Investing
What is goal-based investing and how to assign a timeline to every rupee you save
20 Jun 2026·7 min read
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The first crore is the hardest. Start here.
Tax, investing, salary, insurance and credit — in plain English, for young Indians who earn well but haven't had time to figure out where it all goes.
◆ FeaturedThis WeekTopical
This week: 12 new articles on home loans, VPF, SIP maths, and tax — plus the June 15 advance tax deadline
A heavy week: home loan EMI maths, rent vs buy, VPF vs PPF, the cost of starting a SIP late, step-up SIPs, FD interest tax, LTCG harvesting, and the completion of Zero to One Chapter 2 on the old vs new tax regime. Plus: advance tax first instalment is due June 15.
14 Jun 2026 · 4 min readRead →
Recent articles
All articles →Investing
Is a fixed deposit's post-tax return positive after inflation in India?
A 7% FD sounds safe, but for a 30% bracket taxpayer, after tax (4.9%) and 5% inflation, the real return is about −0.1% — your purchasing power slightly shrinks despite the 'guaranteed' return. FDs preserve nominal capital but rarely build real wealth. Here's the full maths and when FDs still make sense.
20 Jun 2026·6 min read
Investing
How lifestyle inflation quietly stops your salary growth from building wealth
Lifestyle inflation is when spending rises to match every raise, keeping your savings rate flat. Two employees with identical salaries and raises can end up ₹95 lakh+ apart over 15 years — purely from how they handled increments. The fix is structural: automate a step-up SIP and save 50% of every raise before lifestyle adjusts.
19 Jun 2026·6 min read
Investing
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: 8.2% tax-free interest, rules, and how to open an account for your daughter
SSY offers 8.2% (Q1 FY 2026-27) — among the highest guaranteed rates in India — fully tax-free (EEE). Open for a girl child below 10, deposit ₹250 to ₹1.5L per year for 15 years, and ₹1.5L/year builds approximately ₹70 lakh by maturity. Here's how it works, the withdrawal rules, and how it compares to PPF.
19 Jun 2026·7 min read
Investing
How is NPS taxed at retirement: the 60% lump sum and 40% annuity rule explained
NPS gives great deductions while you contribute — but at 60, you can only withdraw 60% as a tax-free lump sum. The other 40% must buy an annuity, and that monthly pension is taxable. On a ₹1 crore corpus, ₹40 lakh is locked into a taxable pension. Here's the full 60/40 rule and how it compares to EPF.
18 Jun 2026·6 min read
Investing
NPS Tier 1 vs Tier 2: what is the difference and which should you use?
NPS has two accounts using the same funds but completely different rules. Tier 1 is the retirement account — tax benefits, locked until 60, 40% mandatory annuity. Tier 2 is flexible with no lock-in but no tax deduction for most. Here's which to use for tax savings vs flexible investing.
18 Jun 2026·6 min read
Tax
Do I need to file an ITR if my employer already deducts TDS from my salary?
TDS and ITR are not the same thing. TDS is tax paid on your behalf; the ITR reconciles your total income and tax. Filing is mandatory if your income exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹4L new regime) — regardless of TDS. And it's the only way to claim refunds of excess TDS or carry forward losses.
17 Jun 2026·6 min read
Tax
What happens if you miss the July 31 ITR deadline: belated returns, penalties, and what you lose
Miss the July 31 deadline and you can still file a belated return until December 31 — but it costs a ₹5,000 late fee (even if you owe no tax), interest on unpaid tax, and the right to carry forward capital and F&O losses. Here's exactly what missing the deadline costs and your options after.
17 Jun 2026·7 min read
Tax
How to e-verify your ITR and what happens if you don't within 30 days
Filing your ITR is incomplete until you verify it — and you have only 30 days. An unverified return is treated as never filed, risking penalties and lost refunds. Aadhaar OTP verifies in under two minutes. Here are all five e-verification methods and what happens after.
16 Jun 2026·6 min read
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