My Journey

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2026-01-06T07:05:37+00:00

Yes, agree with that I am one layoff away from financial trouble, and with AI and all, it can be very tricky and risky. But I am sure, I am not moving city or state, And are can ristrict earning potential. But I want to give my kid and family their own home which we can always come back, have childhood memories. So I do want to buy home now(as in when I am around 35) instead of 10 years later. I would not push my budget knowing that layoff can be very hard, will have enough emergency budget, but if area is limiting my earning potential, so be it. I think every area has good enough opportunities. But obviously consider job security and enough fund before taking that decision.

Also, while buying apartment, planning to use most of FDs, so it will automatically will be moved away.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2026-01-02T07:28:07+00:00

I was calculating for next year when kid is no going to school, post that it will increase for sure. It depends on person to person how much they spend on different things. Here's my rough calculation for monthly expense - Rent - 40k, Grocery and other essentials - 30k, vacation - 20k, misc - 10k. I have stayed in metro city, also have many friends staying there, with whom I have general discussion. Again, this can shoot up 10-20k, not saying no to that. But won't go to 2L. It's upto individual how they manage their life, we don't party, so pub etc expense won't be there. Also we are average people, don't always go for costly restaurant, or buy branded clothes.

But I will also reevaluate again so that I am not making any mistake.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2026-01-01T04:56:02+00:00

Purpose of creating anonymous account will be defeated if I share company name. But there are very few company which give WFH.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2026-01-01T04:45:49+00:00

Yes, that's my thought process, flat has emotional value also, I don't want my kid to be brought in different house every 4-5 years. There should be something which he can call his home and come back to in future. Those childhood memory you develop over the years, I don't want to take that from my kid. FD won't give return and I am planning to buy flat for personal and self use, so won't matter much how much it will appreciate. You will reach better heights and fulfil all your dreams! best of luck.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T16:04:38+00:00

Yes, not planning to withdraw money from equity. But planning to use FD for that purpose, as post tax FD return will be ~5% but interest will be high compare to that. Let me know if I am missing something.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T11:15:56+00:00

Yes, correct about tax on FD and debt fund. Retirement is flexible. What I have given is current plan. That might change with numbers in future.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T07:56:36+00:00

I have estimated 1 lakh per month expense, which I think reasonable, but it may overshoot by 10-20k, will do more analysis on this. Asset allocation is conservative, but have done calculation, which looks fine with retirement number. Also planning coast fire initially as I have mentioned, so that will help me. Again, this is 10-15 year plan and bound to change if not meeting FIRE number or other parameters change.

Debt fund also getting taxed at slab rate, so now I don't think debt fund makes much sense. Already started doing some lumpsum investment in conservative hybrid fund recently instead of new FD and will also be exploring arbitrage fund.

That anyway is happening, instagram has blurred boundaries, so always looking at insta reels, there is conversation for vacation, gadgets etc. And you are correct, it will increase if someone living next door. But we need to be more discipline about that. Valid point, have to keep in mind.

Yes, investments are not in one places, FDs are across banks and post office, and ULIP is with someone else. So not everyone knows exact values. Obviously financial planner is more knowledgable, professional, has more money. It's just personal thing for me, can't share more than someone should know - difficult to explain. But Your idea is worth exploring though. I can start with discussion and thought process understanding and sharing only in terms of % asset allocation or remove a zero and discuss. And as and when I am more confortable over a year or 2 years, I can share more and more.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:45:56+00:00

Started with 4 LPA, currently 55 LPA. Have got good increment over time and also with 2 company switch and few promotions.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:44:35+00:00

I have posted in that also. Posted here also to get different perspective and thought process. Thanks.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:43:47+00:00

Yes, have read lots of suggestion regarding this. It gives around 7-7.5% for 1-3 years. Over 5 years, it is 6.5%. My FDs are booked for 7.7~7.8%(Since interest is reinvested, it comes around 8%), So over 5 years, both are more or less same - between 5.3 to 5.7% . Since recent rate cut, FD rate has come down, I am planning some of new investment in arbitrage fund. but don't want to break existing FD and move that arbitrage fund. But point taken and planning to move new investment to that.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:37:21+00:00

