Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik recently shared a cautionary message on social media, emphasizing that a high salary can be misleading if accompanied by equally high expenses. He illustrated this with an example where an individual earning ₹1.8 lakh per month faces expenses of ₹1.5 lakh due to premium rent and luxury SUV EMIs. This leaves little room for savings or emergencies, making them just one missed paycheck away from financial distress. Kaushik criticized the common practice of treating salary increases as a green light for lifestyle upgrades, which can lead to a cycle of debt and financial commitments that hinder wealth accumulation. He pointed out that someone earning ₹8 lakh annually and saving 15% could ultimately be wealthier than someone earning ₹50 lakh but saving nothing. His core message is that real financial strength is built on saving and investing, rather than merely earning a high income.