Debt-Free at 35: UP Man’s Inspiring Journey to Owning Two Homes

A viral Reddit post has caught the internet’s attention for a real-life story of financial discipline. A man from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, shared how he went from a modest start to owning two apartments in Noida and Bengaluru and becoming almost debt-free by age 35.

He described his path not as a dramatic overnight success but as a result of consistent effort, planning and perseverance.

Modest Beginnings and Early Challenges

Born in 1990, the Redditor began his career in 2013 with a first job in Noida that paid just ₹7,000 per month. Despite being an average student and facing several rejections in job placements after taking a technical course in Bengaluru, he did not give up. After more than 45 interview rejections, he finally landed a better-paying job.

Read More - How This 25-Year-Old Paid Off ₹10 Lakh Debt in Just 1 Year—Her Secret Strategy

He says that the turning point was a piece of advice from a senior HR colleague: treat saving money like a non-negotiable monthly bill and avoid credit cards altogether. This mindset helped him stay focused and avoid unnecessary spending.

Smart Saving and Investing

He began by setting up tax-saving fixed deposits, earning solid interest, and later diversified into SIPs and stocks. Over time, his savings began to grow steadily.

By 2018, he had saved around ₹5 lakh, and received a ₹2 lakh bonus from a new job. With help from his father for a ₹7 lakh down payment, he bought his first apartment in Noida, taking a home loan of about ₹55–60 lakh. He committed to paying 14 EMIs a year instead of 12, using bonuses and extra payments to reduce the loan faster.

Second Home and Wise Choices

In 2021 he married, and soon after, when his wife was expecting their first child, they moved back to Bengaluru. There, they bought their second home with a ₹40 lakh loan, and also took a ₹10 lakh loan for a car.

Also Read - This Loan-Free Life Strategy Made Me Debt-Free by 35
 

Over the years, he had taken three loans totalling over ₹1 crore, but through disciplined repayment he has already cleared about 75–80% of the debt. He chooses to keep the remaining loan partly for tax benefits rather than pay it all off immediately.

Key Lessons from His Journey

In his Reddit post, he highlights several principles that helped him:

• Treat savings like a fixed monthly bill.
• Avoid credit cards to stay out of impulsive debt.
• Track every expense and live within means.
• Use bonuses and extra income wisely (such as for part-payments on loans).
• Stay disciplined and consistent over time.

His message is simple but powerful: you don’t need a big salary or extraordinary luck. With patience, clear goals and financial discipline, it’s possible to achieve financial freedom—even owning homes and being nearly debt-free by 35.