How much does a breakup really cost — Are you prepared for financial reality?
In India, where relationships are becoming more independent and financially entangled, budgeting for a breakup isn't just smart, it's essential. Whether you're dating, live-in, or navigating a situationship, here's why you must prepare your bank balance for heartbreak.
That Goa trip? Booked. Those anniversary gifts? Swiped on a credit card. Shared Zomato Gold? Split down the middle. But when the love story ends, the financial story doesn't.
In a country where "couple goals" often means planning mini-vacations and buying gifts to keep up with Instagram reels, many young Indians forget to calculate the real cost of love—and the even higher cost of losing it.
Breakup budget tip: Always keep shared expenses transparent. Use UPI-based apps like Splitwise or SettleUp. If you're booking something expensive (like flights or furniture), get it in your name only if you're okay bearing the full cost later.
In metros, live-in relationships are rising despite societal scrutiny. But when a breakup hits, someone's left scrambling for a new flat, brokerage, deposit, packers, movers—and probably a crying session or two.
Suddenly, that ₹ 40K shared rent becomes a solo burden. Or worse, you have to move out within a week, thanks to a fight or a judgmental landlord.
Breakup budget tip: Build a 'Freedom Fund'—at least ₹ 50,000 stashed away for emergencies like sudden moves or solo rent. Think of it as your emotional insurance.
Netflix. Spotify. Prime. Google One. Couple accounts save money—until they don't. Breakups bring awkward 'Who gets the password?' fights. Worse, your ex's new date might be chilling on your Netflix.
Breakup budget tip: Use family plans with actual family. Or if you're sharing, create separate profiles and payment methods. Keep digital independence—it's cheaper than emotional baggage.
Heartbreak = Swiggy binge + Zara spree + impulsive Goa tickets. Emotional spending is real. For many Indians, buying feels like healing. But swiping your sadness leads to long-term pain.
Breakup budget tip: Give yourself a fixed 'healing budget.' Take ₹ 5K– ₹ 10K and spend it guilt-free on food, therapy, or a trip. Beyond that, rein it in. There are apps on Google Play Store and Apple Store to help you track and cap spending.
This one's for serious couples. Bought crypto together? Booked a flat under both names? Opened a joint account? Congratulations, you now have a legal entanglement post-breakup.
India doesn't recognise live-in breakups like divorces, so sorting joint assets can be a nightmare.
Breakup budget tip: Unless you're legally married, or have serious commitments, don't invest together. In fact, when investing together in gold, mutual funds, or business, use written contracts.
Breakups will take a toll on your emotional health. Therapy cost usually ranges between ₹ 500 to ₹ 3000 per session, and they are rarely covered by insurance.
Breakup budget tip: Make sure you factor in mental health into your financial plan. And use affordable online therapy resources. Good mental health leads to good financial decisions.
Indians are romanticising their relationship beyond tradition, yet they are often stuck in traditional practices regarding finances. We plan for marriages, not for breakups. But the practical fact of the matter is that without a budget, a break-up can hijack not just your heart, but your soul, money, and sense of security.
Whether you're swiping on Bumble or celebrating your third anniversary, financial independence and a breakup budget are non-negotiable.
Remember that you can not control when love ends, but you can control how broken it leaves you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
NRI shocked by high prices in India: ‘Kitna paisa hai tum logon ke paas?'
