Free money guides for India
Plain-language guides on tax, loans, savings and retirement planning — each one links straight to the calculator you need to run your own numbers.
Old vs new tax regime: which saves more in FY 2026-27?
Since the new regime became the default and picked up a bigger standard deduction and a ₹12 lakh rebate threshold, most salaried Indians pay less tax under it — but not everyone. Here's how the two regimes actually compare, and how to tell which one is better for you.
🏠 Home LoansHow to prepay a home loan: reduce EMI or reduce tenure?
A home loan is usually the cheapest, longest debt most people carry — which is exactly why a small, well-timed prepayment habit can save lakhs in interest. Here's how to actually build one.
💰 Tax-Saving InvestmentsSection 80C explained: PPF vs ELSS vs SSY
Section 80C lets you deduct up to ₹1,50,000 a year from taxable income (old tax regime only) — but it covers over a dozen different instruments with very different risk, lock-in and return profiles. PPF, ELSS and SSY are three of the most popular. Here's how to choose.
📈 Mutual FundsSIP vs lump sum: what does the math actually say?
The SIP-vs-lump-sum debate usually gets framed as a strategy choice, but it's often really a question about what kind of money you're investing — a monthly salary you don't have yet, or a sum you already have sitting in a bank account.
🏠 Home LoansHow much home loan can I actually afford?
Banks will often approve a bigger loan than you should comfortably take. Here's how eligibility is actually calculated, and how to set your own, more conservative limit before you fall in love with a house you can't really afford.
💰 Savings & DepositsFD vs RD vs PPF: where should each rupee go?
FD, RD and PPF are all "safe" instruments, but they serve different jobs. Picking the wrong one for the job — like locking your emergency fund into PPF — can leave you stuck when you need cash most.
🧾 Tax PlanningHRA exemption rules explained with examples
HRA exemption trips people up because it isn't one number — it's the lowest of three separate calculations. Here's how each one works, with the metro/non-metro distinction that changes the answer.
🔥 Retirement PlanningWhat is FIRE and how much do you need in India?
FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — comes down to one question: how big a corpus lets you stop depending on a salary, permanently? The math is simpler than the lifestyle changes it usually requires.
🧓 Retirement PlanningNPS vs EPF: which retirement account wins?
Most salaried Indians already have EPF running in the background of every paycheck. NPS is optional — and comes with a tax deduction EPF doesn't. Here's how the two actually compare.
🔄 Mutual FundsSTP explained: moving from lump sum to equity safely
If you have a large lump sum and want equity exposure but are uneasy about investing it all on one day, an STP is the standard middle ground — invest it all right away, just not all into equity.