After 14 years in tech, this Oracle employee didn’t panic when the pink slip arrived. He had ₹60 lakh in FDs and zero EMIs. Here’s how
Old is sometimes gold, and this viral post proves why. Right now, when social media is replete with tales of laid of techies, many of whom are at the receiving end of Oracle layoffs, one former Oracle employee is breaking the internet for all the right reasons: a steady hand on the steering wheel.
After 14 years in the high-pressure tech industry, the professional found himself part of the recent wave of layoffs. But instead of fumbling, he packed his bags, left the “metro city flat” hustle behind, and moved back to his hometown of Bhubaneswar. His secret weapon is old-school financial discipline.
According to a post on X by his close friend, Nayak Satya, the techie bypassed modern investment hype and relied on the “boring” reliability of Post Office and Bank Fixed Deposits (FDs). “He had postal fixed deposits in two joint accounts ₹15 lakh each. One with his parents, and the other in his and his wife’s name. He also had one in his kids’ account. Together, these give him almost ₹28,000 in interest every month. He also had fixed deposits in some Indian banks worth around ₹30 lakh, which give him another ₹15,000 per month,” Nayak Satya wrote in the post on X.
With no EMIs to drain his savings and the comfort of his parents’ home, the techie didn’t wait for a recruiter to call. He turned his driving skill into a side hustle, signing up as an Uber driver in Bhubaneswar.
“He knows how to drive, so he immediately started working as an Uber driver at his own convenience, earning good,” Satya wrote. This move hasn’t just provided a steady income; it has given him the mental space to calmly plan his next chapter – a small business in his hometown.
The story has sparked a massive debate on X about the risks of high-growth investing versus the peace of “safe” money. “I was wondering, whether adding to FD will secure my future with small interest rates where as my friends do enjoy but this is an eye opener that, uncertainty does not knock at the door. So be it… Always save,” wrote one user.
Others noted the psychological shift required for a veteran IT professional to pick up a gig job. “Even though he started working as a Uber driver, his mind thoughts would always be revolving around IT firms, how soon to land in another opportunity even though it might not pay very high,” another X user opined.
However, the consensus remains that family support and “old school” moves are the ultimate stress-busters. “That’s a solid approach. Old school planning really pays off, no stress, just smart moves and family support. Respect to your friend for handling it so calmly,” commented another user.