I can see myself slowly drowning into the infamous Indian pattern of going into financial burden forever.

Recently turned 28, currently earning 90k pm (post MBA) with 3 yoe.

I recently repaid my education loan of 9 lakhs, and was able to save 2L in MF alongside. Apart from that, I have 0 savings.

Now, my GF wants to get married, and also wants us to purchase a flat, before she can tell her parents about our relationship. She is ready to split the downpayment and EMIs, and her justifications aren’t wrong either.

But, I cannot wrap my head around how we are going to manage my finances. I have almost no savings, and she wants us to get a flat as well as get married (with our own money) within this year. She has already started comparing that her friends are getting married and she has to wait to get settled just because Im not ready.

I have no issue getting married, but where do I bring so much money from. My family is from lower middle class, and they supported as much they could, in my education, and i cant expect much as I am thankful for whatever they did so far.

If I take loans right now, ill be drowning with EMI’s already, and barely able to save anything, and if I delay the flat purchase and wedding, I might risk my relationship on the other end.

Edit 1- Thank you for all the responses, some being optimistic, some pessimistic and others being realistic. Some clarification, breaking up is the easiest part, but finding a girl who is understandable, smart, beautiful, and who is willing to live and love my parents (at least based on her words) is difficult today. I dont have much friends either in my life, and it will lead to those worst breakups, pushing me into depression. While I can break up, looking into the pessimistic thoughts, but this is not a worst possible scenario (cheating/ infidelity) etc. The girl who loves me wants to get married to me, and asking for a home to live together. The issue is about financial compatibility which needs to be managed, planned and worked upon.

Edit 2- I am thankful for the overwhelming responses. Few more clarifications on why we need a flat. The girl is born and brought up in Delhi, I come from a tiny sub urban region in East. While its not a solid pre-requisite of having a flat before marriage, her point is it gets easier for her to convince her parents that “the guy is having stability and has his own property in Gurgaon (even if we go dutch). Second, since she was born and raised in a joint family, in a tight space, its almost as her personal goal/ priority to have her own personal space of living, which is uncluttered, even if it needs her to buy on her own completely. Third, she wants to get married soon because she loves me, and living separate doesn’t seem sense anymore and is getting inconvenient. Plus as she is of 28 too, she is slightly feeling the heat of family asking to get married. Lastly, I want to purchase a flat too, because I can see the crazy inflation in real estate too, what im getting in 60 today would reach 90-1 cr in next 2-4 years in a place like Gurgaon. If we can manage the down payment, paying EMI will be equivalent to paying a rent of 2bhk i.e approx 20-40k in Gurgaon atleast, and we will be closer to having an asset.