Estimated read: 5 minutes

If you earn a steady salary and haven’t started investing, congratulations — you’re in the sweet spot. Small, consistent investments beat sporadic big bets. Here’s a practical, sensible path to start.

Step 1: Emergency fund first
Build 3–6 months of essential expenses in a liquid fund or savings account. This is your safety net. No investments should endanger day-to-day liquidity.

Step 2: Clear high-cost debt
If you have credit card debt or high-rate loans, focus on clearing them. Paying off 18% interest beats most investment returns.

Step 3: Automate SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans)
Set up SIPs in low-cost index funds or well-rated equity mutual funds. Start small — ₹1,000/month. SIPs force discipline and average out market swings.

Step 4: Mix debt and equity by age & goals
Younger? Higher equity allocation. Nearing a goal? Shift to safer debt instruments. For many salaried folks, a 60:40 (equity:debt) split is a sensible baseline, adjusted for goals and risk appetite.

Step 5: Use tax-efficient instruments wisely
PPF and ELSS are useful for tax saving and long-term goals. Use them within a broader plan, not just for deductions.

Step 6: Keep costs low
Prefer index funds or low-fee mutual funds. High-management-fee funds underperform net returns over time.

Step 7: Rebalance annually
Once a year, check your allocations. Rebalance to maintain your target mix — sells where you’re overweight, buy where underweight.

Step 8: Keep it boring
Avoid hot tips, timing the market, or trying to be a day trader. Most long-term wealth in India has been built by disciplined, low-cost investing.

Wrap-up
For salaried Indians, the fastest path to financial comfort is: emergency fund, clear high-cost debt, automate SIPs, diversify, and keep fees low. Start small, stay consistent.

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5 — Digital housekeeping: secure your financial life in 10 steps

Estimated read: 5 minutes

Your digital life includes bank UPI IDs, passwords, and app permissions. Small sloppiness can lead to big headaches. Here’s a practical checklist to secure your finances without becoming paranoid.

1. Unique passwords + a password manager
   Use a password manager for complex, unique passwords. It’s the fastest route to security without friction.
2. Enable two-factor authentication
   Always enable 2FA on banking, email, and payment apps. Prefer app-based or hardware OTPs over SMS where possible.
3. Limit app permissions
   Only give WhatsApp or apps the permissions they need. Don’t let apps read unnecessary data or access your contacts without reason.
4. Beware phishing
   If a message urges immediate action or asks for OTPs, pause. Banks and legitimate services never ask for your OTP. Confirm from official channels.
5. Update your phone & apps
   Security patches matter. Keep your OS and apps up-to-date — that’s often the simplest defense.
6. Use official app stores
   Install banking and payment apps only from official stores. Avoid APKs from unknown sites.
7. Backup your financial records
   Export statements monthly, keep copies in a secure cloud folder and offline if needed. It helps during disputes.
8. Limit shared access
   If you share a family bucket, use roles: who can spend, who can view, who can approve. Small governance reduces misuse.
9. Use a separate email for financial accounts
   A dedicated email for banking, investments, and tax accounts reduces exposure and simplifies monitoring.
10. Regularly audit subscriptions
    Check recurring payments quarterly — cancel forgotten subscriptions and limit card auto-pay anchors.

Wrap-up
Security is boring and boring is effective. Small, consistent practices protect you from most threats. Keep things simple and automated, and treat security as a habit, not a project.