Rent, food, self-care...and no job: The brutal reality of being broke in Bengaluru

If you have ever wondered what being "broke" actually looks like in a city like Bengaluru, one Instagram video is giving a painfully honest answer, and it might hit closer to home than you think.

Nikita, a 30-year-old woman who's been unemployed for seven months, shared a detailed breakdown of her January expenses in a video on her Instagram handle called @social_coded. In the now viral video clip, she explains, step-by-step, how she is surviving without a steady pay cheque.



Rent: Rs 13,000

Food: Rs 8,402 (groceries + eating out—because yes, sometimes you need Uber Eats)

Utilities (electricity, Wi-Fi, phone, gas, water): Rs ___ [Add numbers from text]

Transport & misc.: Rs 4,284

Self-care (facials, waxing, massages): Rs 5,000

Shopping & entertainment: Rs 2,729

SIP investment: Rs 2,000 (yes, she still invests while unemployed)

Regret purchases (astrology app): Rs 800

Now, if you scroll through your bank statement for a month, how many of these categories mentioned above match yours? Could you survive without a pay cheque in Bengaluru?

Well, what this really shows isn't just numbers; it's a perspective. Bengaluru is notoriously expensive, but it is not just the rent or the food that adds up; it is the little everyday choices that stack up into a full-blown financial tightrope.

Nikita’s video is a reality check for Gen Z, who often see money advice online in extremes, either “save every rupee” or “treat yourself always”. The truth?

Life in a city like this is somewhere in between, and it’s messy.



We are told that moving to a city and hustling is what freedom looks like. But independence doesn't just mean paying your own bills; it also means balancing fun, self-care and unexpected expenses while still surviving financially.

Losing a job or facing a financial emergency isn't just a scenario in textbooks; it is real life. In the case of Nikita, she had to borrow Rs 30000 from her mother, and that's a reality many are quietly experiencing.



Expenses like self-care aren't just luxuries; they are survival tools. But paying for them while unemployed is a stress that cuts deep.

Nikita's story is a wake-up call, but not a scary one. It is a reminder that being financially vulnerable is part of modern city life and that planning isn't just smart; it is survival.

So yes, being 30, unemployed and living in Bengaluru might feel like chaos, but it is also a chance to see how far a mix of creativity, planning, and a little parental support can stretch a budget.