‘Main padha-likha nahi hoon’: Auto driver earning Rs 75,000 a month spends Rs 1.4 lakh on daughter’s education despite having no savings

An auto driver’s candid account of his monthly income and household expenses has struck a chord online, particularly because of the sacrifice he is making to give his daughter a good education. According to a video shared on social media, the man earns around ₹75,000 a month but spends ₹1.4 lakh every year on his daughter’s schooling. He also admitted that he has no savings and sometimes has to borrow money to manage his expenses.

The Auto Driver’s monthly income and expenses

The video features a conversation between a host and the auto driver, who explains how he manages his income and family responsibilities. The host asks him, “How much is your monthly average?” The driver replies that he earns approximately ₹75,000 per month. The conversation then turns to his regular expenses, including the cost of gas, his car EMI and household requirements. When the host asks about his children, the driver explains that he has a daughter. He then opens up about his own educational background and his hopes for her.“I am not educated. I have put her in a good school,” he says. He reveals that her education costs him approximately ₹1.4 lakh a year. For a father who says he did not receive much education himself, spending a significant part of his income on his daughter’s schooling appears to be a conscious choice to provide her with opportunities he may not have had.

No savings, and sometimes he has to borrow

The driver’s financial situation also highlights the pressure many working families can face while trying to balance education costs with everyday expenses. After paying for household needs, the vehicle-related expenses and his daughter’s education, he says there is nothing left as savings. At times, he also has to borrow money to manage his financial commitments. The video was reportedly shared by a financial services company as part of a social media series examining how people with different income levels manage their monthly finances. The driver’s story attracted considerable attention because his decision to prioritise his daughter’s education came despite his own financial limitations. Many viewers praised him for making education a priority, while others focused on the need for better financial planning.

Social media users debate education and financial planning

The video also prompted a discussion about whether families should balance expensive schooling with long-term savings. One social media user suggested reducing school-related expenses and putting some money aside for the daughter’s future. “I think he can downshift the school expenses and invest 5-10k for his daughter so that he will not have to take out a loan for her college,” the person wrote. The comment reflects a larger financial question faced by parents: how much should be spent on a child’s education today, and how much should be saved for future expenses such as higher education?For the auto driver, however, the immediate goal appears clear. Despite earning ₹75,000 a month and having little or no money left after his expenses, he wants his daughter to receive an education that he himself could not have. His simple statement, “I am not educated. I have put her in a good school,” has resonated with viewers because it captures the hopes of a parent who wants the next generation to have more opportunities than the previous one.