The One Shift That Changes Your Entire Financial Life
For years, I have heard this one sentence echo across dining tables, office cabins, and late-night phone calls.
“I can’t afford it.”
It sounds harmless. Responsible, even.
But over the last three decades of working with Indian families, I have learned something uncomfortable:
Most people who say “I can’t afford it” are not poor.
They are unplanned.
I have met senior professionals earning ₹25–40 lakh a year who feel financially stuck.
I have met young couples with dual incomes who postpone every dream.
And I have met retirees who earned well all their lives but now live cautiously, counting every expense.
The problem was never income.
The problem was thinking in scarcity instead of strategy.
This article is about that shift.
A shift that quietly changes how money behaves in your life.
The Day I Understood the Real Meaning of “Affordability”
Early in my career, a client once walked into my office holding his wallet in his hand.
He opened it in front of me.
“Taresh,” he said, “this is what affordability looks like.”
It was empty.
A few months later, after we worked on his cash-flow structure, SIP alignment, and expense clarity, the same client came back — not with a full wallet, but with a notebook.
“This,” he said smiling, “is affordability.”
Inside that notebook was a simple plan:
• Where his money was going
• What was being invested first
• What was consciously postponed
• And what was planned for, month by month
That day, it became clear to me:
Affordability is not about money in your wallet.
It is about clarity in your mind.
Scarcity Thinking: The Silent Wealth Killer
Scarcity thinking does not announce itself loudly.
It sneaks into everyday language.
• “Let’s not spend now… we’ll see later.”
• “Once my salary increases, I’ll start investing.”
• “Right now, survival is more important than planning.”
• “I’ll think about retirement after 45.”
I have seen people postpone financial decisions for 10–15 years waiting for the “right time.”
The truth is harsh but necessary:
There is never a right time for planning. There is only a right approach.
Scarcity thinking keeps you reacting to life.
Strategy allows you to design it.
Strategy Thinking: When Money Starts Listening to You
When someone shifts from scarcity to strategy, three visible changes happen.
1. Money Gets a Role, Not Just a Balance
Most people look at their bank balance and decide what to do.
Strategic planners do the opposite.
They decide:
• How much must be protected
• How much must grow
• How much can be spent guilt-free
Then they allow money to flow accordingly.
I often tell my clients:
Unassigned money disappears. Assigned money multiplies.
2. Investing Becomes a Priority, Not an Afterthought
One of the biggest mindset errors I see is this order:
Income → Expenses → Whatever is left → Savings
Strategy reverses it:
Income → Investments → Life expenses → Enjoyment
The moment investing becomes non-negotiable, affordability automatically increases over time.
That is how people who “couldn’t afford” things at 30 suddenly afford them comfortably at 45.
Not through luck.
Through structure.
3. Guilt Reduces, Confidence Increases
Unplanned spending creates guilt.
Planned spending creates confidence.
When a vacation, a gadget, or a lifestyle upgrade is planned, it stops feeling irresponsible.
You enjoy it fully.
Because you know your future is already funded.
A Young Couple, Two Incomes, Zero Direction
A young working couple once told me:
“We earn well, but we don’t feel settled.”
On paper, everything looked fine.
In reality, their money had no direction.
After building a simple structure:
• Emergency safety first
• SIPs aligned to goals
• Fixed monthly lifestyle buckets
• Annual upgrades planned in advance
Six months later, the wife said something I still remember:
“For the first time, I don’t feel scared of spending.”
That is what planning does.
It replaces fear with permission.
Why Budgeting Alone Doesn’t Work (And Planning Does)
Many people confuse budgeting with planning.
Budgeting controls money.
Planning empowers money.
A rigid budget feels like punishment.
A strategic plan feels like partnership.
When I work with families, we don’t ask:
“How much can you cut?”
We ask:
“How should your money serve your life?”
That one question changes everything.
The Shift That Truly Matters
The most powerful sentence you can say about money is not:
“I earn more now.”
It is:
“I know where my money is going, and why.”
When that clarity arrives:
• Dreams stop feeling expensive
• Goals stop feeling distant
• Money stops feeling stressful
You stop asking, “Can I afford this?”
And start saying, “I’m planning for it.”
That sentence carries confidence.
And confidence compounds faster than money.
Financial Planning Is Not About Numbers. It Is About Behaviour.
After guiding thousands of Indian families, I can say this with certainty:
People don’t fail financially because of bad markets.
They fail because of no structure.
Markets fluctuate.
Life surprises.
Income changes.
But a plan absorbs shocks.
A plan gives direction.
A plan protects dignity.
That is why I say this often:
Financial Planning is the Real Wealth.
Because a Plan is Greater Than a Salary.
⸻
My Closing Thought for You
If you are reading this and feel stuck financially, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself honestly:
• Do I lack money… or clarity?
• Do I need more income… or better structure?
• Am I avoiding decisions… or designing my future?
The shift begins the day you stop saying,
“I can’t afford it.”
And start saying,
“I’m planning for it.”
That one decision can quietly change the next 30 years of your life.
Connect With Me & Begin Your Structured Journey
CFP® Taresh Bhatia
Founder – The Richness Academy
Guiding Indian families
Financial Planning for every life stage — designing structured roadmaps for families, where every rupee has direction and purpose.
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The author of this article, Taresh Bhatia, is a Certified Financial Planner® and advocate for female empowerment. For more information and personalized financial guidance, please contact taresh@tareshbhatia.com
He has authored an Amazon best seller-“The Richness Principles”. He is the Coach and founder of The Richness Academy, an online coaching courses forum. This article serves educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consultation with a qualified financial professional is recommended before making any investment decisions. An educational purpose article only and not any advice whatsoever.
©️2025: All Rights Reserved. Taresh Bhatia. Certified Financial Planner®
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