Can I pay off my car loan early on a 1.2 lakh salary?

Ans: At the age of 30, you have a steady income of Rs 1.2 lakh per month, which is a good starting point for building your financial future. You are managing multiple responsibilities such as a car loan, investments, and regular expenses like home rent.

Let’s break down your financial situation and find a practical way to pay off your car loan while maintaining a healthy balance in your financial commitments.

Understanding Your Current Financial Commitments
Car Loan: You are paying Rs 19,000 as EMI for your car loan, which is a significant portion of your income. Given that it’s a 5-year loan, this is a long-term commitment. Paying it off early will help you free up funds for other important goals.

Investments:

SIP in Kotak Multicap: Rs 3,500 per month, which is a reasonable amount. Multicap funds give you exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks, offering a balanced risk profile.

PPF: Rs 1,000 per month is going into your PPF account. PPF is a great long-term investment option, but its liquidity is low as it has a 15-year lock-in period.

LIC Premium: Rs 12,000 per quarter is being paid towards LIC. While insurance is important, it’s essential to evaluate whether this LIC plan offers you the best returns and protection.

Home Rent: Rs 12,500 per month is going towards rent, which is a manageable amount considering your income.

Key Areas for Improvement
Car Loan Repayment: Paying Rs 19,000 EMI every month for 5 years will tie up a significant portion of your monthly income. Early repayment will reduce your interest burden.

LIC Evaluation: Traditional LIC policies often offer lower returns compared to other investments like mutual funds. If this policy is a traditional investment-cum-insurance plan, you may want to reconsider it.

Savings for Emergency: It is important to have an emergency fund that covers at least 6 months of expenses. This will provide a safety net in case of unexpected situations.

Steps to Accelerate Car Loan Repayment
1. Reallocate Existing Funds
You are currently paying Rs 12,000 per quarter towards LIC, which comes to Rs 4,000 per month. If your LIC plan is a traditional endowment or money-back plan, you might consider surrendering this policy and redirecting the funds into repaying your car loan.

The savings from this can be used to make an additional monthly payment towards the loan. This will help reduce the principal amount, leading to an early payoff.

2. Increase Your SIP Contribution Once Loan is Paid
Once the car loan is paid off, you can increase your SIP contributions. Currently, Rs 3,500 per month is going into your SIP. After freeing up Rs 19,000 from the car loan, a portion of this amount can be directed into SIPs, which will help in building a stronger corpus for future goals.
3. Create an Emergency Fund
Having an emergency fund is crucial. You should aim to save 3-6 months' worth of expenses. You could consider saving Rs 5,000 per month for this. This fund should ideally be kept in a liquid fund or a high-interest savings account for easy access in case of emergencies.
4. Optimise Your Monthly Budget
Rent: Rs 12,500 per month is a reasonable rent for your income level. However, if you can find a place with a slightly lower rent, say around Rs 10,000, it will free up Rs 2,500 each month. This can be added towards your car loan EMI or other investments.

Entertainment and Discretionary Expenses: You may want to review your discretionary spending such as dining out, subscriptions, and entertainment. Even cutting down by Rs 3,000 per month can make a difference and help you achieve early repayment of your loan.

5. Avoid Taking New Loans
In the near future, avoid taking any additional loans or making purchases on EMIs. This will help you focus on clearing your current car loan first. Once you are debt-free, your savings and investment capacity will increase significantly.
6. Consider a Lump Sum Payment
If you receive any bonuses or windfall gains (such as a salary increment or gifts), you can make a lump sum payment towards the car loan principal. This will reduce the total interest you pay over the tenure of the loan and shorten the repayment period.
Reassessing Your Investment Portfolio
1. Multicap Fund Investment
Your current SIP of Rs 3,500 per month in a multicap fund is a balanced approach. Multicap funds offer a diversified investment across large, mid, and small caps. You can continue this investment but increase the amount once your loan is paid off. Gradually stepping up your SIP will ensure that you are building wealth at a steady pace.

2. PPF Investment
You are contributing Rs 1,000 monthly to PPF. Since PPF is a long-term, safe investment, you can consider increasing this contribution when your loan burden decreases. However, keep in mind that PPF has a 15-year lock-in period, which means it won't be liquid in case of any short-term financial requirements.
3. LIC Premiums
Traditional LIC policies typically provide lower returns. If your policy is a non-term insurance plan, you should evaluate its surrender value and benefits. You could consider reinvesting the surrendered value into a diversified mutual fund portfolio through a Certified Financial Planner. This will likely offer better long-term returns.

Action Plan for the Future
1. Pay Off Car Loan Early
With focused efforts, you can pay off your car loan earlier by reallocating funds and reducing non-essential expenses. This will improve your cash flow and reduce your financial burden.

2. Increase Investments Gradually
Once your car loan is cleared, allocate a significant portion of the freed-up funds towards SIPs and other investments. This will help you in meeting your future financial goals, whether it’s for retirement or other life goals like buying a house.

3. Build an Emergency Fund
Start saving for an emergency fund immediately. Rs 5,000 per month would be a good starting point. This will give you a safety net, and it should be one of your top priorities.

4. Surrender LIC if Needed
If your LIC policy is not giving you good returns, you can consider surrendering it and reinvesting in mutual funds with the help of a Certified Financial Planner.

5. Set Clear Financial Goals
It’s important to have clear financial goals for the future. With your current income, once your car loan is paid off, you should focus on long-term wealth creation through systematic investments.

6. Stay Disciplined
Avoid unnecessary loans and purchases. Staying disciplined with your savings and investments will ensure that you stay on track with your financial goals.

Final Insights
You are in a strong position to manage your finances effectively with a few strategic adjustments. By focusing on repaying your car loan early and reallocating your funds towards investments, you can ensure long-term financial stability.

Building an emergency fund and reviewing your LIC policy will provide more financial freedom. At the same time, continuing and increasing your SIP contributions will help you build wealth for future goals. Small adjustments can go a long way in making your financial journey smoother and more rewarding.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in