At 22, Upasana made a decision that many young professionals might find difficult. She quit her ₹60,000-a-month job, moved back in with her parents and stepped into an uncertain future without a steady source of income. One year later, the 23-year-old Delhi-based content creator has shared a milestone that marks a new chapter in her journey: she earned ₹1.12 lakh through brand collaborations in September, her highest monthly income since she began creating content around 18 months ago.Upasana, who has nearly 14,000 followers on Instagram, shared a breakdown of her earnings in a video. The amount came from six brand collaborations, including a user-generated content (UGC) deal worth ₹15,000. Her other five collaborations involved posts on her Instagram account and brought in a combined ₹97,000.Together, the deals added up to ₹1,12,000. However, Upasana clarified that some of the collaborations had not been published yet and that the money had not been credited to her bank account. Since brands follow different payment cycles, the figure represents the value of collaborations secured during September rather than money already received. For Upasana, the milestone is significant because it is the first time her monthly content creation earnings have crossed ₹1 lakh. But her recent update is about more than money. It also reflects a year of uncertainty, personal changes and learning to build a career outside the conventional workplace.
From a ₹60,000 salary to an uncertain beginning
Upasana recently marked one year since leaving her job. In a video posted on Instagram, she recalled the decision to walk away from a regular salary at the age of 22. “It’s been exactly one year since I quit my ₹60K job at 22,” she said. Leaving the job meant giving up the financial independence she had built for herself. She returned to her parents’ home without a clear idea of what she would do next or how she would earn money. “The starting months were really blank… no earning source, just living off my savings,” she recalled.The initial period was difficult because content creation did not immediately provide a reliable income. Her earnings were inconsistent, and she had to figure out how to turn her online presence into a source of livelihood. Over time, brand collaborations began bringing in money. September’s earnings marked her strongest month so far, but Upasana’s journey shows that building a career as a creator can involve periods of uncertainty before the work begins to pay off.
‘My mental health had hit rock bottom’
Financial independence was not the only factor behind Upasana’s decision to leave her job. She also spoke about the effect her previous work experience had on her mental health, saying it had “hit rock bottom”. After moving back home, she began spending more time with her family and dogs. Although she had lost some of the independence that came with earning a regular salary, she said her everyday life became happier. “I laugh every day; I stay happy, except for some hormonal days,” she said.Her experience highlights a difficult question faced by many young professionals: how much should financial security weigh against mental well-being? While leaving a job may offer relief to some people, it can also bring financial pressure and uncertainty, particularly when there is no immediate alternative source of income. Upasana has also been careful not to present her current position as the end of her journey. She said she would not claim to have “made it” without a traditional job, but believes she is now earning enough to support herself. “This is definitely not the end game because I know better things are coming in the future,” she said.
Internet reacts to her career shift
Upasana’s story prompted several social media users to congratulate her and share their own thoughts about taking career risks. One user wrote, “What I like most about this generation is that they’re not afraid to take risks, something we’re never taught in school. More power to you!” Another commented, “Another motivation for me to start content creation asap.” A third user wrote, “Congratulations. Instagram does do wonders. I am on my journey to do the same.”While the encouraging responses celebrated her progress, her payment clarification is an important part of the story. The ₹1.12 lakh figure reflects the value of brand deals secured in September, not money that has already reached her account. For now, Upasana’s milestone offers a glimpse into the possibilities and uncertainties of content creation as a career. A year after leaving a ₹60,000 job without a clear plan, she has reached her first ₹1 lakh-plus month in collaborations. Her next challenge will be to turn such opportunities into a more consistent source of income while continuing to build her career on her own terms.
