Indian man’s US dream turns into financial nightmare: ₹40 lakh debt, no job, ailing family

For many Indian students, studying in the United States represents the ultimate dream—a gateway to better opportunities, higher salaries, and an improved standard of living. But for one young man, this dream quickly spiraled into a financial crisis, leaving him burdened with debt and struggling to make ends meet.

A Reddit user, known as TheTechPhilosopher, recently shared his ordeal after taking a ₹40 lakh education loan in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in the US. Coming from a modest background, his family made significant sacrifices to support his aspirations. His father, who ran a small manufacturing business, invested everything to help him secure a brighter future.

However, things didn’t go as planned. After completing his degree in Management Information Systems, he faced numerous roadblocks in finding a stable job. Factors like an economic downturn, visa restrictions, and a lack of internship opportunities for international students left him in financial distress. Forced to borrow money from his parents just to survive, his struggles worsened when his father fell seriously ill and the family business took a hit.

Heartbroken and out of options, he returned to India, now saddled with a massive debt and no high-paying job prospects. He eventually secured a job with a ₹75,000 salary, but with an EMI of ₹66,000, he was left with only ₹9,000 for personal expenses.

Despite the family business recovering slightly, his father’s declining health and his own financial stress have taken an emotional and physical toll. He is now actively looking for freelance opportunities in Digital Product Management, Project Management, Strategy Consulting, UI/UX Design, AI Consulting, Marketing, and Sales, hoping to ease the burden.

Reddit Users Offer Advice

His post drew sympathy and practical advice from Reddit users. Some suggested aggressively switching jobs every 8–12 months to increase his income, while others encouraged him to stay hopeful, emphasizing that his degree and experience would eventually pay off. Many also urged him to prioritize mental health while navigating this difficult phase.

Now, with limited options, he continues to seek guidance, job leads, and financial solutions to overcome his predicament—hoping to turn his American nightmare back into a dream someday.