India, Feb. 18 -- An NRI couple pays over half their gross income as tax in Sweden, but say they don't feel the pinch from such high taxation. In a conversation with Mint, Annamalai Ramanathan and his wife Meena Palaniappan said that the social security benefits offered by the Nordic country are so good, they don't mind the high cost of living or paying nearly 50% of their income as tax. In fact, the couple's emergency fund is only 50,000 Swedish Krona, which is roughly the amount of money needed for a flight to India.

"Don't need any fund in Sweden as job-loss and medical are taken care of," the couple told Mint.

For Annamalai Ramanathan and Meena Palaniappan, the need to save money is lower due to the host of social security benefits ...