I am spending less. And I am sure most of you are too. No doubt lockdown is leading to more savings for some of us. Majority of us are sitting at home. And I am sure at least a few…
PPF: Still attractive Investment despite Sharp Rate Cut
This is from my regular column on MoneyControl. Interest rates of PPF and all other Small Savings Scheme were cut sharply sometime back. And many are now questioning the usefulness of PPF as an investment option. I feel that having…
Franklin India’s 6 Closed Debt Funds: (Update) When do you get back money?
I had written about the Franklin India’s unexpected closure of 6 debt funds in detail earlier here - Franklin India winds down 6 debt funds. Many investors have exposure to these 6 funds. After all, Rs 25,000+ crore had been…
Franklin India winds down 6 Debt Funds: What it means for investors?
Fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the unprecedented times in the Indian financial markets continue. Franklin India AMC (Mutual Funds) has taken the extraordinary decision to wind down 6 of its popular debt funds. Without a doubt, the news isn’t a…
Take 20% Pay Cut
Taking a 20% pay cut. Now, who would want that? No one. And it’s (obviously) not a great scenario to be in. But to be honest, the on-going pandemic and economic lockdown are gradually arm-twisting many companies/sectors to face the…
Tips for Fresh Graduates with Poor Job prospects (Quoted: Mint)
I recently got quoted a few times in the business paper Mint. It was for their coverage of how students graduating this year will have poor job prospects thanks to Coronavirus-troubled world and Indian economy. These are tough times no…
Retiring in Bear Market Vs in Bull Markets
I regularly write columns for MoneyControl. The latest one I wrote was about highlighting the difference between Retiring in Bull Market Vs Retiring in Bear Market. You will be surprised how things can change suddenly for people who retire in…
Normal Living Expenses Are Low: Lockdown Realization (for F.I.R.E. guys!)
We live in unprecedented times. And times like this lead to interesting insights about various aspects of life. I came across a tweet yesterday (link), which said: Realized one thing in this Lockdown. Normal living expenses are very low. It's…
PPF: Before 5th Vs After 5th of Month? Or Before 5th April?
Should you invest before the 5th of every month in PPF account? Should you invest Rs 1.5 lac before 5th April every year for maximum returns from your PPF account balance? The answer to these questions is Yes no doubt.…
March 2020: An Unforgettable Month!
I couldn't pick a better word than 'unforgettable' to define March 2020. Ofcourse, another possible choice was 'Bloody' due to the sudden crash in Indian (and global) markets. But the speed and the sharpness of the fall was such that…
Big Cuts in Small Saving Schemes (PPF, Sukanya Yojana): Apr-Jun 2020
PPF Interest Rate has been reduced to 7.1% (from 7.9%) and Sukanya Samriddhi Account Interest Rate has been reduced to 7.6% (from 8.4%) for April-June 2020. The government finally decided to bite the bullet and announced big cuts in the…
3-month Moratorium & Credit Cards: Why to still pay full dues if you can afford?
Note - Initial 3-month moratorium has been increased by 3 more months. Now moratorium is from March 2020 to August 2020, i.e. a total moratorium of 6 months. Read here about 3-month moratorium extension (June to August 2020). A few…
Coronavirus reminds – Emergencies don’t wait for Emergency Fund
Maybe I shouldn't use the Coronavirus pandemic to give any advice. It doesn’t feel right, to be honest. But what to do - when things are normal and routine, people don’t listen. It’s only when things get out of hand…
RBI’s 3 Month Loan EMI Moratorium: Should you Opt for it?
Note - Initial 3-month moratorium has been increased by 3 more months. Now moratorium is from March 2020 to August 2020. Read here about 3-month moratorium extension (June to August 2020). To provide relief to the borrowers who are facing…
Extension for Tax Saving in FY 2019-20: Till 30th June 2020
As the country has been locked-down for next few weeks (and hopefully not more) due to Coronavirus, there is some relief for tax savers. Many were anxious about missing the due date of March 31, 2020 for investing in tax…
