Things beyond money

Over the years, updating the blog on a regular basis has become a real difficult task. Not that I don't have the time to do so. To be honest, I have really run out of ideas on personal finance articles. The articles that have been written can be classified  into a few broad categories and the investment ideas primarily running around SIP in Equity MF , bashing ULIPs, real estate , tax planning etc.

So, was in two minds as to whether should start a new blog to write more of generic stuff. Then thought , ' why not continue here at ideasmoney'. Now, the blog is officially on version 2.0 and the theme is to genuinely look beyond personal finance . This does not mean  that personal finance posts would be discontinued hereafter.

This is again an attempt to metamorphosize the blog  and I am eager to see how it shapes out.

Medical insurance

This post is not regarding the best medical insurance policy or whether you need a medical insurance. If you are one who have a medical insurance , this post is for you.

1. Have the medical insurance information handy to yourself and your family members. If there is a medical insurance card provided by the insurer or service provider, have the card in an accessible and safe place.

2. If you are dependent on your employer's medical cover , then please get your insurance details from your employer as soon as you join the company.

3. Track the expiry date of the policy carefully and ensure it's renewed on time by you / you get the renewed policy details form your employer as applicable.

4. Please go through the policy information and be sure as to whom/how  to inform in case of a medical contingency for an insurance approval. Take time to educate your family members on the policy too .( This is important because , your family would need the information when you fall sick).

Same situation, Different reaction !

When there is a discount SALE on clothes, FMCG, gadgets, car....We grab the opportunity and buy

But when stcoks are beaten down and are available at cheap prices , we PANIC instead of buying.

Stock market downturn, most of the times are great opportunities to invest for the long term.

From next time when there is a SALE in stock market, dont PANIC. Look for OPPORTUNITIES

Confusion of Mr. i , Q3 2011, Where to invest my money?

Note: - Click on the image to see enlarged picture.

Just for fun and  not to be taken as  a serious advice :-)

Real estate bashing

It has been quite a while since I posted. What would be a better way to start out than providing a link that bashes  current real estate prices. ??


"Anmol Choubey, 35, a general manager in a media company, has lived in Malad, north Mumbai, on rent for five years. Despite pressure from his parents and wife to “settle down”, he has no plans to buy a house in the foreseeable future. To him, it adds up. “I want a certain standard of living, certain amenities, certain kinds of people as my neighbours, certain kinds of children to play with for my son. I get that here for a rent of R
s. 20,000. The 10% hike in rent written into my contract gets covered by an average 15-20% hike in my salary every year. To buy the same place, I’d be spending Rs.80k as EMI on a housing loan, apart from exhausting my savings on down payments. If I try to lower my EMI, I will end up moving to a place I don’t really want to live in,” he explains. He first rented the place in Malad when he worked in that area. Today, he works in south Mumbai. “Tomorrow, I may move closer to work, or out of town, or out of the country. I don’t see why I should be tied down by a large financial commitment,” he says."

 Another one..."The sense of ownership of 850 sq. ft has come at a price: “I do not remember the last time I went to a pub. I do not own a credit card. I dine out sometimes, but I do not go to a fancy restaurant. I live a simple, hermetic life,” he says. With a 

 57 lakh loan, he even questions the cost of his food. To what end? “I don’t foresee myself living here 10 years from now—infrastructure, water, traffic—this is not the dream. Imagine having children in this state! I can’t even think about it"

Read the full  article at Livemint