Why would someone earning a monthly income of 20k still feel worried? For many working adults, a monthly income of 20k represents a major milestone, a level that often takes years of effort to reach. Logically, it should bring a sense of security. Yet in reality, many people who achieve this income feel more anxious than ever. I used to question this myself.
After years of financial planning experience and careful observation, I gradually realized that income alone does not guarantee peace of mind especially for people in their thirties. In actual fact, people earning 20k a month are rarely in low-pressure jobs. Many face constant overtime, frequent business travel, weekend work, and even working through public holidays. Some managers have to travel across regions or overseas multiple times a year. Under such sustained pressure, anxiety becomes almost inevitable. To cope with stress, many turn to emotional spending: Buying luxury items they don’t truly need, dining frequently at expensive restaurants as a reward or spending freely on overseas vacations without a budget. These behaviours offer short-term relief, but over time, they create financial strain. Despite earning more, many are left with little savings at the end of the year or worse, a cash deficit.
Another major source of anxiety is excessive debt. In their thirties, many people purchase properties or cars without carefully calculating a healthy debt-to-income or debt-to-asset ratio. As a result, more than half of their monthly income goes directly towards loan repayments. In addition, whatever remaining income after loan repayments will be spent according to a “20k lifestyle” that covers living expenses, social activities, and daily costs. There is little room left for savings, emergency funds, or retirement planning. When people realize they are earning well but unable to accumulate wealth, anxiety naturally follows.
People in their thirties also face increasing family commitments. They worry not only about their current income, but about whether they can sustain it. Elderly parents may require nursing care. Young children may need nannies or caregivers. For single-income households or only children, the responsibility is even heavier. Family responsibilities turn their income into a constant pressure. Even if they can afford these expenses today, many constantly worry about what would happen if they were unable to work due to illness or unexpected events. This ongoing pressure has contributed to delayed marriages and lower birth rates in modern society.
Most people in their thirties have spent over a decade building their careers, often in large or mid-sized companies. Mortgages, car loans, and family obligations are common at this stage of life. However, constant worry does not improve financial outcomes. What truly makes a difference is holistic financial planning which include managing cash flow wisely, structuring debt within healthy limits and preparing for life risks and retirement assets. In conclusion, worrying doesn’t solve financial problems but planning does.
Learning how to optimize money rather than simply earning more is what leads to a richer and more worry-free future. Anxiety is understandable at this stage of life, but ignoring financial reality only deepens it. When planning replaces avoidance, and structure replaces impulse, true security becomes possible. A monthly income of 20k is not the finish line. It is the beginning of a new set of responsibilities and decisions.
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