Smart Investing Finance

10 articles

Real Estate vs. Equity: The Indian Middle-Class Investment Debate

Indian families default to real estate as their primary investment. But comparing real returns, liquidity, and total costs reveals that equity significantly outperforms real estate for most profiles. This data-driven analysis challenges the 'buy property' instinct.

Building a 'FU Fund': The Financial Buffer That Enables Career Freedom

A 'FU Fund' (Financial Upside Fund — let's keep it clean) is enough money to walk away from any situation without financial panic. It's not retirement money. It's freedom money. This guide covers how much you need, where to keep it, and how it transforms every career decision you make.

The Financial Dashboard: How I Track Net Worth, Cash Flow, and Goals Monthly

You can't improve what you don't measure. This article shares the exact Google Sheets financial dashboard I use to track net worth, monthly cash flow, investment performance, and goal progress. Includes the formulas, structure, and monthly review process.

The ₹50 Lakh Goal: A Step-by-Step Wealth Building Plan for Indian Developers

₹50 lakhs sounds like a lot. But for a developer earning ₹8-15 LPA, it's achievable in 8-10 years through systematic investing. This concrete, step-by-step plan maps out the journey from month 1 to the finish line.

Health Insurance Demystified: What Every Young Indian Family Actually Needs

Health insurance isn't optional — it's the foundation of financial security. One hospitalization without insurance can wipe out years of savings. This no-jargon guide covers how much coverage you need, which features matter, and how to compare policies without getting confused by agent-speak.

Crypto, Stocks, or Mutual Funds: Where Should a Developer Invest Spare Cash?

Developers are tech-savvy and risk-aware — the perfect profile for smart investing. But should spare cash go into crypto, individual stocks, or mutual funds? This evidence-based comparison cuts through the hype and provides an allocation framework based on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

A Developer's Guide to Personal Finance: SIP, PPF, and the Magic of Compounding

Developers earn well but often invest poorly — either not investing at all or chasing crypto and stock tips. This plain-language guide covers the boring, effective investment strategies that actually build wealth: SIPs, PPF, tax-saving instruments, and the compound interest math that makes it work.

How to Financially Plan for Twin Children (It's More Than 2x)

When people hear 'twins,' they think double the cost. The reality is more nuanced: some costs are exactly 2x (diapers, food), some are less than 2x (shared toys, hand-me-downs), and some hidden costs nobody warns you about. This is the honest financial planning guide for twin parents.

Understanding Equity vs. Debt: The Asset Allocation Framework for Your 30s

Asset allocation — the split between equity (stocks/mutual funds) and debt (bonds/FDs/PPF) — is the single most important investment decision you'll make. This framework provides age-appropriate allocation strategies for developers in their 30s with growing responsibilities.

Side Business Revenue vs. Salary Income: How to Manage Two Tax Streams

Running a side business while employed creates two income streams with different tax treatments. This practical guide covers presumptive taxation, advance tax obligations, maintaining separate accounts, and the common mistakes that trigger income tax notices.