Big Weddings, Flashy Cars: Is This Wealth or Just Wishful Thinking?

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There’s a lively debate happening right now in India’s financial circles: Are we confusing spending on lifestyle with actually building wealth? It’s a question that’s come up after financial experts like Sanjay Kathuria started pointing out how things like new cars, gold jewelry, and even lavish weddings are often called “investments”—but in reality, they might be holding us back from true financial growth.

Let’s break it down:

Cars and EMIs: Buying a car on a loan feels like a big achievement, but the moment you drive it out of the showroom, it starts losing value. It’s not something that puts money back in your pocket.
Gold in Lockers: India loves gold, but most of it just sits in lockers for years. It doesn’t grow, earn interest, or help in an emergency unless you sell it.
Weddings as Investments: Spending lakhs on a wedding might make for great photos, but it’s money you’ll never see again. The memories last, but so do the EMIs.
Lifestyle Creep: As people earn more, they tend to spend more—on gadgets, vacations, and upgrades. But if savings and investments don’t keep up, you’re just running in place.

Experts say real wealth comes from things like mutual funds, SIPs, upskilling, and building assets that actually grow over time. In the end, it’s not about how much you spend, but how much you save, invest, and let compound for your future.

Source: Business Today, India Today, Economic Times