A social media post by an NRI detailing a $120,000 (around Rs 1.12 crore) job offer in the United States and an outstanding $40,000 student loan has gone viral after she said she plans to return to India soon after completing her master’s degree, citing loneliness and depression abroad.
In a Reddit post, the user said she is about to complete her MS programme in Indiana and had got a job in Austin, Texas, with a $100,000 base salary and a total compensation of $120,000.
Despite the offer, she said she is depressed and want to move back to India after saving as much as possible.
“Hey guys, need a help badly. I’m about to finish my MS from Indiana. Got 120k (100k base) offer in Austin. I have about 40k dollar loan pending,” the user said.
She also asked for guidance on managing her finances, loan repayment, and potential savings timeline before leaving the US.
“I’m too depressed right now and just want to save as much as possible before returning. Could someone give me rough estimate about how much will I have in-hand & how much can I save roughly in 3/4 years?” she asked.
The post triggered widespread discussion online, with users weighing in on financial planning and emotional wellbeing. Several advised prioritising repayment of the education loan in US dollars before considering relocation.
One user said, “Clearing the loan and saving ~125k is achievable. No state taxes is an added bonus. Since you can’t get by without a car in Texas, buy a beater car, and have flatmates. Do not get a brand new or a fairly used car.”
Another commented on the financial math behind her goal, writing, “Honestly, the math doesn’t math for me… With your loan and your savings goal you need around 200K. Doing that in 3 years means you invest 60K a year (which is basically impossible)..and hope it goes up. 6 years is do-able IMO.”
A third user focused on wellbeing and stability, adding, “Your primary objective should be to pay off your loan while you can earn in USD. Try to make friends who have similar interests. Austin is good place for outdoor activities. That should help your current mental health situation.”