Bengaluru start-up founder explains how some middle-class people are silently building big wealth, without you even noticing

Once considered the steady backbone of Indian society, the middle class is now standing at a financial crossroads. In a viral LinkedIn post, Bengaluru startup founder Shyam Achuthan paints a sobering picture of a group that was once defined by upward mobility — steady jobs, small luxuries, and the dream of a home — but is now teetering between two stark outcomes: growing wealthy or going broke. There’s no middle ground anymore, he argues — and many are unknowingly choosing the wrong path. However, he points out that some are silently building wealth by making the correct choices.

Achuthan highlights a growing trend of financial self-sabotage among the modern middle class. With Instagram-worthy lifestyles and EMIs eating up salaries, many are living to impress, not to improve. A Rs 50,000 salary vanishes fast when Rs 20,000 goes to rent, Rs 10,000 to EMIs, and weekend spending tops Rs 5,000, leaving little to nothing for real savings. It’s a cycle of looking rich while staying broke, or worse, heading into debt.

But not everyone is playing this dangerous game. A smaller, quieter segment of the middle class is making radically different choices — avoiding flashy purchases, skipping big weddings, choosing used cars, and investing aggressively. They might not look successful today, but they’re building wealth that will outlast trends and timelines. While one-half of the middle class flexes for likes, the other is compounding gains for long-term freedom.

Trying to keep up with the rich on a middle-class paycheck, Achuthan warns, is like entering an F1 race with a scooter. Sooner or later, you’ll burn out. In today’s world of inflation, layoffs, and AI disruptions, the divide is widening fast, and only those who act intentionally will move up.His advice is simple but urgent: cut lifestyle inflation, track every rupee, invest 20–30% of your income, and focus on building assets, not liabilities. Above all, learn about money — don’t just earn it. The middle class isn’t just shrinking — it’s splitting. And the choices you make today will decide which direction you take tomorrow.

Internet reacts

Several users resonated deeply with the message. One praised the insight into middle-class realities and how the Instagram-fueled lifestyle is eating into savings. They highlighted how some individuals are managing to save more by consistently investing 20–30% of their salary and tracking every rupee spent, appreciating the reminder that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s direction.

Another user echoed the sentiment, calling it a spot-on reflection of current trends. Others pointed out how many are caught in a strange rat race, while the real winners are those who play the long game smartly. They stressed that flashy spending may backfire in the long run, whereas thoughtful financial decisions always hold value during tough times.

One user also raised a macroeconomic concern, noting that India’s savings rate has seen a sharp decline over the last decade. They emphasized that savings are vital not just for individual security but also for national capital formation and future growth, unlike foreign portfolio investments, which they termed as relatively volatile or “hot money.”