A Dubai-based Indian travel vlogger and radio presenter has gone viral for his candid rant on the high cost-of-living in India. Parikshit Balochi said that as an NRI earning in dirhams, he expected to feel rich every time he returned to India. Instead, the reality has been quite sobering. Dubai-based NRI Parikshit Balochi is shocked by the high prices in India(Instagram/@parikshitbalochi) 'I am an NRI, I was not supposed to feel gareeb (poor) in India,' he said in an Instagram video that has collected over half a million views. During his rant about how expensive India feels, Balochi presented the example of a humble cup of chai that cost him ₹1,000 at his Mumbai hotel. ' ₹1,000 is what we used to put on the stock market when I left India. What is happening?' he asked. From dirhams and dollars to rupees For many decades now, NRIs have enjoyed returning to their motherland because after earning in dollars and dirhams and euros, the Indian rupee feels significantly stronger, making luxuries and experiences more affordable. That is no longer the case, according to Dubai-based Balochi. 'Doston, we had a deal. The deal was I come to India, everything feels cheap. Main paisa udaaun because main dirhams aur dollars mein kama raha hun (I spend lavishly because I earn in dirhams and dollars),' he said on Instagram. 'Dirhams ko rupees mein convert karke kaise shock lag sakta hai yar? It was supposed to be the other way around,' he asked. For some context, one UAE dirham equals around 23.83 Indian rupees. High prices in India In his humorous rant, Parikshit Balochi quipped that he hadn't left India so he could return and sort prices from low to high. He further wondered how much Indians today earn to afford this lifestyle. 'I was supposed to come here and flex. Instead, I have spent so much that I'm looking for a flexible payment plan,' the travel blogger quipped. 'Yahan pe logon se puch raha hun, kitna paisa hai bhai tumhare paas (I'm asking people here how much money they have),' he added. NRIs agree The video drew a number of amused reactions, while some expressed genuine concern about the skyrocketing prices in India. 'Finally someone said it. Prices are skyrocketing in India, that too with dropping quality,' wrote one Instagram user. 'Hahahaha I feel this every time I visit India. My mind is blown at how everything is so expensive and sure, I can afford it because I earn in dollars. But what really amazes me is how the locals manage too, without earning in dollars,' another revealed. 'I was thinking am I the only one who feels gareeb after coming to India,' one user added.
NDTV
15 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Tariffing India Won't Stop Putin": US Democrats Panel Amid Trump's Tariff Row
New Delhi: The US House Foreign Affairs Committee of Democrats, the Democratic panel overseeing foreign policy, differed with US President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff move with India over Russian oil trade, saying that it "won't stop" Vladimir Putin from continuing the Ukraine war. According to the panel, Trump could give Ukraine military aid to punish Putin. "Tariffing India won't stop Putin. If Trump really wanted to address Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, maybe punish Putin and give Ukraine the military aid it needs. Everything else is smoke and mirrors," the Democratic panel said. Tariffing India won't stop Putin. If Trump really wanted to address Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, maybe punish Putin and give Ukraine the military aid it needs. Everything else is smoke and mirrors. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) August 15, 2025 The Democratic panel's remarks came in response to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent 's warning New Delhi of increasing secondary tariffs over the Russian oil trade. During an interview with Bloomberg, Bessent said that the rise in tariffs depends on the outcome of Trump's high-stakes meeting with Putin in Alaska - which concluded today with "productive talks". "We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up. I think everyone has been frustrated with President Putin. We expected that he would come to the table in a more fulsome way. It looks like he may be ready to negotiate," he said. Besent was also asked about China being the main purchaser of Russia's crude oil. To this, he said, "Not going to get ahead of the president, but the president is the best at creating leverage for himself, and he will make it clear to President Putin that all options are on the table." Last week, Trump announced an extra 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports as a 'penalty' for continuing to import Russian crude oil - doubling it to 50 per cent on Indian goods. This is the highest tariff Trump has imposed as per his fresh list, apart from Brazil. India condemned the "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" move by the United States - which is likely to hit many sectors such as textiles and marine exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also issued a strong message stressing that India would never compromise with the interests of its farmers and fishermen, adding that while he knows he will "have to pay the price", he was ready to do it for farmers. "The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen. And I know that I will have to pay a huge price for this personally, but I am ready. India is ready, for the sake of the country's farmers, fishermen, and livestock holders," he said.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Suhail Chandhok exclusive on growing a team in non-cricket market: 'We are a nation that loves heroes, not necessarily the sport'
