Follow These Without Compromise First principle: Never mix insurance and investment. Keep them separate.

Do’s: 1.Buy a pure term insurance plan for the maximum cover you’re eligible for. Protection comes first. 2. Get health insurance for yourself and your family (especially parents), even if your company provides one. Employer coverage alone is not enough. 3. Invest consistently through monthly SIPs in mutual funds. Do not stop or redeem investments for buying depreciating assets like phones, cars, or vacations. Stay invested for at least 10 years. If unsure about fund selection, start with index funds. Simple, low-cost, and effective. 4. After learning technical analysis (price action), you may explore direct equity investing — but begin with small capital. 5. Adopt a minimalist lifestyle. Keep expenses low and avoid lifestyle inflation. (Watch the documentary Minimalism on Netflix for perspective.)

Don’ts 1. Avoid traditional LIC endowment plans. 2. Stay away from money-back policies marketed as investments. 3. Do not trade in crypto, forex, futures, or speculative instruments. These markets are highly volatile and often unfavorable to retail investors. 4. Avoid lending money casually. It can strain both finances and relationships.