Living Smart in a Costly City: 22-Year-Old Intern Manages Bengaluru Expenses Within ₹18,000 Budget
A 22-year-old SDE intern in Bengaluru, Amy Arora, goes viral for managing her monthly expenses within ₹18,000. Her detailed budget breakdown, including rent, food, and hobbies, has sparked debate on smart living, financial planning, and affordability in costly cities.
The girl, identified as Amy Arora, works as a Software Development Engineer (SDE) intern. In her Instagram video, she revealed that she manages all her monthly expenses within just ₹18,000. The video quickly gained traction, with many users praising her simplicity and well-planned lifestyle.
Amy resides in a paying guest (PG) accommodation, where her rent is approximately ₹7,200, forming the largest portion of her budget. For food, she relies on a mess facility, which costs her around ₹3,600 per month. This arrangement helps her avoid the high costs associated with renting expensive flats and frequent dining outside.
Since she goes to the office only two days a week, her transportation expenses remain limited to about ₹1,600. Additionally, she allocates nearly ₹2,000 for eating out or ordering food online and sets aside an equal amount for online shopping. She also keeps around ₹1,500 for other essential expenses.
Significantly, she does not abandon her hobbies but manages them wisely. Amy balances her interests and activities effectively, participating in experiences such as pizza-making
workshops through collaborations. This allows her to gain new experiences without incurring high costs. Her approach is being viewed as a practical and smart idea for today’s youth.
Her budget breakdown has sparked varied reactions on social media. While many users described it as practical and inspiring, others argued that maintaining such a strict budget may not be feasible for everyone. One user commented that they also managed to live in Bengaluru on approximately ₹20,000 earlier, while another described her lifestyle as balanced and sensible.
The viral story highlights a growing conversation around financial discipline, minimalism, and the redefinition of comfortable living in expensive urban environments.

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