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How to Budget My 67,000 INR Salary with Existing Loans and Investments?

Ramalingam Kalirajan |8103 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 23, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 29, 2024Hindi

Hi Sir, I am Gourav 40 Year old I have a monthly in hand salary of 67,000 INR. I have a Home Loan outstanding of Rs 950000 and EMI on That Rs 11000 Rate of 9.85%, having a personal loan of rs 150000 and Emi on that rs 9000 other expenses for 20000. I Invest MF SIP 23000/Month, lic of children 1000/month , 1726/per month is Term insurance plan , please suggest is I am doing right or some thing have to change in my plan.?

Ans: It’s commendable that you have a structured financial plan. Your disciplined approach is evident in your consistent investments and commitments. Let’s evaluate your financial situation and make necessary improvements.

Current Income and Expense Management
Your monthly in-hand salary of Rs 67,000 provides a solid foundation.

Home loan EMI of Rs 11,000 (at 9.85%) and personal loan EMI of Rs 9,000 are manageable but significant.

Fixed expenses like loans and insurance account for Rs 21,726, leaving Rs 45,274 for investments and other expenses.

Your monthly household and lifestyle expenses of Rs 20,000 are reasonable given your income.

Strengths in Your Financial Plan
A disciplined SIP of Rs 23,000 shows a strong focus on wealth creation.

Allocating Rs 1,726 to term insurance reflects good risk management.

LIC policy for your children at Rs 1,000 per month is a thoughtful step.

Loan Management
Home loan: Consider prepaying the loan partially when you receive bonuses or increments. This will reduce interest burden.

Personal loan: This loan has a high-interest rate compared to your home loan. Prioritize repaying this early. Use any surplus or low-risk investments to clear it sooner.

Avoid taking any new loans unless absolutely necessary.

Investment Analysis
Mutual Funds
Your SIP allocation of Rs 23,000/month is impressive. Ensure it is diversified across large-cap, mid-cap, and debt funds.

Actively managed funds offer better returns compared to index funds. They are handled by expert fund managers, which helps in better stock selection.

Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for periodic portfolio reviews.

LIC Policy
Review the LIC policy to understand its returns and benefits. If it is not giving sufficient returns, consider surrendering and reinvesting in mutual funds.
Term Insurance
Your Rs 1,726/month term insurance plan is vital. It provides financial security to your family. Ensure the coverage is adequate. Ideally, the coverage should be 10-15 times your annual income.
Risk Coverage and Contingency Planning
Emergency Fund: Maintain 6-12 months’ worth of expenses in a liquid fund or savings account. This will safeguard you during job changes or emergencies.

Health Insurance: Ensure you have a separate health insurance policy apart from your employer’s cover. Family floater plans are a good option.

Additional Insurance Needs: Ensure your personal accident insurance is in place. This adds to your risk coverage.

Tax Efficiency
Investments in equity mutual funds should align with long-term goals to enjoy lower LTCG tax. Gains above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

Debt mutual funds have LTCG and STCG taxed as per your income slab. Consider them for short-term goals.

Section 80C: Maximize tax savings by utilizing Rs 1.5 lakh under this section. LIC premiums, ELSS mutual funds, and PPF contributions can help.

Section 80D: Avail deductions for health insurance premiums paid.

Retirement Planning
It’s crucial to set aside funds for retirement early.

Mutual funds, especially balanced or hybrid funds, can provide steady growth.

Avoid ULIPs or annuities, as they often underperform compared to mutual funds.

Children’s Future Planning
You already have an LIC policy for your children. Review its returns and maturity benefits.

Invest in child-specific mutual funds or balanced funds to build a corpus for higher education and marriage.

Use SIPs for long-term goals. They ensure disciplined investing and rupee cost averaging.

Improvement Areas and Suggestions
Focus on repaying high-interest loans like personal loans first.

Increase SIP allocation when your income increases.

Review your mutual fund portfolio annually to ensure it aligns with goals.

Diversify your investments beyond equity, such as debt funds or fixed deposits for short-term goals.

Final Insights
Your financial planning shows discipline and foresight. By fine-tuning loan repayment and investment strategies, you can achieve your goals faster. Regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner will help optimize your plan. Stay committed to your financial journey and avoid impulsive expenses.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.