At 21, many college students are still figuring out how to manage their monthly pocket money. But a young woman from Mumbai has taken on a much bigger financial responsibility: paying her own engineering college fees while managing rent, groceries, shopping and investments.The fourth-year engineering student recently shared a breakdown of her October spending in a social media video, offering a glimpse into how she manages her money. What caught people’s attention was not just the amount she spent, but the fact that she decided to pay her own college fees after her father supported her education during the initial years.Her October financial breakdown included a major one-time payment of Rs 2.73 lakh towards her engineering education. Alongside this, she continued to invest Rs 40,000 through systematic investment plans (SIPs), even while handling several other expenses.
From father’s support to paying her own engineering fees
The biggest entry in her October expense list was her fourth-year engineering college fee of Rs 2,73,000. She explained that her father had taken care of her college fees during the first two years of engineering. However, once she started earning, she decided to take responsibility for the expense herself. For a 21-year-old student, paying such a substantial amount towards education represents a significant financial commitment. Rather than continuing to depend entirely on her family, she chose to use her own earnings to fund her studies.Another interesting part of her financial routine is the Rs 23,000 she pays every month as rent to her parents. Although she currently lives with them, she explained that the payment is part of her preparation for moving out soon. This means that even before shifting into a separate home, she has started accounting for housing as a regular monthly responsibility.
Groceries, shopping and subscriptions: Where the rest went
Once the education fee and rent are accounted for, her remaining expenses offer a closer look at her everyday lifestyle. Groceries cost her Rs 11,000 during October. Shopping came next at Rs 9,300, with her mother’s birthday celebrations and Diwali contributing to the higher spending. Eating out, on the other hand, was relatively limited at Rs 2,700. Her digital subscriptions also formed a noticeable part of the monthly budget. She spent Rs 6,300 on services including Claude, Meta, Spotify, Edit and InShot.These subscriptions reflect the different digital tools and entertainment services she uses. While individual subscriptions may appear inexpensive, their combined cost can become a considerable monthly commitment. Her spending also included travel, although she did not disclose the exact amount.
Rs 40,000 goes into investments despite heavy expenses
Perhaps the most interesting part of her October breakdown was her approach to saving and investing. Despite paying Rs 2.73 lakh in college fees and managing her other expenses, she continued investing Rs 40,000 through SIPs. She also clarified that investments should not technically be considered expenses, even though the money is deducted from her account every month.A systematic investment plan allows an individual to invest a fixed amount at regular intervals in mutual funds. Instead of investing a large sum at once, SIPs help investors build a disciplined investment habit over time. Her decision to continue investing alongside her education and lifestyle expenses highlights how she is trying to balance present financial responsibilities with future financial goals.Based on the figures she shared, her October spending came to Rs 3,25,300, or approximately Rs 3.25 lakh, excluding investments and unspecified travel costs. When the additional Rs 40,000 invested through SIPs is included, the total amount allocated during the month rises to Rs 3,65,300, or approximately Rs 3.65 lakh, excluding travel.
Internet users praise her financial independence
Her video also attracted attention from social media users, several of whom appreciated her financial independence and willingness to take responsibility for her education. One user complimented her potential, writing, “You have that face and vibe that you will do something big in future.” Another commented, “So proud of you to have this spending power.” A third user was interested in learning from her financial decisions and wrote, “Need financial advice from you.“Her spending breakdown offers a reminder that financial independence is not simply about earning money. It also involves taking responsibility for major expenses, understanding where money goes and making room for investments. For this 21-year-old, October involved a sizeable education payment, everyday spending and a substantial investment contribution. And while the total may appear high, much of it came from a one-time college fee rather than recurring monthly expenses.
