From Wedding Gifts To Netflix Fees: Top Unusual Reasons Indians Send Money Abroad

Usually, India is presumed to be a country that has inward remittances of money from all over the world; however, over the last few years, the amount Indians are sending abroad has also grown significantly. In FY 25, ~29.56 billion was remitted outward by Indians.

The primary reason driving this growth of outward remittance is being shaped by India's demographic diversity and rising aspirations.

"The current aspirational class is no longer content with merely consuming domestically. Instead, they are channeling funds into diversified global opportunities. Outward remittances are not just transactions; they are expressions of identity and ambition," said Sidhharrth S Kumaar, Astrologer, Numerologist, Life & Relationship Coach, & Founder, NumroVani.

As per the mid-term perception study of "How India Thinks 2025" by NumroVani in 30K people revealed that 2 in 3 people are actually looking to travel outside India or buy something that is not available in India at the moment.

Here are the most unusual reasons why Indians send money abroad, according to Sidhharrth S. Kumaar (illustrative list only).

Luxury Goods as Currency Arbitrage

Indians don't simply want luxury goods; they also have money that they can carry around. When you buy expensive handbags, watches, and jewellery abroad, they usually go up in value or can be easily sold. This makes them global bearer assets that can help you protect yourself from changes in the value of the rupee.

Fertility & Surrogacy Services

Families pay money to clinics in countries with more friendly laws and better treatments because they seek better IVF, genetic counselling, and surrogacy. This option is popular among wealthy Indians since it protects their privacy and their rights.

Gaming, NFTs & Virtual Assets

There are 444 million players in India who buy games from sites outside of India, like Steam and PlayStation. At the same time, investors put money into NFTs and blockchain games, and they typically ship it out of India to escape the country's hefty crypto taxes.

Prenuptial & Divorce Settlements

International prenups, divorce settlements, and alimony payments are becoming more prevalent among couples who live in different countries. These legal duties are a growing but not typically talked about sort of money sent from one country to another.

Digital Subscriptions & Creator Economy

Services like Netflix, Spotify, Patreon, and Twitch let Indians pay for entertainment and creators all around the world. These little transfers suggest that culture is growing more global, even though RBI's rules around payments make it hard to make frequent payments.

Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Indians are looking for digital nomad visas in areas like Portugal, Spain, Dubai, and other places because so many people are working from home. You have to transfer money abroad for rent, coworking, and insurance to maintain living this way. This has led to the development of a new "self-support" remittance category.

Exotic Pet Purchases & Animal Care

Indians bring in purebred dogs, parrots, and other rare creatures. Transportation, vaccines, and quarantine costs might mount up to lakhs. Some people pay for ongoing international boarding and care services, which illustrates that pet culture is increasing all across the world.

Psychic Services & Donations to Gurus

Religion and faith are still big reasons why people do things. Indians pay for live-streamed rituals from other countries, internet psychic readings, or donations to ashrams and gurus in other countries.

Matrimonial Matchmaking & Gifts

Most of the time, elite marriage agencies for NRIs are located outside of India and charge fees in foreign currencies. Families also send money for destination weddings, rare wedding gifts, and other fees, which makes marriage a financial activity that crosses borders.

Self-Help Retreats

Indians who desire to improve themselves go on retreats in other countries, such as yoga camps in Bali and ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru. This illustrates a shift from collective religious activity to solitary spiritual inquiry.

Fitness Devices & Tech Gadgets

People who are early adopters pay money to acquire biohacking wearables, Peloton bikes, and smart wellness equipment that isn't yet available in India. They bring new ways of living to India, as it reflects an aspiration to look different.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed are solely those of the individual analysts or entities and do not reflect the views of Goodreturns.in or Greynium Information Technologies Private Limited (together referred to as "we"). We do not guarantee, endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any content, nor do we provide any investment advice or solicit the purchase or sale of securities. All information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should be independently verified from licensed financial advisors before making any investment decisions.