iam working in public sector bank and my gross pay is around 90k+4k allowances and netpay around 84k
I have car loan of 7.45 lakh(present) with emi 13.5 k 7.8% roi and i have taken 6.5 lakh in loan from cooperative society at 10% si with emi around 11k also i have fully used staff od of 7 lakh 7% si roi.
Also i get a medical exgratia of 19k per month and i have stocks worth 7 lakh and i am getting married in dec this year how should i manage things so that i clear all my loans except car loan in next 1 year. And after deductions my current net pay is 58k +19k exgratia. Kindly guide me how should i strengthen my finances i.e both refuce loan and how shoul i invest my current age is 28
Ans: – You are just 28, but already aware of your finances. That is rare and praiseworthy.
– Planning before marriage and wanting to repay loans is a sign of responsibility.
– Your focus on financial discipline and investment is a strong foundation for your future.
– You are on the right path. Now, you just need a more structured direction.
» Present Income and Cash Flow Assessment
– Gross salary is around Rs 94,000. Net in hand is Rs 58,000 after deductions.
– You get Rs 19,000 monthly as exgratia, which adds strength to your cash flow.
– Your total available income per month is about Rs 77,000.
– Car loan EMI is Rs 13,500 and cooperative loan EMI is Rs 11,000.
– You are paying Rs 24,500 every month just on these two loans.
– You also have a Rs 7 lakh overdraft at 7% interest, fully utilised.
» Total Debt Structure Overview
– Total liabilities are:
Car loan – Rs 7.45 lakh
Cooperative society loan – Rs 6.5 lakh
Staff OD – Rs 7 lakh
– That means Rs 20.95 lakh total outstanding loan.
– Out of this, you want to clear Rs 13.5 lakh (excluding car loan) in 1 year.
– Your goal is strong and time-bound. A structured strategy can help you achieve it.
» Evaluating the EMI Burden and Current Status
– Current EMI outgo is already 32% of your income (Rs 24.5k out of Rs 77k).
– That is quite high for your age and upcoming responsibilities like marriage.
– Excluding car loan, your EMI burden is Rs 11,000 per month.
– The OD interest of 7% is not in EMI form, but it silently eats into your savings.
– We need to reduce interest costs and manage repayment smartly.
» Stocks Holding Strategy – Risk and Realignment
– You have Rs 7 lakh in stocks. This is good at 28, but also risky.
– Stock value is not guaranteed and could drop when you may need it most.
– Since your aim is to close loans in one year, equity risk is not suitable.
– Consider partially exiting your stocks now, especially if you are in profits.
– Liquidate at least Rs 5 lakh from the Rs 7 lakh holding for debt reduction.
– This will not only reduce interest costs, but also free up cash flow.
» Suggested Loan Repayment Strategy for Next 12 Months
– Use Rs 5 lakh from stocks to immediately repay part of OD or society loan.
– Prioritise repaying the cooperative society loan first. It has highest interest (10%).
– Then reduce the OD. Since it has no fixed EMI, reducing principal helps.
– After stock liquidation, balance Rs 8.5 lakh loan can be paid over 12 months.
– That means you need to pay about Rs 70,000 monthly to clear the rest.
– From your Rs 77k income, that is possible by keeping expenses extremely tight.
– Keep Rs 7,000 for essential expenses. Avoid any new luxury expenses.
– Any bonus or additional income should also go into repayment.
– Discuss with family to keep marriage expenses modest.
» Managing Marriage Expenses without Creating New Debt
– Marriage costs can easily disrupt your entire plan if not controlled.
– Plan a budget wedding. Avoid personal loan or credit card funding.
– Any gifts or support from family should be used only for wedding, not loans.
– Do not touch your salary or exgratia amount for wedding shopping.
– Keep that income only for EMI payments and reducing overdraft.
» No New Investments Before Debt Is Cleared
– Do not start SIPs or ULIPs or any other investments till all loans are cleared.
– Right now, investing will only delay your goal of becoming debt-free.
– After becoming debt-free, start fresh investments with purpose and plan.
» How to Strengthen Finances After Loan Clearance
– Once cooperative loan and OD are cleared, you will save Rs 18,000 monthly.
– Redirect this saved EMI to mutual funds via SIPs.
– Start with Rs 15,000 SIP monthly. Keep Rs 3,000 for emergency fund buildup.
– Always choose regular plans through MFD backed by a Certified Financial Planner.
– Don’t go for direct funds. They look cheaper but lack advisory and portfolio reviews.
– MFD with CFP brings regular fund reviews and corrections if needed.
» Avoid Index Funds in Future Planning
– Index funds follow a fixed rule. They can’t protect you in market falls.
– No fund manager actively manages or rebalances them.
– They don’t adjust to market cycles or sectors.
– Actively managed mutual funds are more flexible. They protect better in market crash.
– Skilled fund managers can shift assets across sectors for better risk control.
» Medical Exgratia Utilisation
– The Rs 19,000 monthly medical exgratia is an advantage.
– Save this separately in a liquid fund. Use only in medical or emergency need.
– Don’t count it as part of regular income for EMI or investment.
– Treat this as your health protection reserve.
» Insurance Coverage Review After Marriage
– After marriage, review your health insurance again.
– Cover both yourself and spouse under a family floater plan.
– Maintain minimum Rs 10 lakh family floater health cover.
– Since you work in bank, you may get employee medical cover.
– Still, personal policy is a must.
– Also buy a term insurance plan after marriage.
– Coverage should be minimum 10 times your annual income.
– This will protect your spouse and future children financially.
– Avoid ULIPs or endowment policies. They mix insurance and investment badly.
– Keep insurance and investment separate.
» Building Emergency Fund After Loan Clearance
– After loans are paid off, build an emergency fund of at least Rs 2 lakh.
– Keep it in a liquid or ultra short-term fund.
– Don’t touch it unless there’s job loss or serious medical issue.
– It should cover at least 3 to 6 months of expenses.
– Without this, you may again fall into debt during emergencies.
» Investment Plan for Long-Term Goals
– Once loans are done, and emergency fund is ready, start planning for long-term.
– You are only 28, so time is on your side.
– Start SIPs in actively managed mutual funds through MFD + CFP guidance.
– Begin goal-wise investing. For example:
Rs 5,000 monthly SIP for your future home downpayment
Rs 7,000 monthly SIP for retirement at 60
Rs 3,000 SIP for future child education
– These can be adjusted as income grows.
– Review your funds every 6 months with your MFD.
» Tax Planning Post Debt Clearance
– Once you free your cash flow, use Rs 1.5 lakh 80C limit wisely.
– PPF, EPF, ELSS mutual funds are good options.
– Avoid ULIPs or tax-saving insurance.
– Invest under 80D for health insurance too.
– Keep income tax liability low but with purpose-driven instruments.
» Final Insights
– Your discipline and early planning mindset are your biggest strength.
– Pay off loans first. Start investments only after that.
– Don’t mix insurance and investment.
– Keep wedding simple. Don’t borrow more for celebration.
– Use stock gains to repay high-cost loans.
– Start SIPs only after your loan burden ends.
– Stay focused. Don’t rush into new investments because peers are doing it.
– Every step should be tied to a financial goal.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment