Archive of posts from July 2024


  • Budget 2024 And How It Affects Me

    Budget 2024 announcements concluded and like every year I have to check if it affects me. This budget was a major headache for my calculations. It doesn’t affect how I invest but making the tax calculations will take a lot of time. There were some bad surprises but that is how budget works. You just have to work with it. For one, the short term capital gains tax was increased from 15% to 20%. Indexation benefits have been removed. A big blow for real estate and long term debt mutual funds (in certain cases). There was some good news in the way of changing tax slabs for new regime and increasing standard deductions, but neither of them apply to me.

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  • How We Arranged Money To Buy Our Farm

    After zoning in on the farm that we liked, we decided it was time to take the first step forward, which was to come to an agreement with the owners that we will purchase the farm within a certain duration. The way it is usually done is that we write down an agreement stating we will pay a token amount as advance, and will pay the rest before registration. Usually there will also be a time limit specified in the agreement before which the transaction has to happen. If the transaction is not completed in the stipulated time because the buyer could not arrange the money then the advance is forfeited. If the seller fails to clear their documents they will pay back the advance with interest. The trouble started right from there for us.

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  • Should You Prepay If You Are Nearing The End Of Loan Period

    I recently wrote a post on whether one should prepay loan or invest if you have extra savings lying around. A reader commented that a friend had a different opinion about prepaying loan when she is already at the end of the loan period. Here is the comment again for your reference – “Not used to loans, but different view from my friend. She had availed personal loan for 4 years (if I’m correct) and was in 3rd year when she received a good bonus that she can close her loan but instead she didn’t. When asked she said as part of EMI she had paid all interest and what she is paying is her principal and very minute interest so she said it’s unworthy to repay the loan. She had a point there”. While she is correct in that, one is paying more of the principal than interest towards the end of a loan period, the benefits of prepaying still remain.

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  • Black Belt In Shotokan Karate

    I finally received my Black Belt (1st Dan) in Shotokan Karate after training for it for nearly 7 years and I am super proud of it! I know it took a bit longer than a few others but I am too old I suppose :). I have heard of people, in fact kids receiving black belt in 2 or 3 years. I can tell you that at least in Shotokan Karate, it is almost impossible to receive any kind of black belt with in 5 years. It takes even longer for kids because they still have to build up the strength. My daughter who joined almost at the same time as me is now in Brown Belt (4th Kyu). Of course, if you are young, fit and dedicated you can still achieve in 5 years time.

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