How a divorce led this influencer to go all in on mutual funds

livemint.com:

Mint for the first three to four years, she wasn’t making much. By 2016, however, things started to improve, and her income rose to about ₹2 lakh per month. “Back then, there were no stories or reels; there were only static pictures, and I was paid to post pictures and blog." The pandemic accelerated an already booming influencer marketing industry, with the internet becoming a primary source of entertainment.

Wadhwa said her income soared manifold, but she didn’t disclose specifics. Even better, influencers were getting paid for making 30-second reels. On the personal finance front, she put everything she earned in her savings account.

“Keeping money and seeing it grow was my thing with money," said Wadhwa. “Maybe that was lack of financial awareness, but that made me happy, and I wanted to increase that." As a fashion influencer, she also needed to reinvest a lot of her earnings toward buying expensive handbags and going on luxury trips. “As a fashion influencer, I have to show what kind of life I live." Her last indulgence was a Chanel handbag worth ₹4.5 lakh.

A few months ago, Wadhwa's life took a turn when she separated from her husband after 11 years of marriage. The divorce not only had an emotional impact but also forced her to re-evaluate her finances. Unlike many others, her Instagram account, with 2 lakh followers, was not just a side gig—it was her sole source of income.

“Some people have alternate sources of income like a rich husband, but for me, it's all my own," she said with a chuckle. Wadhwa also witnessed first-hand how platforms change overnight and new influencers end up surpassing existing players. “Facebook was big at one point, but it's redundant now, TikTok got banned, and who knows what will