An Influencer, known for sharing personal finance tips, found himself on the receiving end of the internet after one of his recent posts on X triggered widespread backlash.
Sourav Dutta, who regularly discusses savings and investments on his social media handles, posted a tweet that was supposed to be financial advice, but several users found “impractical”.
In his post, Dutta said, “Rs 20000 per month is the 5 year EMI of a 10 lakh car for Ravi. Instead, Ravi puts Rs 20000 per month for 5 years in Nifty ETF SIP. The first decision gives him a car worth Rs 4 lakh in 2030. The second decision gave him Rs 17 lakh of bank balance in 2030. Life is about the choices we make.”
Take a look at his post here:
While Dutta’s intent seemed to be promoting long-term savings over immediate gratification, the advice didn’t sit well with several social media users.
One of the loudest critics was Maharashtra-based entrepreneur Chirag Bhajatya, who emphasised on the practical need for a car, especially during emergencies.
“Ravi, during Covid lockdown, searching for a hospital and an oxygen cylinder for his father. Called Uber Ola, they are not functional. One relative said no because he was afraid of infection. But Ravi has lakhs of money in bank. Don’t be like Ravi. Go buy a car. Buy a small one. Buy on EMI you can pay every month. There is no harm. 77-80 per cent of people buy cars on finance. No one is judging you. Biggest projects of the country are running because they took a loan,” he said.
Other users slammed Dutta’s advice and pointed out the importance of balancing finances with real-life necessities. A user said, “What is going on? Don’t take a car, don’t take a house, don’t get married, don’t go on a honeymoon, don’t have children,” they said, adding, “Brother, I have taken birth on this earth. It is very difficult to achieve this human life. If you get free time from SIP, then enjoy life a little brother.”
Another user took a more direct swipe at the YouTuber’s stance as they said, “Ravi’s parents had a medical emergency. The ambulance was delayed, but thankfully Ravi had a car and was able to save his parent’s lives. Life is about choices, and it’s not always about giving gyaan on others’ personal finances.”
See the comments here:
Sourav Dutta has yet to respond to the backlash, but the discussion has brought attention to the balance people must strike between financial planning and immediate needs.
While saving for the future is essential, for several, so is having the right tools to handle life’s unpredictability.