Rujuta Diwekar shares 3 marriage rules every girl should know

Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar may be known for her food wisdom, but her take on marriage is just as refreshing. In a world where girls are still pressured to “settle down” by a certain age, she flips the script and talks about money, independence and choice. Her message is clear: get your life in order before you decide to get married. These three simple rules are not anti-marriage; they are pro-you—your career, your savings, your dignity and your long-term happiness.Photo: BCCL

This rule is about power, not pride. When a woman has a stable career, her voice automatically gains weight in family decisions. She is not forced to “adjust” just because she has nowhere else to go. Firm footing doesn’t mean you must be a CEO; it means you know your skills, you can earn, and you are not marrying to escape pressure or insecurity but from a place of confidence and choice.

Many women pause their careers after marriage for relocation, family, or children—often without a safety net. Rujuta’s rule is emotional and practical protection. Three years of savings means your basic needs and emergencies don’t depend on anyone’s mood or approval. It gives you breathing space to restart your career, upskill, or even walk away from a toxic situation if needed. Savings equal freedom, and freedom changes how you show up in a relationship.

This is a direct attack on the “show-off” culture around Indian weddings. When your wedding budget is capped at three months of your salary, you automatically prioritise what truly matters—people, memories, comfort—over gold, debt and social drama. It stops your family from draining their life savings for one day. A sensible wedding budget also sets the tone for your married life: practical, respectful of money, and focused on the relationship, not the spectacle.

"Most importantly, remember that marriage is optional. And that the largest cohort of happy people on earth is single women, followed closely by married men," she wrote. "My shaadi advice is very sound but what we do, spending way beyond our means just for appeasement of the boy's side is not," she added.