I have a homeloan of 45 lakhs and a emi of 43000/- every month. I have a car loan of 25000/- which I will clear in next 2 months and about 45000/- cred card bills where the emi is about 9000/-. My home expenses including everything comes to 25000-30000. And I have mutual fund investment SIP of 25000. My income is 155000. I want to settle my home loan in next 5 years. What should be my strategy
Ans: Your income of Rs. 1,55,000 monthly is strong.
SIP of Rs. 25,000 shows financial discipline.
Clearing car loan in two months is positive.
Regular EMI payment shows commitment to liabilities.
Keeping home expenses within Rs. 30,000 is good control.
These habits build a solid base for your goal. Settling the home loan in five years is ambitious but achievable with structured planning.
» Current Situation Review
Home loan: Rs. 45 lakhs. EMI: Rs. 43,000.
Car loan: EMI Rs. 25,000. Will close in two months.
Credit card: Rs. 45,000. EMI Rs. 9,000.
Home expenses: Rs. 25,000–30,000.
SIP: Rs. 25,000.
Income: Rs. 1,55,000.
Your total fixed outflow is about Rs. 1,07,000 now. This includes all EMIs, SIPs, and expenses. That leaves you with about Rs. 48,000 surplus. After two months, when car loan closes, surplus will grow further.
» Goal Analysis
Objective: Close home loan in five years.
Benefit: Save large interest outgo. Gain peace of mind.
Challenge: Requires high prepayment every year.
Impact: Limits investments for wealth creation during these five years.
We need to strike a balance between fast repayment and wealth growth.
» Step 1: Prioritise Clearing High-Cost Debt
Credit card EMI is costliest. Pay off first.
Use surplus and bonuses to clear it immediately.
Avoid revolving credit again. Keep cards as convenience, not credit source.
Credit card cleared means less stress and better credit score.
» Step 2: Plan for Car Loan Closure
Car loan will close in two months. That will free Rs. 25,000 EMI.
Use this freed-up amount wisely for next steps.
» Step 3: Build Emergency Fund
Before big prepayments, create emergency reserve.
Target 6 months of total expenses including EMI. Around Rs. 4–5 lakhs.
Keep in liquid funds or sweep FD. Do not mix with investments.
This is critical because aggressive loan prepayment without safety net creates risk.
» Step 4: Strategy for Home Loan Prepayment
After building emergency fund, channel surplus for prepayment.
Redirect Rs. 25,000 freed from car loan EMI to prepayment fund.
Add any annual bonus, incentives, or extra income to same fund.
Try to make one large prepayment every year. This cuts interest drastically.
Target is to reduce principal aggressively in first three years.
» Step 5: Control Lifestyle Inflation
Avoid big spends after loan reduction.
Do not upgrade car or gadgets on EMI.
Delay unnecessary luxury trips until loan target is met.
Each rupee saved accelerates home loan closure.
» Impact on Investments
SIP of Rs. 25,000 is good. Do not stop it fully.
But consider pausing SIP increase for next five years.
Maintain equity exposure for long-term wealth.
Because closing loan alone will not create wealth for future.
If SIP runs parallel, you build both safety and growth.
» Mutual Fund Choice
Continue SIP in actively managed funds.
Avoid index funds because they lack research-driven management.
In volatile markets, index funds simply mirror losses.
Active funds can adapt to market conditions.
Direct funds often look cheaper but lack advisor support.
Investing through regular plans with an MFD and CFP ensures review and discipline.
This personalised guidance reduces mistakes and enhances returns over time.
» Cash Flow Planning After Car Loan Closure
Rs. 25,000 EMI will end soon.
Allocate Rs. 20,000 from this to prepayment.
Keep Rs. 5,000 extra for emergency or SIP top-up.
This systematic allocation builds momentum for loan settlement.
» Using Surplus Income
Your current surplus is Rs. 48,000.
After car loan closure, surplus will rise above Rs. 70,000.
From this, keep Rs. 20,000 for emergency fund till target reached.
Rest can be split between prepayment and SIP.
Example: Rs. 40,000 prepayment, Rs. 10,000 SIP top-up after emergency fund built.
» Tax Planning Alongside Loan Prepayment
Home loan gives tax benefit under Section 80C and interest deduction under Section 24(b).
Prepayment reduces interest, so tax benefit reduces too.
But long-term saving on interest is bigger than tax loss.
Do not use PPF or EPF for prepayment. These are for retirement security.
» Bonus and Windfall Management
Use bonuses, incentives, and ESOP redemptions for prepayment.
Do not spend these on depreciating assets.
One lump sum every year speeds up loan closure significantly.
» Maintain Liquidity
Do not commit all cash to loan.
Keep minimum 3–4 months of EMI aside even after emergency fund is built.
Sudden income break can create panic otherwise.
» Risk and Insurance
Home loan liability requires adequate term cover.
Ensure term insurance sum assured covers loan and future needs.
Health insurance should be robust. One medical emergency can disrupt plan.
Add top-up health policy if needed.
» Long-Term Perspective
Closing home loan early gives peace and better cash flow later.
But do not completely ignore wealth-building investments during this phase.
You need retirement security beyond loan freedom.
Maintain a balanced approach for both.
» Behavioural Discipline
Resist urge to reduce SIP and spend more when EMIs go down.
Keep mindset of loan-free life as priority.
Review plan annually with a CFP to adjust strategy.
» Final Insights
Pay off credit card debt first.
Build emergency fund before big prepayments.
Redirect car EMI to home loan prepayment after closure.
Maintain SIPs for long-term wealth creation.
Avoid lifestyle inflation during repayment phase.
Use bonuses and windfalls for lump sum prepayment.
Ensure adequate insurance cover to protect the plan.
Get regular review from a CFP for fine-tuning strategy.
With strict execution and discipline, closing the loan in five years is realistic. It needs structured allocation, strong control on spends, and steady investment discipline.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment