Ever wonder why some folks chase money their whole lives, only to see it slip away like sand? In Delhi’s noisy lanes or Bihar’s quiet fields, people like Ramesh toil endlessly, yet poverty remains stubborn. Others glide toward wealth, living with ease and joy.
Is it luck or something deeper? The truth hits home: it’s your money mindset —how you relate to money shapes your reality.
“Money isn’t what you win; it’s the stepping stone to your deepest desires.”
Money isn’t just cash or a PhonePe ping—it’s a friend on your life’s journey. Rethink Your Money Mindset, Treat it with care, and it stays close. Push it away with fear, and it vanishes.
The Nature of Money
Money: An Energy, Not an Object
Money isn’t something solid. It’s an energy—flowing, vibrant, ever-moving. Trying to hold onto it is like grasping at a stream of water.
Fear and Doubt Push Money Away
If you look at money with eyes of fear or try to hold it in the shadow of doubt, it will slip through your fingers. It will flee… far, far away. And one day, it might vanish entirely, as if it never existed.
Let Money Flow, Don’t Hold It Back
Money doesn’t need to be trapped—it needs to flow freely. When you approach it with acceptance, trust, and balance, it will naturally find its way into your life.
Through heartfelt stories and simple steps, let’s uncover:
- Why do some remain trapped in want?
- How a tangled mindset keeps them there.
- And how you can rethink your money mindset for a life of abundance—a cosy home, your kid’s school fees, a Diwali full of light, vacations full of joy and enjoyment.
Trapped in the Cage: Why Poverty Holds Tight
Raj, a 35-year-old cab driver in Mumbai, races through chaos from dawn to dusk, burdened with bills and quietly dreaming of a better life for his family. His cash quickly disappears—buying a new phone, a quick biryani—small splurges that diminish his hopes. Raj isn’t careless; he’s trapped in a complicated relationship with money.
Maybe you’ve heard it too: parents murmuring, “Paise se sirf tension hoti hai” (Money brings stress) or “Bade log dil se chhote hote” (Rich folks are small-hearted). These money stories, woven by family or culture, shape us silently.
In India, discussions about money are often kept private. Women may be encouraged to rely on others, while men are expected to “provide” without clear guidance. When money feels scarce, individuals may undervalue themselves or spend in an attempt to achieve a different emotional state.
The world adds locks to this cage. Oxfam reports that India’s richest 1% hold over 40% of the country’s wealth. Rising prices, caste barriers, and weak rural schools trap millions. Only 27% of Indians grasp basic money concepts, according to a 2023 survey.
It’s not just India—US payday loans trap people in debt cycles, too. But the raw truth is: shame seals the cage. Feeling “less than” stops you from chasing skills, whispering, “Yeh mere liye nahi” (This isn’t for me).
These barriers hit hard for people like Lakshmi, a 28-year-old seamstress from Rajasthan. After her father’s crops failed, money felt like a lie. A single mom, she stitches late, her heart swelling as her daughter twirls in the creations she’s made. Festival pressures push her into debt. Her story mirrors so many who chase money but never hold it close.
Running After a Mirage: The Exhausting Chase
Why chase money like a runaway kite? It’s a tiring race, fueled by a scarcity mindset. You bargain at the market but skip mutual funds or new skills. Experts say losing ₹500 hurts more than gaining it feels good, so when money feels slippery, we cling too tight or let it go in a panic.
This chase hides deeper aches. Ankit, a 25-year-old Bengaluru techie, dreamed of “making it” from a small UP town. He bought flashy earbuds, piling up ₹2 lakh in debt. He’d mutter, “Bas ek din” (Just one day), but splurging left him burned out.
A 2024 RBI report shows many Indians borrow for phones, not progress. Whether it’s US loan traps or India’s cricket betting, people run after quick fixes, treating money like a stranger.
Can a Money Mindset Unlock the Cage?
Think a mindset shift can’t beat caste or job scarcity?
It won’t erase those walls. But how you connect with money changes how you climb them.
A 2021 RBI Financial Literacy study found that financial knowledge helps you bounce back. Amartya Sen, an Indian economist and philosopher, said poverty is not just about cash—it’s about what you can do. A strong money mindset builds that power.
From Enemy to Ally: Crafting Your Bridge
Picture money as a river—full of possibility, but needing a channel to reach you. Treating it with respect builds that channel. Here’s how:
Rewrite Your Story
When your heart murmurs, “Paise mere haath mai nahi” (money isn’t within my grasp), take a moment to breathe and catch that thought. Someone, somewhere, started with almost nothing, too. Take Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who built Biocon from a humble ₹10,000. It’s not just about her triumph—it’s proof that small steps can lead to big changes. Why not begin rewriting your story with a gentle shift, like: “Money can come to me, slowly and surely, like a steady stream”?
