Data Scientist’s Viral Post Questions Middle-Class Choices: “That iPhone Could’ve Been a SIP”

A data scientist from Mumbai has started a debate on social media with a strong post about how the middle class in India handles money, loans, and lifestyle.
Monish Gosar shared on LinkedIn that people often feel trapped by the financial system, but in reality, they are part of the problem.

“The middle class is not a victim of the system. They're willing participants,” he said.

Gosar shared the example of a friend who earns ₹15 lakh per year but pays ₹45,000 in EMIs every month. The friend could have bought a ₹3 lakh second-hand car, but instead chose a brand-new ₹10 lakh vehicle.

“I deserve it,” the friend told him. “I work hard.”

“And that's exactly what banks want us to think,” Gosar wrote.

He pointed out how credit card debt in India has doubled to ₹2.92 lakh crore in the last four years, and personal loans have grown by 75 percent. “But nobody forced us to swipe those cards. We did it willingly,” he said.


In a direct tone, he criticised how people choose instant pleasure over long-term financial health. “That iPhone could've been a mutual fund SIP. That fancy dinner could've been an investment. We knew this. We chose differently,” he explained.

According to Gosar, many confuse desires with necessities. “I need this car for office,” he quoted people as saying. “No, you wanted the social status. The AC, leather seats, and brand logo were wants, not needs.”

He also blamed social media for making people feel like they are not earning enough, even when they are among the top 10 percent of earners in the country. “Instagram made us feel poor while earning in the top 10 percent of India. We started competing with people we don't even know,” he said.


Gosar highlighted how people ignore simple financial logic. “36 percent credit card interest vs 12 percent mutual fund returns. We chose to pay banks instead of earning from markets.”

He pointed out that most people make emotional decisions with money. “This EMI is just ₹18,000,” they think, but forget the full cost. “We never calculated the ₹3 lakh total interest we'd pay over 5 years,” he noted.

Gosar observed: “The system didn't trap us. We trapped ourselves. Banks simply offered us the rope. We chose to tie the knots.” He noted that we need to take responsibility for the decisions we make.


“Ultimately, every swipe, every EMI, every loan application was our choice,” he wrote. “The moment we accept this responsibility, we can start making different choices.”

The post has received widespread engagement and praise for its honesty and relevance to the growing middle-class population. - TWL Bureau