U Mumba CEO and TV presenter Suhail Chandhok, in this exclusive chat with Firstpost, spoke about the challenges he faces as sports administrator, India's sporing culture and the future of Indian sports. Suhail Chandhok has worn many hats, including those of a cricketer, an actor, a TV presenter, and now CEO of U Mumba. However, he says that the transition to the administration side of this industry was 'natural' for him. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Suhail spoke about his journey, the challenges of being a young CEO, and his belief in building the right team culture. His love for sport began on the field, and when his playing days ended, he found a job as a TV presenter/commentator, doing stints for the Pro Kabaddi League, the Indian Premier League, and other sports. Now, Suhail has moved to the business side with kabaddi becoming his launchpad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the financial side, Suhail revealed that sponsorship for non-cricket leagues hovers between Rs 3.5-5 crore a season, but he stressed that media rights are the real game-changer and play a big role in revenue generation. Suhail urged that more media platforms must back Indian sports. 'I think sponsorship is always something that is going to dictate a measure of success in some sense but I think that's not necessarily right, because sponsorship is only one metric of value. For instance, yes, you know, some teams are more successful than, let's say, three or four other leagues, whether it be volleyball, kho-kho, tennis, or badminton.' 'However, I think there is value that each sport brings to its own niche. Having said that, it has roughly been around the four to five crore mark in terms of sponsorship. That goes up and down, it yo-yos between three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half, five crores per season. 'Media rights are a big unlocking value, and I think we have to understand that media rights will always drive the overall value of a sport, of a franchise, of a team. That will continue to dictate value. However, that's where the market plays a big role. Today, we're again heading into what is potentially a monopoly market of Jio and Star coming together and I do hope that unlocking value continues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suhail also warned about the growing trend of big conglomerates controlling all the stakes in major sporting leagues in India, especially in terms of broadcast. 'We shouldn't lean on a monopoly market. I do hope to see more and more media houses come in that want to house sport, whether it be global entities entering India, like Netflix and the WWE deal. It's a great dictate for what the future of sport might look like. When you look at the effect that a Formula 1 movie has had, or a Drive to Survive show has had, or WWE now being on Netflix, I do hope more global platforms look at Indian sport and Indian leagues as a potential. I think the next ten years are going to be very strong for India, and more platforms need to enter the market.' Suhail on taking PKL to next level The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has already grown into one of the biggest sporting leagues in India, second only to the IPL in stature. Suhail opened up about the gaps that can be filled by the PKL organisers to make the league even bigger in India. 'I think listening to the franchises' needs a little bit more is important. All of us – all 12 teams – are looking to work with the PKL to grow the sport. What we need to do is unlock the true value of the sport. While the league, as an entity, is largely owned by the broadcaster, I think we still need to separate the two and work with the teams, the stakeholders of the sport, and others who are genuinely trying to promote it.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We must also clamp down on any rubbish that's going on. We need to be very stern and focused on the progress of the sport in one clear direction. The league has done a fabulous job of building it to where it is today, but now it's the league's responsibility to take it up an extra notch. How do we commit to the future of the sport when we already have such strong stakeholders?' 'In terms of stature, I think only the IPL is a rival. We have the Kotak family, the Screwvala family, the Adanis, JSW, the Bachchans, Capri Global, and other private investors in the mix. This is a strong core group of team owners who are not looking for a quick exit, which means the sport is in safe hands. When the sport is in safe hands, it's our responsibility to stay true to it, unlock its value, and not stunt its growth.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suhail believes that it is important to support new entrants because it will only help the sport grow. 'It's equally important to support others around the sport who are trying to do good for it. At Elev8 India Sports, we follow a 'copyleft' policy – we want to see more and more people come in. It's not about copyright and blocking; it's about allowing people to enter, contribute, and help the sport grow. Kabaddi is still at a nascent stage, so we need more people to talk about it, work for it, and build it up. Blocking new entrants will only curb enthusiasm and growth.' Suhail stressed that growing the sport is not just the league's job, but a shared duty for everyone involved. 'Everyone has a responsibility to help the sport grow. At the same time, we must educate players about what is right and wrong. Addressing certain issues today will help the sport clean up its act for the future as well.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suhail on issues non-cricket leagues face Suhail also talked about the challenges that a growing sport like kabaddi faces. He said that when big money enters a sport suddenly, it can sometimes distract players from the true motivation of why they started playing in the first place. 'When a lot of money comes into the sport very very quickly, players stop understanding what the true value of why they are playing this game. You start to play for the auction or you start to play for your personal value rather than the value of a team. I think it's only very natural. It happened with the IPL when there was sudden unlocking of value where players started playing for their franchises rather than playing for their nations. Rather than committing to the calender of a country, they started playing where the money was. That is happening with kabaddi as well and I think helping players understand why they are playing this sport, why the sport has give them so much.