Find Gratitude
Science Says Gratitude Sparks Hope. Note three things money made possible: a rickshaw ride, a kid’s notebook, and a warm chai.
Learn Money’s Ways
Watch CA Rachana Ranade on YouTube or try Groww for SIPs and PM Jan Dhan. Chat budgets over tea with friends.
Grow Yourself
Spend ₹500 on an online course or join a cooperative. Lakshmi sold embroidery online, doubling her income for her daughter’s books.
Set Rules
Use the 50/30/20 plan: 50% needs (food/ clothing and shelter), 30% wants (movies), 20% savings. Save via UPI apps like Google Pay.
Give a Little
Give ₹100 to a charity. Daan at Holi makes money flow with purpose.
Use Tech
Apps like Cred or Paytm make saving easy. Start with ₹500 in a mutual fund.
Your 30-Day Money Reset Plan
Build your bridge with these steps:
- Reflect: Journal your money thoughts. Challenge one negative belief.
- Learn: Watch a short money video daily (try Introduction to mutual funds Zerodha Varsity).
- Act: Start a PM Jan Dhan account or an SIP with ₹500.
- Celebrate: Share a win (like saving ₹1000) on X with #MoneyMindsetIndia.
“Value money, and it values you back.”
Practical Tips for Every Indian: Money Mindset in Action
- Youth: Save ₹50 a week. Skip a soda for a coding course.
- Women: Join SEWA for support. Know your work’s worth.
- Entrepreneurs: Reinvest profits or learn Instagram ads to grow.
Building a Life Beyond the Cage
When you treat money like a friend, it shows up. Raj saved ₹2000 a month in a PPF, now running three cabs and teaching others. Lakshmi’s online store pays for her daughter’s college. Ankit cleared his debt and guides small-town kids.
Money’s not the goal—it’s the bridge.
Picture an India where kids learn money smarts in school. Groups like SEWA and PM Jan Dhan light the way. Your steps—saving ₹500, sharing on X—spark change.
Hardships like job loss or family pressures will come, but they’re just bumps on your bridge. Keep going.
Escaping the Chase: Your Path to Freedom 
Why do some stay poor, forever chasing? A tangled bond with money—fear, shame, confusion—locks them in a cage.
But by rethinking your money mindset, you rewrite your story, building a bridge to abundance: a safe home, your kids’ future, a festival full of joy.
Your challenge:
- Try the 30-day plan.
- Write a letter to your younger self about money.
- Share your journey on X with #MoneyMindset.
Money’s not your enemy—it’s your ally, ready to walk you across the bridge to freedom.
✨ What’s one step you’ll take today to leave the cage and start building your bridge?
Let Us Stir Quiet Truths
A reflection ritual for those ready to walk the bridge.
Write a Money Letter
If money were a person, what would you say? Would you whisper apologies for the years of mistrust, like Raj did with his fleeting splurges? Offer gratitude for the chai it bought on a tough day, or ask for a second chance—to walk together, not chase as Ankit once did?
Let your words be raw, kind, and true. Begin with:
“Dear Money…”
Inherited & Rewritten
What’s one money belief you inherited? Maybe it was spoken aloud—“Paise se sirf tension hoti hai”—or felt in the quiet hesitation of your mother before treating herself, much like Lakshmi’s struggles.
Now, what’s one belief you’re gently rewriting today?
“Money is not a test of worth. It’s a tool for care.”
Tag a Bridge-Builder
Who helped you shift your money mindset? A friend who taught you budgeting over chai, a mentor who said, “Invest in yourself first,” or a community that showed you abundance is steady, not loud?
Tag them. Honor them.
“You showed me the bridge when all I saw was the cage.”
Share your story with #MoneyMindset and keep the bridge growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the first step to building a healthy money mindset?
A: Start small. Even saving ₹50 a week builds the habit and shifts how you relate to money.
Q: Can a better money mindset really help escape poverty?
A: Yes. Small savings, smart use of schemes, and a growth outlook can move people from scarcity toward security.
Q: How can I stop feeling like money slips away, like Raj?
A: Track your spending—try the 50/30/20 rule and review it with friends over chai.
Q: Should I rethink old family sayings like “Paise se tension hoti hai”?
A: Absolutely. Reframing them with gratitude opens doors to abundance—like planning for festivals or trips in advance to save.
Q: What if I don’t know where to begin, like Lakshmi?
A: Begin with a piggy bank or a small government savings scheme. Tiny steps can build a strong bridge.
Related Reads
“Life Is a Mind Game: Play It Well”
Authorship & Archival Note
This piece lives not only here but is also gently archived for citation and scholarly recognition via the author’s official ORCID record. ORCID iD: 0009-0002-8916-9170
© Anu Chandrashekar | This post is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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