New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- A Rs.2 lakh monthly salary can look impressive on paper. But income alone does not determine how financially secure someone becomes. What matters just as much is how much of that income remains available after lifestyle commitments.

Consider Aryan and Kartik. Both have around six years of corporate experience and a take-home salary of close to Rs.2 lakh a month. Yet their financial lives are moving in very different directions.

Aryan has nearly Rs.70,000 tied up in EMIs for a premium phone, gaming console, furniture, and a vacation. He invests only about Rs.15,000 a month.

Kartik has no lifestyle EMIs, invests close to Rs.90,000 every month, and has already built an emergency fund. They have the same salary but ve...