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.
This week: 8 new articles on gratuity, PF transfer, ELSS lock-in, emergency fund, and SGB — plus June 15 advance tax deadline
Eight new articles: gratuity formula, PF withdrawal tax trap, ELSS 3-year SIP lock-in, PPF rules, emergency fund framework, SGB tax after Budget 2026, personal loan vs credit card, and Z2O Ch2 begins. Plus: advance tax instalment due June 15 — 8 days away.
Recent articles
All articles →Health insurance in India: how to compare room rent limits, co-payment, and no-claim bonus before you buy
Two ₹10L health insurance policies can give very different payouts in a real claim. A room rent limit of 1% of sum insured can reduce your entire ₹3.2L hospital bill reimbursement to ₹1.92L through proportionate deduction. This guide explains room rent limits, co-payment, NCB, and PED waiting periods — the four clauses that determine what you actually get.
The extra ₹50,000 NPS deduction under Section 80CCD(1B): who should use it and how
Section 80CCD(1B) lets you deduct ₹50,000 in NPS contributions over and above the ₹1.5L Section 80C limit — but only under the old tax regime. At 30% bracket, that saves ₹15,600 in tax. This lesson explains when it's worth using, the lock-in trade-off, and who benefits most.
LTCG harvesting: how to use the ₹1.25 lakh annual exemption before March 31 and reset your cost basis
The ₹1.25L annual LTCG exemption on equity doesn't carry forward — if you don't use it, it lapses. LTCG harvesting means selling equity fund units to book exactly ₹1.25L of gains (tax-free), then buying back immediately to reset your cost basis. Each year of harvesting saves ₹15,625 in future tax.
How to read your salary slip: what every component means and what to check each month
Basic, HRA, special allowance, LTA, EPF, TDS, professional tax — your payslip has 10+ components and the gap between CTC and in-hand can be ₹20,000 or more. This guide decodes every line with a worked example for Rahul at ₹83,200 gross, and shows five things worth verifying every month.
Is health insurance premium deductible in the new tax regime?
No — Section 80D (health insurance premium deduction) is not available under the new tax regime. But whether you get a tax benefit should not determine whether you buy health insurance. This lesson explains what 80D covers under the old regime, the maximum ₹75,000 deduction with senior citizen parents, and why under-insuring to save premium is the wrong trade-off.
FD interest: how it is taxed, TDS rules, and the accrual trap that catches most ITR filers
FD interest is fully taxable at your slab rate — TDS at 10% is not the final tax. For a ₹80,000 FD interest in the 20% bracket, you owe ₹8,000 more after TDS. Cumulative FDs accrue interest each year and must be declared annually, not at maturity. Your AIS will show more than your TDS certificate.
Home loan EMI: how it is calculated, how much is interest, and whether to prepay
At ₹50 lakh, 8.5%, 20 years — your EMI is ₹43,391/month and you pay ₹54 lakh in total interest on top of the loan. In Year 1, 84% of your EMI is interest. A ₹5 lakh prepayment in Year 3 saves ₹6–7 lakh in future interest. Here's the full EMI formula, prepayment math, and home loan tax deductions.
Can I claim 80C deductions in the new tax regime?
No — Section 80C deductions (EPF, PPF, ELSS, life insurance, home loan principal) are not available under the new tax regime. Your investments still happen and still grow; you just don't get the upfront deduction. Only standard deduction (₹75,000) and employer NPS contribution (80CCD(2)) survive in the new regime.
Read the series
Calculators
All calculators →Sundays. The week's money, in plain English.
Free · unsubscribe in one click · no financial advice