Hello Anu. I hope you are doing well. I follow your column and read your posts.
I have a different issue. I am single and 30+ years. I have no complaints as I did not find any suitable guy to marry. I had a happy and busy life before Covid. However after Covid, lockdown and this work from home life has become monotonous. I not only lost my uncle due to depression but lost my friends due to fights and misunderstanding. I believe in giving importance so I tried to patch up with my friends but they prefer to break all the connections and move on. I have always had a thing for respect and to be valued. I moved away too coz I felt it was the right thing to do but somewhere it hurts me a lot that I am not able to hold on to my friends who knew me for so many years. How can someone get abandoned and not want to talk and sort things out?
I feel I am overthinking it when the others are not even bothered or thinking about me or it. I really want to move away and focus on my life and career. I try doing it but many times there are so many things that reminds me of them and I get stuck and emotional again.
I am trying some meditation and journaling but it does not seem to clear my mind.
Hence I thought of checking with you.
Let me know if you have any advice for me.

Ans: Congratulations to your son on achieving a 98.08 percentile in JEE Main! Securing a seat in CSE at NIT Warangal may be challenging. Tier-2 and Tier-3 NITs typically have higher closing ranks for CSE, which might align more closely with your son's rank .? NITs in north eastern states. See previous years' cut off

Ans: Plaksha University is a relatively new institution but is gaining attention for its interdisciplinary approach, strong industry collaborations, and emphasis on entrepreneurship, AI, and emerging technologies. Before deciding on Plaksha University for CSE, here are some factors to consider: Limited Alumni Network, Higher Fees, Placement still evolving

Ans: Hello;

You can get many budgeting methods online however the key is the strict fiscal discipline, optimal asset allocation and frugal shopping.

Few measures to improve monthly budget:

1. Mind your credit card spends and ensure timely payment.
2. Avoid impulse purchases.
3. Limit discretionary spending.
4. Avoid FOMO shopping.
5. Prefer E-Com/Q-Com to get price benefits but only from reputed portals.
6. Keep 6-8 month worth regular expenses coverage corpus as emergency fund.
7. Be adequately insured for life as well as health.

Given below two budgeting methods:

1. 50/30/20 method
Traditionally in this method it advocates that 50% of your income should go towards essential needs, 30% for discretionary needs and balance 20% for investment, however I prefer to flip it in this way:
50% Investments
30%: Essential needs
20%: Discretionary needs

2. Pay yourself first budget
The pay yourself first budget is another simple budgeting method focusing basically on savings and debt repayment. With this method, you set aside a specific amount from each monthly income for savings and debt repayments, spending the rest as you feel appropriate.

Best wishes;

Ans: Hello;

I disagree with the suggestion given to you.

You must primarily focus on faster repayment of the overdue loan. While doing so you may initiate investments towards other goals.

Although investment maybe less now but making a beginning will help inculcate sense of fiscal discipline.

As the loan becomes zero, entire EMI+ should move towards investments.

Don't get into that calculation since returns from markets are not guaranteed especially in short to medium term when they are expected to remain choppy due to geo political reasons. However your loan obligation has to be fulfilled every month irrespective of any other developments.

Best wishes;

Ans: Hello;

Retirement is the one of the most important financial goal and the key is you won't get loan to meet that requirement.

Typically people neglect it in early part of their career and then get a rude shock when hardly 10-15 years are left for retirement and they can't meet target corpus amount despite heavy investments.

NPS is a great retirement product for every Indian.

In fact since it's costs are so low that you won't find people promoting it or advertising about it.

NPS is similar to workplace pension but is available for businessmen and self employed people too.

Except for a minimum 1000 per year in Tier 1 account there is no compulsion to invest and also their is no upper limit to investment. However you may automate your investment in NPS using D-remit feature.

Limited withdrawals are allowed subject to terms and limits.

You can change your fund manager if you are not satisfied with its performance and also you can have different fund managers for different asset classes.

EPS is a add-on to other sources of retirement income and can't be the the only source since the maximum pension amount is limited to Rs. 7500 per month.

Unit linked pension plans are like private pensions but are a poor and inefficient copy of NPS.

In India only Govt employees are eligible for state pension.

PPF/EPF are also avenues for building retirement corpus but interest on EPF contribution above Rs. 2.5 L in a financial year invokes tax and PPF has lower interest rate.