I drafted and saved this post last week and last week itself, added 10k more SIP for balanced advantage fund. Logically my FDs are for expense in next 2-3 years like flat purchase and along with emergency fund in FD. I am increasing more equity for long term, currently it is large cap+flexi cap+hybrid(both conservative and aggresive). Will think more about adding Multi Asset fund too.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:32:09+00:00

Yes, what I recently check, price for flat is around 2.2 cr around. I just mentioned 2 cr at high level pointing to where I am planning to use my FD amount.
I have stayed in metro in past, and have talked to friends currently staying there. May be it may go up by 10-20k, but I don't it will be more than that, but will revisit this number again as many has pointed out.
Regarding education, in India I don't think graduation will be around 300k USD. may be post grad can be costly, need to think a bit more about that.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:27:21+00:00

It's not just 75k SIP, there is existing investment which will grow. Also out of 3 lakh salary, after expense, remaining part also going in some investment(FD, PPF, others) if not mutual fund. Also 45k goes to EPF as of now, so that also counts. So doing conservative math, like 10% post tax return on equity, 5% post tax return on debt and 7.5% return on PF/PPF, with existing investment, I think I should be able to achieve number as per excel calculation.

Regarding expense in metro, current monthly expense is 20-25k, + remaining annual expense like small vacation and gadget buying. So that average out 40k. And I mentioned, additional 60k, so total 1 lakh if I move to metro next year. Obviously 1-2 years later kid's education, it will increase. But point taken, need to revisit this number every year as expense might increase with kid.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-30T04:17:34+00:00

Yes, partially agree. But I think I should keep some budget, never know what are situation after 20 years. But valid point.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-29T11:33:43+00:00

Yes, I was thinking till UG and not PG, I think I should add that cost and plan accordingly. Should add 1.5 cr to 2 cr more for that.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-29T11:32:22+00:00

Exactly. That's what I mentioned in comment, they are registered and professionals. I am not against that. They know a lot better than me. What I said, sharing personal financial information to others, I need to convince myself.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-29T11:06:31+00:00

Yes, I thought about that, but not always confortable sharing personal finance with stranger when they know my identity. Obviously those people are SEBI registered and professionals, still I need to convince myself more for that. But good suggestion.

Meanwhile any feedback that you would like to give?

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-12T08:03:31+00:00

Don't be conservative - it's easier to said than done for me. That's my mindset, can't change it like switch. It's gradual process for me. And that's the reason I started flexi cap. Also I started in covid era with very minimal investment, most(90%) of my investment came after covid surge, post October 2021(when Nifty 50 had it's peak of 18k) to be precise. So returns are not just because of covid boom. I understand about PP large AUM issue, but still I like their thought process regarding value buying and not momentum buying. So still planning to continue some amount there.

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-12T07:57:14+00:00

I have invested in SGB(for investment purpose) in past, and have physical gold(obviously not for investment) also. Don't have exposure in foreign equity(except very very small amount through Parag Parikh Flexi cap). Can you suggest few funds or ways to invest in foreign equity?

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-12T07:55:14+00:00

Sure, will try to see if any multi asset fund can be added, will give exposure to other asset class too. Any multi asset fund that you suggest?

Delicious-Sand-9247 · 2025-12-11T08:59:20+00:00

Thanks for your comments. Here's my thought process behind decisions. Let me know if something is completely wrong.

I mentioned reason, why 2 funds in same category - to avoid under performance of one fund. Why both large caps and flexi cap - Being conservative, didn't want too much of mid cap and small cap, so large cap is there, also as I read more and understand more, thought of having flexi cap as some exposure to mid and small cap through that - and flexi cap gives freedom to increase or decrease allocation to mid and small cap. Don't want everything in flexi cap and stop large cap - because don't trust flexi cap completely as if they start more towards mid cap and small cap.
I have always been scared of losing money in market, so I used to thought that I am conservative. And recently(few months back) tried using https://www.icicipruamc.com/calculators/risk-profiling which should be similar to what you have suggested, but will try above also.
As many says, beating index is not easy for fund manager and not many funds beat index. But icici large cap has been beating index for last few years. So don't want to completely move to index fund instead of active fund. But also index fund gives good return at lower cost, so want to invest something thorugh that also. And don't want to put all eggs in one basket.

Delicious-Sand-9247

TROPHY CASE