One by two

"How do we survive this job loss cyclone?". Cafeteria discussions always tend to be honest and raw.

"Why? Are you worried that you might lose your job?" My colleagues are nice people, generally speaking. Sometimes though it throws me off when what is supposed to be a universal problem suddenly is made to look like my own unique struggle.

"Yes. I am and am sure so is everyone else," I wanted to make sure it remained a universal problem.

"How long have you been working?" Now that's a bad question to ask someone who has been around forever. Indignation ran a sprint in my mind and am sure made its presence felt on my visage.

"25 years, almost," some answers sound better in approximation.

"Here is my simple guiding principle. For every year of work, you should have saved enough to live an year without working. So if you have worked 25 years, you should have enough to survive 25 years of being jobless." This guy has been in the workforce for far lesser time than I was. His wisdom, or the preachy tone rather, bothered me. Shouldn't I be the wiser one purely based on time spent on this planet?

"How is that even possible? I have so many EMIs, children's education and many more," I started sounding like a moaner already.

"That's your problem. Every month when you get the salary, think as if you have to survive 2 months with it. I call it the one by two rule. It will automatically fix your life style and make you free soon enough" 

"Easy for you to say," the kid has just bruised, battered and burner my self esteem.

"Maybe. But remember, our slavery isn't because of how much we earn. It is because of how much we think we can spend. If we control our cravings and desires to be within the one by two principle, then our freedom remains within reach all the time"

I looked up at the kid. There is nothing left to say except a quick thank you followed by a hasty "I need to take this call" waala retreat.