Fix Your Relationship With Money if You Want to Break Good

Fear and loathing in the savings bank account

My father had a mostly rational relationship with money, especially for his generation. He didn’t hoard, nor was he reckless. He splurged in bursts. Food, eating out, vacations, the occasional new Onida TV with massive subwoofers. You know. If you ask my mom, she sometimes thinks that he spends too much (not much anymore). She liked her occasional new sarees, too.

Yet, they were a product of their generation.

My dad would rather wait for a rattling, crowded bus for 25 minutes than let an auto driver fleece him by ten rupees. It took me years to convince my parents to take cabs. Flights within India were heresy (still are for domestic travel). “You can afford it. I can afford it for you, too!” I have screamed this for many things to no avail. They still use the cheapest BSNL prepaid plan available. After all these years, my mom has graduated to topping up data when she travels - the 100-odd rupees she still considers wasteful.

Meanwhile, I spend at least 2x that on just coffee every da…