More Degrees, Less Security: Can I Ever Match My Parents?
I'm in my early thirties, just finished my Masters, and I feel utterly lost. For years, my parents were vague about their early struggles, always emphasizing education as the key to a better life. Recently, after a frank conversation, they opened up about their starting salaries and financial journey. And that's when the comparisons began, haunting my thoughts day and night.
They started with what seems like peanuts by today’s standards, yet somehow, they managed to buy a modest home in a metro city, save for our education, and enjoy a comfortable, secure middle-class life. They built a legacy. Now, I'm earning a "good" salary, significantly more than what they started with, especially after putting in years of rigorous study and hard work. My friends often tell me I'm doing well, and objectively, my monthly income allows for a decent lifestyle.
But then I look at the surging inflation, the astronomical property prices, the rising cost of everything from groceries to a child's education in India. My "good" salary feels like it's constantly chasing a runaway train. I wonder if I’ll ever own a decent home, let alone build the kind of financial security my parents achieved with seemingly less. There's this gnawing guilt, almost a sense of failure, that despite having more degrees and more opportunities, I might never provide the same stability for my future family. It's a heavy burden, making me question if all those years of studying were truly worth it. Am I destined to always feel like I'm falling short?
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