“80 lakh Mercedes on Rs 2 lakh salaries…”: How YOLO culture fuels risky financial choices

A post on Reddit describing how young Indians on modest salaries buy luxury cars has sparked a heated debate that exposes the deep financial risks some take in pursuit of aspirational lifestyles.

The author of the post recounted a visit to a Mercedes Benz showroom, where he learned that buyers earning Rs 1.4-2 lakh per month were buying cars priced at Rs 60-80 lakh. These clients usually make down payments of Rs 7-9 lakh and rely heavily on loans to finance the rest. “Signing up to a seven-year slavery contract just to look rich – that’s not an aspiration anymore, it’s financial self-sabotage disguised as YOLO,” the post read.

The viral thread sparked a flood of similar tales. “Our maid’s son got a job as a salesman with a salary of Rs 20,000 and in his first month, he paid Rs 15,000 as down payment for a Royal Enfield Meteor 350. They didn’t even have a refrigerator or a cooler at home,” a user said.

Another commenter added: “The same thing happened with our maid’s son. He first bought an iPhone, then a bike worth Rs 2 lakh. I think this is their decision.”

Referring to the work of economist Abhijit Banerjee, one user noted that people near the poverty line often spend extra income on what they consider to be luxury items.

However, the issue was not one-sided. Some pointed out that not every glamorous purchase is impulsive. “There’s something called generational wealth,” one user wrote, highlighting how some young buyers come from financially secure families and don’t need to prioritize savings.

Another explained that many young professionals live with their parents, which frees up disposable income for personal entertainment: “Food, housing and utilities are taken care of. Sure they can invest, but many choose to spend it on themselves instead.”