen it all in my ~6 yoe. I get calls for all kinds of roles since I fit in everywhere. Self learned since not a computer engineer, electrical. Learning via working on personal projects, spending time on learning new tech, implementing on my own projects, trying new stuff. Adapting to old one as well. Glued to laptop on weekends and late nights for personal projects. Pretty much this is it. I have a go getter approach, and will to achieve what I desire.
साईं इतना दीजिए, जामे कुटुंब समाए मैं भी भूखा न रहूं, साधु न भूखा जाए। परमात्मा तुम मुझे इतना दो कि जिसमें बस मेरा गुजरा चल जाए,मैं खुद भी अपना पेट पाल सकूं और आने वाले मेहमानों को भी भोजन करा सकूं...
Suffering from success?? I don't like seeing such posts on Monday mornings 🙂
Get into Sneakers, and watches. Get into art or Get a baby.
Materialistic things stopped exciting me since I bought the most expensive phone available, top model car, every appliance in the house top of the line. I just don't feel like getting expensive stuff now, even for showing off, I feel like it's worthless.
Art is something that I can get back into since I have artistic background. I used to write, which I stopped writing after getting married. Having a baby is something that we're planning next.
Bro
This is a Number Game in life...just play it
But these numbers are till some extent. Once it stops getting. It will be difficult to manage things.
So when you are getting money, Save it now and it will help you when that stops coming to you.
You are lucky enough to get the numbers, Save and enjoy your life.
Thanks for the insight.
Read ‘how much land does a man need’ by leo tolstoy