Tomas K., 31’s Story

“It feels like as long as I am primarily an employee, I will never "make it".”

Tomas K., a 31-year-old software engineer, grapples with a profound professional dilemma from his base in a major German city. Despite enjoying what he describes as "good pay" within the thriving tech sector, a recent wave of layoffs across reportedly profitable technology companies casts a long shadow over his future. This stark reality forces Tomas to confront an uncomfortable truth: he feels fundamentally working class, his livelihood entirely tethered to his employer's goodwill.

The dream of securing foundational milestones, such as homeownership, now seems impossibly distant. Even with a solid engineering salary, buying an apartment in his city remains "completely out of reach," a prospect he sees unchanged even if he scales the traditional corporate ladder. For Tomas, the chasm separating those who sell their time for a wage and those who own assets, building generational wealth, feels dauntingly insurmountable.

This dependency fuels a deep-seated anxiety about his long-term financial stability. He questions the very structure of his professional existence, reflecting on a sentiment many skilled professionals are beginning to vocalize. "It feels like as long as I am primarily an employee, I will never 'make it'," Tomas laments, articulating a feeling of stagnation despite his career success.

Desperate for an alternative, Tomas now actively seeks an "escape route" from what he perceives as merely "selling my time." He has already begun investing a few hundred euros monthly in ETFs, a cautious step towards financial independence. Entrepreneurship also crosses his mind, yet he admits feeling "too inexperienced" to embark on starting his own business, highlighting the Catch-22 of his situation: a desire for autonomy battling a lack of perceived readiness.

Tomas K.'s experience resonates beyond his personal situation, echoing a growing apprehension among skilled professionals globally, including many in the Lithuanian diaspora. His story underscores a harsh market reality: even lucrative, well-paid employment may no longer guarantee the long-term financial security and stability once expected. It's a sobering realization for a generation navigating an increasingly volatile economic landscape.