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Tuesday, August 19, 2025

My Journey of Monetary Consciousness


On this version of the reader story, “I’m Tamil Selvan (identify modified), 38 years previous, working within the Gulf area for the final 16 years. I come from a easy farming household in Tamil Nadu. My father had taken on important debt as a consequence of farming, and after I began incomes in 2009 with a wage of ₹25,000, my precedence was to clear our household money owed.”

About this sequence: I’m grateful to readers for sharing intimate particulars about their monetary lives, which advantages all of us. Among the earlier editions are linked on the backside of this text. You too can entry the total reader story archive.

Opinions expressed in reader tales don’t essentially characterize the views of freefincal or its editors. We should recognize a number of options to the cash administration puzzle and empathise with various views. Articles are sometimes not checked for grammar except it’s essential to convey the correct that means and protect the tone and feelings of the writers.

If you want to contribute to the DIY neighborhood on this method, ship your audits to freefincal AT Gmail dot com. You may publish them anonymously if you want.

With self-discipline and focus, I cleared all of it. I additionally took full accountability for the wedding bills of my two sisters. In 2015, I received married — the whole lot was finished with my very own revenue. However in hindsight, I now realise I made a mistake that many first-generation earners do: I spent practically all my earnings with out saving for the longer term. I spent round ₹10 lakhs for the marriage — purely from revenue — with no investments backing me up.

After that, I made the same mistake once more. In 2019, I constructed a home for my household, spending ₹50 lakhs. I used up all my financial savings and even took a private mortgage from the Gulf. By 2020, I used to be again to zero — no financial savings and contemporary debt.

Then got here the COVID pandemic. Like many others, I discovered myself with extra free time. I began watching private finance movies on YouTube. That was the turning level in my monetary journey. Out of curiosity, I opened a Zerodha demat account and started investing in mutual funds and shares — however with out understanding the NRI vs Resident Indian (RI) funding guidelines. I used to be unknowingly making errors.

In 2021, by way of a random Google search, I stumbled upon the Freefincal web site. That was the second my monetary literacy actually started. I began studying article after article. I additionally found the Asan Concepts for Wealth Fb group and started following it actively.

Right here, I need to specific my heartfelt thanks to Mr. M. Pattabiraman (Pattu Sir) and Mr. Ashal Jauhari for his or her tireless efforts in educating buyers like me. By their steerage, I spotted:

  • I used to be utilizing the flawed funding accounts (RI as an alternative of NRI)
  • My objectives weren’t clearly outlined
  • I had no correct insurance coverage protection
  • I wasn’t accounting for inflation precisely

With their assist, I closed my Zerodha account, bought all of the mutual funds and shares I had bought and not using a plan, and opened a brand new funding account by way of MF Utilities (MFU) linked to my NRI checking account.

I additionally purchased enough time period life insurance coverage and medical insurance for myself and my household. I need to lengthen my honest gratitude to Mr. Chandan Singh Padiyar, who may be very lively within the Asan Concepts group and gives selfless steerage, and to Mr. Neeraj, whose insurance coverage steerage helped me perceive the significance of danger protection.

After this, I arrange correct objectives:

  • Baby’s Training
  • My Retirement
  • Baby’s Marriage
  • Automotive Buy (non-compulsory objective)

Initially, I used free objective calculators, however I realised I used to be making errors — particularly with inflation and future price projections. To repair this, in 2024, I bought the Freefincal Robo Advisor Software. It was the most effective monetary selections I’ve made.

My Monetary Plan: Objectives and Asset Allocation

After gaining readability, I ensured my fundamental protections have been in place, then aligned every objective with an appropriate time horizon and asset allocation. Right here’s a abstract of my monetary roadmap:

Kind Particulars
Time period Insurance coverage ₹2 Crore – TATA AIA
Well being Insurance coverage Niva Bupa – ₹10 Lakhs base + ₹90 Lakhs tremendous top-up
Private Accident Coverage ₹50 Lakhs – HDFC Ergo
Emergency Fund 6 months of bills in a financial institution financial savings account
Objective Time Horizon Fairness % Debt % Fairness Funds Debt Devices
Baby Training (2 children) 10Y / 14Y 50 50 Nifty 50 Index Fund (30%), UTI S&P BSE Low Volatility (20%) Cash Market Fund (20%), Gilt Fund (10%), PPF (20%)
Retirement 15 Years 60 40 Nifty 50 Index Fund (35%), Parag Parikh Flexi Cap (25%) PPF (20%), Gilt Fund (10%), Cash Market Fund (10%)
Baby Marriage 19 Years 60 40 Nifty 50 Index Fund (30%), Nifty Subsequent 50 Index Fund (20%) Gilt Fund (40%)
Automotive Buy 6–8 Years 50 50 Nifty Giant Midcap 250 Index Fund (50%) Cash Market Fund (50%)
Brief-Time period Objective (Journey / College Charges) 3–5 Years 0 100 Liquid Fund (100%)

Rebalancing and Monitoring

Every of those objectives is tracked utilizing the Freefincal Robo Advisory Template, which permits me to:

  • Visualise my asset allocation throughout objectives
  • Evaluation SIP adequacy
  • Carry out annual rebalancing inside simply 10–quarter-hour

Though it could appear to be I’ve a number of mutual funds, each serves a particular, well-defined objective. This retains issues easy and aligned, with out the confusion of overlapping or redundant investments.