Best strategy to secure financially secure retirement is to begin with a small amount from your first salary and later stepping up with increased income.

Best wishes;

Ans: Many people face the challenge of earning a decent salary yet struggling to save. If your expenses absorb your entire income, it’s time to take control of your finances with a structured approach. Here’s how you can break the cycle and start building financial stability.

1. Track and Analyse Your Expenses
Identify spending leaks by tracking all expenses for a month.

Use spending tracker apps or a simple notebook to record daily expenses.

Categorise expenses into essentials (rent, food, utilities) and non-essentials (shopping, entertainment, eating out).

Spot unnecessary expenditures and set limits on avoidable expenses.

2. Set a Realistic Budget
Follow the 50-30-20 rule:

50% for needs (housing, bills, groceries).

30% for wants (shopping, entertainment, travel).

20% for savings and investments.

If savings seem difficult, reverse budgeting may work better. Allocate savings first, then spend what remains.

Automate bill payments to avoid late fees and unnecessary penalties.

3. Build an Emergency Fund
Set aside at least 6 months’ worth of expenses in a liquid fund.

Use a separate savings account for emergency funds to avoid spending it impulsively.

Automate transfers to this fund to ensure consistency.

4. Prioritise Saving Over Spending
Start small with savings if your expenses are tight. Even Rs 1,000 per month creates a saving habit.

Use automatic deductions to ensure savings before spending.

Increase savings percentage whenever you get a salary hike or bonus.

5. Cut Down on Unnecessary Expenses
Identify subscriptions you don’t use (streaming services, gym memberships).

Reduce frequent dining out and start cooking at home.

Choose budget-friendly alternatives for entertainment, shopping, and travel.

Negotiate for lower bills on rent, internet, and insurance.

6. Start Investing Wisely
Keep money working for you through investments rather than letting it sit idle.

Consider mutual funds through SIPs to build wealth over time.

Avoid investment-cum-insurance policies. Instead, opt for a separate term insurance and investments.

Invest in a mix of debt and equity based on your risk appetite.

7. Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
Salary hikes should increase savings, not expenses.

Maintain your current lifestyle and direct additional income towards savings.

Differentiate between needs and wants before making big purchases.

8. Plan for Future Goals
Define short-term and long-term goals (buying a home, early retirement, travel).

Assign a dedicated investment for each goal.

Adjust spending habits to align with your bigger financial vision.

9. Monitor and Adjust Regularly
Review your budget every 3-6 months to adjust based on changes in income or expenses.

Keep track of financial progress and celebrate small wins to stay motivated.

If needed, seek guidance from a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) like us for a customised financial strategy.

Final Thoughts
Breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle requires discipline and consistency. By tracking expenses, budgeting wisely, saving first, and investing smartly, you can achieve financial stability and long-term wealth creation. Taking small but steady steps will lead to financial freedom in the long run.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP
Chief Financial Planner

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

Ans: Hi Koj
Last year's data suggests that securing admission with your percentile will be very challenging. Almost nil chances.

Ans: Hi Palak
With 93.8 percentile (OBC-NCL, Female category) in JEE Mains, your approximate CRL Rank would be around 65,000 - 70,000, and your OBC-NCL Rank would be around 15,000 - 18,000.

Possible Colleges for ECE/Electrical:
Good chances in:
Lower NITs (like NIT Mizoram, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Sikkim, NIT Nagaland)
IIITs (IIIT Ranchi, IIIT Bhagalpur, etc.)

GFTIs (e.g., Assam University, Gurukula Kangri, etc.)

State Engineering Colleges (through home state quota)
Borderline chances in:
Mid-tier NITs (like NIT Raipur, NIT Jamshedpur, etc., in later rounds like CSAB)

Ans: Hello Sushma Ji
Based on the JEE Main cutoff trends for NIT Surathkal's Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program, securing admission with a 92.18 percentile in the OBC-NCL category appears challenging. Historically, the closing ranks for OBC-NCL candidates have been significantly higher. For instance, in 2024, the closing rank for OBC-NCL candidates in CSE was 701 , and in 2023, it was 1483 for female candidates.?

Given these trends, it's advisable to consider alternative NITs or engineering institutes where the cutoff ranks align more closely with your daughter's percentile. Exploring other reputable institutions with CSE programs may increase her chances of securing admission.?