My salary is 60K. May know the proper financial planning with my 60K salary.
I'm a married person.Going to have a child in this year.
Ans: With a salary of Rs. 60,000 and a growing family, planning becomes more essential. As a Certified Financial Planner, I will help you look at your situation with clarity and care. Below is a 360-degree financial plan tailored for you.
We will cover all aspects of money — budgeting, emergency planning, risk protection, short-term and long-term investing, tax optimisation, and child planning.
Please read slowly and reflect at each step. This plan is your foundation.
Monthly Budget Management
Start with a basic income-outgo summary. Write it every month in a diary.
Use the 50:30:20 rule. Spend 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.
Needs include rent, food, utilities, school fees, EMIs. Track all of them properly.
Wants include outings, eating out, gadgets. Keep this limited every month.
Allocate 20% of salary, i.e., Rs. 12,000, towards savings and investments.
Don’t aim to save what is left. Spend what is left after saving.
Use cash or UPI for spending. Avoid credit cards to prevent debt traps.
Emergency Fund Planning
Save at least 4 to 6 months of expenses in a liquid and safe place.
For example, if monthly cost is Rs. 35,000, keep Rs. 2.1 lakhs as buffer.
This fund helps during job loss, health emergencies or urgent family needs.
Keep it in a separate bank account or liquid mutual fund.
Do not touch this money for regular spending or investments.
Build this fund slowly. Monthly savings of Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 is enough.
Risk Protection with Insurance
Life insurance is a must if your family depends on you.
Take a pure term plan. No return, no bonus, just protection.
Sum assured should be at least 15 times your annual income.
For Rs. 60,000 salary, that is about Rs. 1 crore cover.
Start this today. Premium is low if you take it early.
Don’t buy plans that mix insurance and investment. Returns are very poor.
If you already hold LIC, ULIP, or endowment policies, check returns.
Most give returns of 4% to 5% only. Not worth continuing.
Consider surrendering such plans. Shift to mutual funds via MFD + CFP.
Also take Rs. 5 lakhs health cover for self and spouse.
Consider top-up or family floater if your employer provides group cover.
Don’t forget personal accident and disability insurance. Premium is very low.
Debt and Loan Management
Avoid new loans now. Childbirth will bring added responsibilities.
If you have EMIs, track total EMI amount. Keep it under 30% of salary.
For Rs. 60,000 salary, total EMIs should not cross Rs. 18,000.
Never miss EMIs. It spoils credit score and leads to penalties.
If debt burden is too high, reduce wants and increase loan payments.
Pre-pay high-interest loans like personal loans or credit card dues first.
Child Birth and Family Planning
Congratulations on the upcoming arrival. This brings joy and more costs.
Maternity expenses can be Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. Plan for this now.
After birth, monthly expenses will rise by Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.
Include baby items, vaccines, doctor visits, etc., in the new budget.
Open a separate savings account for child-related costs.
Gradually start saving for child education too. Even Rs. 1,000 monthly helps.
Avoid child insurance policies. They offer poor returns and less flexibility.
Goal-Based Investment Planning
Define goals clearly. Use labels like “child education”, “car”, “retirement”.
Assign time frames. Short-term is 1–3 years. Long-term is 5–20 years.
Use different investments for each goal.
For short-term goals, choose safe options like recurring deposit or liquid fund.
For long-term goals, mutual funds through regular plans are better.
Use a Certified Financial Planner and MFD for mutual fund investments.
Regular plans give you guidance, monitoring, and hand-holding.
Direct plans save cost but offer no advice or tracking.
One wrong choice in direct plan can cost lakhs in long run.
Use SIPs. Even Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 monthly is enough to start.
Increase SIP every year when salary rises. That’s called SIP step-up.
Avoid Index Funds – Prefer Active Funds
Index funds copy a market index. They don’t aim to beat the market.
In falling markets, they fall just as much. No protection at all.
They don’t switch stocks based on company performance.
In India, fund managers in active funds have shown better long-term results.
Active funds review portfolio regularly and try to reduce risk.
In index funds, you have no control on bad stocks that remain in index.
For long-term goals, active mutual funds offer better peace of mind.
Choose 2 or 3 funds only. Don’t over-diversify.
Tax Saving Strategy
Use Section 80C. Invest Rs. 1.5 lakhs in tax saving options.
Choose options based on your goal and time frame.
PPF is safe and long-term. Lock-in is 15 years. Good for retirement.
ELSS mutual fund has 3-year lock-in. Useful for long-term wealth creation.
Don’t blindly invest to save tax. Focus on goals and safety.
Also claim deduction for health insurance under Section 80D.
Plan tax-saving investments before January. Avoid last-minute rush.
Retirement Planning Starts Early
Retirement is a must-have goal. Don’t delay it till late 40s.
Even small savings now will compound well over time.
Allocate Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 monthly towards long-term retirement fund.
Increase this as income grows. Aim to save at least 10% of salary.
Choose mutual fund SIP for long-term growth. PPF also supports safety.
Never depend fully on EPF or pension. Inflation reduces their value.
Build your own retirement fund step by step.
Spouse Involvement in Money Decisions
Discuss financial goals with your spouse openly.
Keep both of your bank accounts linked to shared goals.
Save together. Invest together. Take joint decisions on money.
Teach spouse about online transactions and tracking apps.
Both should know all financial passwords, accounts, and documents.
Family finance is a joint responsibility, not a one-person task.
Track and Review Financial Progress
Set reminders to review your plan every 6 months.
Recheck goals, SIPs, insurance, expenses, and emergency fund.
Track mutual fund performance. Stay patient during market ups and downs.
Don’t stop SIPs during market falls. That’s when it works best.
Review budget monthly. Adjust for salary changes or lifestyle shifts.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t mix insurance and investment. Keep both separate.
Don’t delay saving. Start even if amount is small.
Don’t copy friends’ investments. Their needs are different.
Don’t chase returns. Focus on goal and risk suitability.
Don’t break fixed deposits for spending. It ruins saving habit.
Don’t ignore health insurance. One hospitalisation can drain savings.
Don’t use child’s name for investments. Keep it under parent name.
Use Technology for Simplicity
Use mobile apps to track expenses, budget, and investments.
Set auto-debit for SIPs. This builds discipline.
Keep all financial documents scanned and backed up in cloud.
Use reminders for premium payments and EMIs.
Track your credit score once every year for free.
Finally
You are doing well by thinking ahead. That itself is a strength.
Financial planning is not only about returns. It’s about confidence and control.
With every salary hike, increase savings, not just expenses.
Stay consistent. Don’t try to time the market.
Review plans yearly. Take help from a Certified Financial Planner when unsure.
Your future is built one month at a time. Be patient and stay committed.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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