Indian-American Woman Earning $250K Reveals 5 Things She Refuses to Buy
In a world where a high income is often seen as a green light to spend freely, one Indian-American woman is flipping that script. Shivee Chauhan, a Senior Examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and a former Wall Street executive, recently went viral on Instagram for sharing a refreshingly honest look at her spending habits. She and her husband bring in a combined annual income of $250,000 (approximately ₹2.3 crore), yet Chauhan is deliberate and firm about where that money does not go.
Who Is Shivee Chauhan?
Shivee Chauhan is not your average personal finance influencer. She is a working mother, an immigrant, and a finance professional with real-world experience both on Wall Street and within the US Federal Reserve system. On Instagram, she uses her platform to speak candidly about money, motherhood, and life as an immigrant in America. Her recent video, in which she outlined five things she refuses to spend money on despite a six-figure household income, struck a powerful chord with audiences across the globe.
The Video That Started the Conversation
In the video, Chauhan introduced herself as a "financially responsible adult" and a "working mother" before listing the five spending categories she consciously avoids. Her tone was not preachy or judgmental. It was practical, grounded, and rooted in lived experience. She made clear that these were personal choices shaped by her own financial philosophy, not rules she was imposing on others. That honesty is exactly what made the video resonate so widely.
No. 1: Multiple Luxury Bags
The first item on Chauhan's list is multiple luxury handbags, a purchase many high earners consider a status symbol. She was blunt about it. "What are you putting in it? Where are you going with it? And what is so important that it requires a $3,000 bag?" she questioned in the video. Beyond the price tag, she pointed out a practical truth: designer bags mostly end up sitting on a shelf, rarely used and rarely seen. For someone who thinks about money the way Chauhan does, spending thousands on something that collects dust simply does not add up.
No. 2: Dupes
This one might surprise people. Chauhan does not buy dupes, which are cheaper imitations of luxury or branded products. Her reasoning is counterintuitive but completely logical. "Listen, if dupes work for you, that's great," she said, acknowledging that it is a valid choice for others. But for herself, she knows from experience that buying a dupe only delays the inevitable. She will use it a few times and then go ahead and buy the original anyway. "So now I have spent money twice. Dupes don't save me money. They are going to cost me more," she explained. It is a sharp piece of self-awareness that many shoppers rarely stop to consider. Indian women navigating financial decisions abroad often share similar insights about spending discipline and income management, making Chauhan's perspective part of a broader cultural conversation.
No. 3: Hair Removal Services
Grooming expenses can quietly add up to thousands of dollars each year, especially in a country like the United States where salon and spa services are priced at a premium. Chauhan revealed that she has not spent money on professional hair removal services in a decade. Instead, she uses an epilator at home, a one-time purchase that has served her well for ten years. It is a small but telling example of how she approaches recurring expenses: find a smarter, more cost-effective alternative and stick with it.
No. 4: Fast Fashion
Chauhan has not bought a single item from fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M, or Forever 21 in three years, and she says she does not miss it at all. "The quality is not there, the clothes don't last even one wash," she said. Fast fashion is one of those categories where the low price point feels like a deal but rarely is. Clothes that fall apart quickly, fade after one wash, or go out of style in a season end up costing more over time than a smaller number of well-made pieces. Chauhan has clearly done that math, and the result is a cleaner wardrobe and a leaner spending habit.
No. 5: Average Restaurant Meals and Daily Coffee
The fifth and final item on Chauhan's list is one she feels most strongly about: eating at mediocre restaurants or spending money on an average daily coffee. She is not anti-dining-out by any means. "Going out for an incredible meal? Yes. Going out for a special occasion? Yes," she said. But buying a coffee every single day or grabbing a forgettable lunch that is "just average"? That is a firm no. She prefers home-cooked meals where she can track her nutritional intake and knows exactly what goes into her food. Skipping the daily coffee run also means less waste and more intentional living. It is a philosophy of reserving spending for experiences that genuinely deliver value.
The Bigger Picture Behind Her Choices
What ties all five of these decisions together is a consistent financial philosophy: spend with intention, not impulse. Chauhan is not cutting corners out of necessity. She earns more than most households in the United States. Her choices are deliberate, informed by her background in finance, and shaped by a mindset that separates value from vanity. She is not telling people how to live. She is simply showing that a high income and disciplined spending are not opposites. They can, and often should, go hand in hand.
Why Her Message Connects With Indian Audiences
Chauhan's video resonates particularly well with Indian and Indian-American audiences, many of whom grew up with a strong cultural emphasis on saving, practicality, and financial security. Her immigrant identity adds another layer of credibility. She has worked her way through Wall Street and into a senior federal banking role, and she speaks about money from a place of genuine experience rather than borrowed lifestyle advice. Her message is not about deprivation. It is about being smart with what you have, no matter how much that is. Stories of Indians making bold financial choices abroad, whether building global empires from scratch or choosing financial discipline over lifestyle inflation, continue to inspire millions navigating similar journeys.
Social Media Reaction
The video spread quickly across platforms, drawing a strong response from viewers. Many appreciated her candor and said her advice felt practical and achievable. Others related to specific points, particularly the dupe logic and the fast fashion critique. A section of the audience praised her for normalizing financial discipline at a high income level, something that is rarely discussed openly in spaces where wealth is often equated with lavish spending. Her willingness to speak plainly about money, without pretense, is what separates her content from the noise.
A Blueprint Worth Considering
Whether you earn $25,000 or $250,000, the core lesson from Shivee Chauhan's video is the same: knowing what not to spend on is just as important as knowing where to invest. Her five categories, luxury bags, dupes, grooming services, fast fashion, and average meals, are all areas where money quietly leaks out without delivering meaningful returns. Plugging those leaks, even partially, can make a significant difference over time. And coming from someone with her financial credentials, that message carries real weight.
Final Thoughts
Shivee Chauhan's viral moment is more than a trending video. It is a conversation starter about how high earners, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, think about money differently. Her five spending refusals are not sacrifices. They are choices, made with clarity, confidence, and a long-term view. In a culture that constantly pushes consumption, her voice is a welcome and necessary counterpoint.
Source & AI Information: External links in this article are provided for informational reference to authoritative sources. This content was drafted with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence tools to ensure comprehensive coverage, and subsequently reviewed by a human editor prior to publication.
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