Key Classes from My Journey:

  1. Begin with clearing debt, however don’t ignore future financial savings.
  2. Keep away from emotional monetary selections, resembling overspending on weddings or homes.
  3. Perceive your NRI/RI standing earlier than investing.
  4. Get enough time period and medical insurance first.
  5. Observe your objectives and replace plans yearly.
  6. Use instruments like Freefincal’s Robo Advisory Software— they work!

Remaining Ideas

Because of what I’ve realized from Freefincal, I now really feel assured, stress-free, and centered. I’ll have began late, however my journey from monetary uncertainty in 2020 to nearing ₹1 crore in liquid web value by 2025 reveals that it’s by no means too late to do the correct factor.

I hope my story encourages others — particularly first-generation earners — to take management of their monetary future with a easy, goal-based plan.

Reader tales printed earlier:

As common readers could know, we publish a private monetary audit every December – that is the 2024 version: Portfolio Audit 2024: The Annual Evaluation of My Objective-Based mostly Investments. We requested common readers to share how they evaluate their investments and monitor monetary objectives.

These printed audits have had a compounding impact on readers. If you want to contribute to the DIY neighborhood on this method, ship your audits to freefincal AT Gmail. You too can publish them anonymously.

Do share this text with your mates utilizing the buttons beneath.


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About The Writer

Pattabiraman editor freefincalPattabiraman editor freefincalDr M. Pattabiraman(PhD) is the founder, managing editor and first creator of freefincal. He’s an affiliate professor on the Indian Institute of Expertise, Madras. He has over 13 years of expertise publishing information evaluation, analysis and monetary product growth. Join with him by way of Twitter(X), Linkedin, or YouTube. Pattabiraman has co-authored three print books: (1) You could be wealthy too with goal-based investing (CNBC TV18) for DIY buyers. (2) Gamechanger for younger earners. (3) Chinchu Will get a Superpower! for youths. He has additionally written seven different free e-books on varied cash administration matters. He’s a patron and co-founder of “Price-only India,” an organisation selling unbiased, commission-free aum unbiased funding recommendation.


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Our e-book for youths: “Chinchu Will get a Superpower!” is now out there!

Both boy and girl version covers of Chinchu gets a superpowerBoth boy and girl version covers of Chinchu gets a superpower
Each the boy and girl-version covers of “Chinchu Will get a superpower”.

Most investor issues could be traced to a scarcity of knowledgeable decision-making. We made unhealthy selections and cash errors after we began incomes and spent years undoing these errors. Why ought to our youngsters undergo the identical ache? What is that this e-book about? As dad and mom, what would it not be if we needed to groom one capacity in our youngsters that’s key not solely to cash administration and investing however to any facet of life? My reply: Sound Choice Making. So, on this e-book, we meet Chinchu, who’s about to show 10. What he needs for his birthday and the way his dad and mom plan for it, in addition to instructing him a number of key concepts of decision-making and cash administration, is the narrative. What readers say!

Feedback from a young reader after reading Chinchu gets a Superpower (small version)Feedback from a young reader after reading Chinchu gets a Superpower (small version)
Suggestions from a younger reader after studying Chinchu will get a Superpower!

Should-read e-book even for adults! That is one thing that each father or mother ought to educate their children proper from their younger age. The significance of cash administration and choice making primarily based on their needs and wishes. Very properly written in easy phrases. – Arun.

Purchase the e-book: Chinchu will get a superpower on your youngster!


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About freefincal & its content material coverage. Freefincal is a Information Media Group devoted to offering authentic evaluation, stories, evaluations and insights on mutual funds, shares, investing, retirement and private finance developments. We achieve this with out battle of curiosity and bias. Observe us on Google Information. Freefincal serves greater than three million readers a yr (5 million web page views) with articles primarily based solely on factual data and detailed evaluation by its authors. All statements made can be verified with credible and educated sources earlier than publication. Freefincal doesn’t publish paid articles, promotions, PR, satire or opinions with out information. All opinions can be inferences backed by verifiable, reproducible proof/information. Contact data:  To get in contact, use this contact kind. (Sponsored posts or paid collaborations won’t be entertained.)


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You can be rich too with goal based investingYou can be rich too with goal based investingRevealed by CNBC TV18, this e-book is supposed that can assist you ask the correct questions and search the proper solutions, and because it comes with 9 on-line calculators, you too can create customized options on your life-style! Get it now.


Gamechanger: Neglect Startups, Be a part of Company & Nonetheless Reside the Wealthy Life You Need Gamechanger: Forget Start-ups, Join Corporate and Still Live the Rich Life you wantGamechanger: Forget Start-ups, Join Corporate and Still Live the Rich Life you wantThis e-book is supposed for younger earners to get their fundamentals proper from day one! It would additionally assist you journey to unique locations at a low price! Get it or present it to a younger earner.


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