A professional earning ₹50,000 per month has sparked an online debate after seeking advice on whether to purchase a ₹2 lakh bike through a loan to cut down on monthly commute expenses.
Current Expenses and Dilemma
The Reddit user said, “Since last 3 years hike has been almost negligible”. He spends around ₹4,000-₹5,000 a month on Ola, Uber and other ride hailing apps for daily office commute and errands. With rent of ₹12,000, education loan EMI of ₹5,500 and other monthly expenses like groceries and utilities, commuting has become a concern.
They explained that buying a bike would require a loan of at least ₹1.5 to ₹1.8 lakh, considering interest rates. On average, they travel 10 km daily for office, and 15–18 km when including gym and errands. Despite having 5–6 months’ worth of savings, they are reluctant to dip into it for the purchase.
Reddit Users Offer Alternatives
One user commented, “Why don’t reduce the budget of bike. Also the expensive bike will require more fuel and maintenance. Go for honda shine or something like that.”
Another added, “I would say plan you day ahead and go for public transport that extra 2-3 K will act as a buffer or saving and will accumulate well for six months. More importantly you can look to up skill yourself and apply for a higher paying job with that saving. City life is tough but unless you have earning power it will keep getting tougher”
The post has drawn mixed reactions, with some advocating for a budget-friendly two-wheeler and others suggesting public transport to save money and focus on career growth.