Financially Stuck: Majority of Sandwich Generation Indians Feel Unprepared for Future

A YouGov study reveals over half of Indians aged 35-54, who support both their parents and children, feel unprepared for the future despite having financial plans. High reliance on credit and concerns over insufficient savings highlight their financial tensions as they juggle current and aspirational expenses.

In a revealing study by YouGov, a significant portion of Indians aged 35 to 54—often referred to as the Sandwich Generation—feel financially unprepared, despite having implemented detailed financial plans. The study highlights a common sentiment of inadequacy in savings among those who balance spending on both upward-facing parental care and downward-looking children's needs.

The YouGov survey, which encompassed over 4,000 individuals across 12 major Indian cities, found a pervasive theme: 60% of participants doubt the sufficiency of their savings for the future. Despite 94% of respondents having undertaken some degree of financial planning, many expressed that they perpetually feel financially behind.

Sumit Rai, MD & CEO at Edelweiss Life Insurance, noted that this generation’s reliance on credit is troubling, with short-term goals often funded through loans and long-term aspirations resting on uncertain financial gains. Rai emphasizes the need for solutions that enable people's essential needs without jeopardizing their ambitions.