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'So, player education is important. At Elev8 India Sportz Yuva Series we do a lot of financial literacy, we do a lot player psychology, we work with players understand anti-corruption, what their true value is.' Suhail on positive and negative trends in non-cricket leagues Suhail said the most promising sign is that Indian sports culture is slowly expanding beyond cricket. However, he pointed out that India's tendency to idolise individuals rather than the sport itself is a major issue. 'I think the trend is that we are leaning towards not just cricket. And I think that's something that has to happen for a country to become a true sporting nation. Firstly, there's one big challenge in India: we are a nation that loves heroes and not necessarily the sport. When I worked on the badminton league, people would rush to watch your PV Sindhu versus Saina Nehwal.' 'But when you had a Carolina Marin facing off against a world number two and number one at the time, the stadium would be empty. So we appreciate heroes and not the sport, and I think that needs to change for India to take steps towards becoming a true sporting nation. However, look at the flip side — while we turned up in large numbers to watch a javelin event, we may have all turned up in 10,000 numbers to watch a Neeraj Chopra.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But when you get there and watch Neeraj Chopra, you start to understand what the sport of javelin even is. So I think it takes a hero to bring about awareness to a sport and vice versa. But at the same time, I do hope that while 10-15,000 people turned up to watch a javelin event in Bangalore — and I think that's a sign that India is heading in the right direction — I hope that tomorrow, when Neeraj Chopra is not necessarily the only guy that's there, at least 5,000 people do turn up to watch a javelin event.' 'And I think that's going to be the hallmark of success going forward. Because while we are talking about a 2036 Olympic bid, I hope that we understand that we have to build sporting culture, and that starts with everyone playing a sport. When you play a sport, you'll automatically tune into watching a sport. And I think that's what I want for all of us to do.' 'But I think the trend is very positive — more and more people are taking to a tennis court, a badminton court, a table tennis table, a pickleball court, a paddle court, playing football with their friends, playing kabaddi with their friends in their neighborhood.' Suhail on turning down offers from IPL teams Suhail revealed that he turned down management offers from teams in three different sports, including IPL franchises, before joining U Mumba at what he called 'the right time.' 'I unfortunately can't give you a full disclosure on those. All I will say is it's been across three different sports. I think the timing was such that it came at the right time with kabaddi. Since then, there's been a couple of others as well, including IPL teams. I will come back to I guess cricket in many ways and forms was one opportunity that, that came and went. I just thought that it would've taken a much bigger commitment in terms of time, and I don't think I would've been able to do broadcast at all if I took on a slightly larger commitment as well,' he said. 'Uh, but also I think it was the ability to do it at the right time, right? And I've always been someone that believes that things happen when they need to happen. And I think, you know, saying yes to the right opportunity is absolutely critical as well. There have been opportunities not just in India, but outside of India as well — again, very exciting stuff. And it's always nice to know you're wanted, right? I think that means you're doing something right.' Suhail on his equation with U Mumba owner Ronnie Screwvala While Suhail doesn't own a stake in U Mumba, he has full autonomy in running things as a CEO. He also acknowledged that he leans on his father-in-law, Ronnie Screwvala (owner of parent group U Sports), for advice related to the finances of the team. 'Unfortunately, not (on being asked if he owns a stake in U Sports). I am purely here as a consultant and a CEO. But look, I think there are positives and negatives to being so closely related to a franchise and to the owner of a team, especially when someone is of Ronnie's stature as well. I think he's an extremely hard taskmaster, and I think with that comes two sides, right? You have to have a great deal of transparency and honesty with yourself and, therefore, with him as well, and I was very clear about it when I took on the role." 'I think there's even more pressure when you take on a role where you're so closely related. There's so much more that you have to have in terms of belief so that you can put aside anything that anyone could potentially say. The good thing is that everyone knows I come in with a lot more sporting knowledge than many others here, and I think that for me was the number one conversation I had with Ronnie. I said, 'You know what? If it's a business decision, if it's something related to finance, I want to make sure that the door to you is open and I can come and have a chat and get the advice I need from you. But when it comes to sporting decisions, they have to be mine and mine alone.' And, you know, to this date, he's honoured that.' 'But at the same time, when it comes to the business side of things, I have the ability to tap his brain, and I think that's something wonderful to have. So while there is the added pressure of that, I think when you have the conviction of knowing you know the subject better than anyone else, you go in with that confidence.'
