We have all been through the stage when we feel too damn excited about our new job, haven’t we? Our joy knows no bounds especially when we receive our first pay-cheque. After having spent the required amount of money on our different necessities, one obvious thought looms large: What next? And this is where financial planning steps in – and like someone said “One does not become rich by what he earns but by what he saves”.
Don’t worry, we have you covered on how to plan your finances at this new juncture of your life.
Understand the Different Components of Your Salary
Ever encountered a case where your take home salary is much less than what you were expecting? There are different parts that constitute the salary such as the Basic Pay, House Rent Allowance, Dearness Allowance, Provident Fund, Gratuity, etc. An optimum plan can be developed once you have thoroughly understood each of the components.
The 50/30/20 Rule
Having received your pay, what should be the next course of action? It is recommended to spend 50% of your income on fixed costs, 30% on your lifestyle expenditure and the rest 20% should typically go into your savings. While it is not a strict rule to be followed, at least 15-20% of the income should be saved so that it can be put to a better use.
Reduce Taxable Income, Save More
We have all been victim to the necessary evil that comes in the form of taxes. A lesser known fact is that we can substantially reduce our taxable income through some expenses that are allowable as deduction under the income tax act. Examples include part of house rent, medical insurance premium, donations to charitable institutions and so on. After all, who doesn’t like to save more?
Invest Savings, Don’t stash them in a Bank
A common mistake is that we stash our savings in our bank accounts without realizing that with time, inflation will erode out savings gradually. At this juncture of our professional life, we have time on our side and that allows us greater aggression. But the aggression should be utilized with wisdom. Idle money in your bank accounts is money lost. So get up, talk to an advisor and start building a portfolio.
Learn And Invest, Not the other way round
We should not invest without having any prior knowledge about the financial markets. It is always nice to get some sound knowledge from a professional expert. Better to be safe than sorry.
Get Insured
An understated objective for working professionals is the importance of insurance. While a life / term insurance seems to be of little value at a young age, it becomes imperative if we have dependents. Also, by starting an insurance early, we save on the additional costs of a delayed start. For health insurance, while our organizations may be covering this aspect, it is always better to get a separate health insurance cover too.
Understand the Government initiatives to Reduce Taxable Income
The government offers several schemes which enable you to reduce the taxable income. For example: The amount of health insurance premium you pay in a year is deductible from taxable income up to Rs. 25000. You should be aware of these benefits as they contribute significantly to saving taxes.
How do we help?
At CAGRfunds, we seek to become your financial partners throughout the course of your investment journey. As you embark on a new journey of self sufficiency, we help you take better decisions related to your wealth. Want to manage your expense better or have a query related to your education loan – we have it all covered!
Shoot all your queries as comments to this post. Or just whatsapp us on +91 97693 56440.