A Year of Money Lessons in Bhubaneswar: How I Went From Spending Without Thinking to Saving Without Regret
When I moved to Bhubaneswar, I thought I had my finances figured out.
After all, I wasn’t living in Mumbai or Delhi — I assumed the smaller city would automatically mean lower expenses, more savings, and a peaceful financial life. But just a few months into my stay, I was looking at my bank balance with disbelief. Where was my money going? I wasn’t shopping for designer clothes or eating at five-star hotels. Yet, somehow, my account was draining faster than I expected.
It took a full year of trial, error, and a few embarrassing “low balance” notifications to understand what was really happening. That year taught me lessons I wish someone had told me earlier — lessons that have nothing to do with earning more, but everything to do with being intentional with what you already have.
The First Wake-Up Call
There’s one evening from my first month that I can never forget. The rain was soft that evening, almost calming, as I walked home from work. I passed by a chai stall near my PG and, feeling tired, decided to treat myself.
One chai led to a plate of pakoras, which somehow turned into ordering dinner from Swiggy because “it’s too wet to cook.” The total bill for that evening? Around ₹350. At the time, it felt harmless. But when I looked at my monthly bank statement later, I realised I’d had eight such “treat myself” evenings. That was ₹2,800 gone without a single memorable outing — just convenience.
That’s when I started noticing a pattern: it wasn’t the big purchases that were eating my savings. It was the small, repeated expenses — the “it’s just ₹200” moments — that quietly added up.
Tracking Every Penny: The Reality Check
I made a conscious decision to track all my expenses for an entire month. Not roughly, not in my head — but with a proper spreadsheet. Rent, groceries, auto fares, snacks, chai, online shopping, everything.
The results were shocking. My rent and basic groceries were fine, but the “miscellaneous” column — a polite word for impulse spending — was taking away almost 25% of my income.
There’s something about seeing numbers in black and white that changes your brain. Suddenly, that ₹500 dinner out with friends looked less like “fun” and more like “two weeks of vegetables.” I wasn’t becoming stingy — I was just seeing the real cost of my habits.
Learning to Say No — Without Feeling Left Out
One of the hardest adjustments was saying no to plans that didn’t fit my budget.
It’s not easy when friends say, “Come on, it’s just one night out.” The fear of missing out is real. But I learned a trick: instead of simply refusing, I suggested cheaper alternatives. Instead of going to a fancy café, we’d grab street food and take a long walk at Indira Gandhi Park. Instead of movie tickets at ₹250 each, we’d have a Netflix night at home with snacks from the local market.
Surprisingly, my friends didn’t mind. Most of them were also trying to save but were too shy to admit it. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to suggest a budget-friendly plan for everyone to feel relieved.
Festival Expenses Are Real
When it comes to money, nothing tests our discipline quite like the festive season in India. Diwali, Durga Puja, weddings — each comes with its own set of expenses.
In my first year, I splurged during Durga Puja without much thought: new clothes, sweets for colleagues, décor for my room. As October closed, I realized my budget had completely fallen apart.
The next year, I handled it differently. I set a festival budget months in advance and started saving for it in small bits. By the time the season arrived, I could shop guilt-free — and more importantly, debt-free. That small change turned what used to be a stressful month into a joyful one.
Swiggy is a Silent Bank Robber
If I had to name one thing that drained my wallet the fastest, it was food delivery apps.
It’s not just the food cost — it’s the delivery charge, packaging fees, and tips. A ₹250 meal suddenly becomes ₹350, and if you do that three times a week, you’re spending over ₹4,000 a month just on food delivery.
So, I made a deal with myself: Swiggy and Zomato were for weekends only, and weekdays were strictly home-cooked. At first, it felt restrictive, but soon it became a fun challenge — finding easy, 15-minute recipes that still felt like “treats.”
One Saturday, I calculated that just by cutting weekday orders, I’d saved over ₹2,500 in a single month. That’s ₹30,000 a year — enough for a short vacation.
Finding Joy in Small Savings
Here’s the thing about saving money: if it feels like punishment, you won’t stick to it.
So I turned it into a game. I started a “₹50 jar” — every time I skipped an unnecessary purchase, I put ₹50 into it. Whether it was skipping an overpriced latte or walking instead of taking an auto, the jar slowly filled up.
After six months, I had over ₹6,000. I used it to buy something I’d been wanting for ages — a beautiful, sturdy backpack for my travels. That one purchase felt better than all the little impulse buys I’d avoided.
Why Bhubaneswar Made This Journey Easier
Living in Bhubaneswar helped in ways I didn’t expect.
The city has a slower pace — there’s less pressure to “keep up” with trends. Local markets are affordable, and there are plenty of free or low-cost experiences: evening walks along the Kalinga Stadium track, visiting temples, or enjoying street food under ₹100.
In a big city, I might have been swept into a cycle of expensive outings just to feel socially connected. Here, I learned that connection comes from people, not price tags.
The Mental Shift That Changed Everything
By the end of the year, something shifted. Saving money stopped feeling like deprivation and started feeling like empowerment. I realised that every rupee I saved wasn’t just sitting in the bank — it was buying me freedom. Freedom to take an unplanned trip, to invest in a course, or to help my family when they needed it.
I no longer thought, “I can’t afford it.” Instead, I asked, “Is this worth my money?” That one question became my biggest financial filter.
Final Thoughts
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone starting out in a new city — whether it’s Bhubaneswar or anywhere else — it would be this: track your spending for one month. Just one. Don’t change anything, just watch. You don’t realize how clear things get—until you finally see it on paper.
Saving money isn’t about denying yourself joy. It’s about choosing the joys that actually matter. And when you start doing it, you’ll notice something powerful: it’s not just about money — it’s about taking charge of your life.
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