Reaching ₹1 Crore Net Worth by 25: FIRE Lessons from a Young Indian Engineer

#FIRE India#Net Worth Milestones#SDE Salary India#RSUs#Frugal Living#Personal Finance#Kakeibo#Budgeting India

6/21/2025

It’s not every day that a 25-year-old shares how they hit ₹1.1 crore in net worth. But that’s exactly what a Redditor recently posted — and there’s a lot we can learn from it. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or actively pursuing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), this story is packed with real, applicable insights.


A Snapshot of His Financials

Here’s how the numbers break down:

  • RSUs: ₹65L
  • Mutual Funds: ₹35L
  • Provident Fund: ₹7L
  • Savings Account: ₹3L

Total Net Worth: ₹1.1 Crore

He’s a Software Development Engineer (SDE-2) at a top tech company, working since graduating in 2021. The biggest contributors? RSU appreciation, mutual fund gains, and consistent salary growth.


Start Strong, Save Aggressively

In his own words, he began by saving nearly 80% of his salary during the initial months of his career — especially when working from home with fewer expenses.

This phase, where your income begins to grow but expenses remain low, is powerful. It’s where you can build momentum and deploy capital toward long-term wealth.

If you’re unsure how to start, check out our article on Can Kakeibo Help If You Live Paycheck to Paycheck?


Build Wealth with Equity and SIPs

His portfolio is equity-heavy — and that’s by design. Most of his gains came from stock-based compensation (RSUs) and mutual fund appreciation.

This is a good reminder that equity can be a core pillar of wealth building, especially in your 20s. Understanding your compensation structure, and setting up automated SIPs into diverse mutual funds, can help you build long-term capital.

For more practical steps, explore our related piece on Kakeibo vs the 50/30/20 Rule


Balance Between Frugality and Lifestyle

Despite his high savings rate, he still takes one international and a couple of domestic vacations each year. That’s intentional living, not deprivation.

He’s not trying to retire tomorrow. He’s enjoying the ride while planning responsibly — a mindset perfectly aligned with the Kakeibo method.

Kakeibo doesn’t just help you cut costs. It helps you ask: Do I really need this? That question alone can reshape your spending habits over time.


Midway Reflection: FIRE Isn’t a Race

If you’re curious to see the original discussion, you can read the full post here on Reddit.

He doesn’t claim to have all the answers. He’s not rushing toward retirement. He’s just setting milestones and making steady progress. His next target? ₹3 Crore by age 30.

This approach is a lot like the journey we covered in our post on Going from 1 Crore to 2 Crores in 1.5 Years


FIRE Goals Evolve — And That’s Okay

The future is uncertain. And he acknowledges that. Yet setting goals like “₹3 Cr at 30” gives direction, even if the path changes.

This is why tools like Kakeibo matter. They let you reflect regularly on whether your financial goals still align with your lifestyle and values.

For deeper insight into this mindset, check out The Psychology Behind Kakeibo


Final Thoughts: Your Income Isn’t Everything — Habits Are

You don’t need to be in big tech or earn seven figures to start your FIRE journey.

What matters more is:

  • Saving early, even in small amounts
  • Building habits around reflection and review
  • Tracking what matters, not just what’s easy

Systems like Kakeibo aren’t about complex financial plans. They’re about creating awareness — and through awareness, progress.


Want to try it yourself?
Download our free Kakeibo budgeting template and use it to reflect on your spending this month.

You might be surprised how far intentionality can take you — even before you earn your first crore.