First demonetization. Now ‘don’t buy gold, don’t travel’? Indian middle class is mentally exhausted.

I watched clips from Modi’s rally today where he asked people to avoid buying gold for a year, reduce foreign travel, conserve fuel, and cut unnecessary spending because of the current global situation and pressure on the economy. () And honestly… the reaction in my house was silence. Not because people didn’t understand the reasoning. But because I think the Indian middle class is just tired now. Every few years it feels like ordinary people are the ones being asked to “adjust” again. Petrol expensive? Adjust. Flights expensive? Adjust. EMIs increasing? Adjust. Job market unstable? Adjust. Gold prices crazy? Adjust. Meanwhile everyone is already trying to survive rent, school fees, medical bills, family expectations, and constant financial pressure. I think what hit people emotionally is that gold in India isn’t just “luxury.” For many families, it’s security. Weddings. Savings. Emergency backup. Something parents spend years collecting emotionally. So hearing “don’t buy gold” felt personal to a lot of people. And the foreign travel part also triggered reactions because for many middle-class Indians, even one international trip is a huge dream they save years for. I don’t know… maybe the advice makes economic sense in a larger picture. But emotionally, I think people are exhausted hearing sacrifice-related messaging all the time while life keeps getting harder anyway. At this point, most Indians aren’t even chasing luxury anymore. People just want stability without constantly feeling guilty for spending money on normal life experiences.