Page 7 - Your Money

Save first, spend later: Steps to meet your long-term financial goals

Check your progress every three to six months to ensure your savings and spending are on track

How to choose between guaranteed returns and growth-focused investments

Using a growth asset for a short-term need risks a forced sale at a loss and investing in a guaranteed asset for a 20-year goal risks loss of purchasing power

Form 16, PAN, rent agreement: Documents you need for filing tax return

Form 16 captures your salaried income but you must also cite bank interest, capital gains or freelance earnings

How to correct mistakes in your tax return after submission, refund even

No penalty is levied for revising a return, provided the original return was filed on time

Home loan protection plan or term cover: How borrowers should choose

If you give greater priority to flexibility, then opt for a term insurance plan

Don't let dark patterns quietly inflate your online shopping bills

Check the final payable amount, remove pre-ticked add-ons, and preserve screenshots if you need to complain

PPF, NPS, ELSS: Long-term investment tools to save taxes explained

Do not use one product for everything and instead assign each one a clear role: Stability, growth, or income

Debt products in a young investor's portfolio? Yes, here are reasons

While equities may fall sharply, debt investments tend to remain stable and reduce overall portfolio losses

House or retirement corpus? What investment young Indians should make first

Start by saving 15-20% of your take-home income and gradually increasing the amount as your salary grows

Saving tax vs making investment: How the two tax regimes measure up

The decision is between choosing a tax system to guide your investments, or separate investing from taxation

Planning to risks: 7 mutual fund investments mistakes beginners keep making

Failing to monitor and review could result in your investments not giving you results you had sought

Old vs new tax regimes: What is the difference, what are the benefits

A taxpayer can switch between the two regimes while filing the returns but cannot go back to the other one till the year ends after making a selection

Dividends and taxes: How to calculate and report income with accuracy

Income from stocks or mutual funds may be taxed at a higher rate depending on your income

Salaried employees and taxes: Paperwork and declarations explained

Declare less than you expect to invest: It's easier to claim a refund later than to pay extra TDS

Premium to taxes: What young families should know about buying insurance

An insurance policy should be selected based on other factors such as risks and the number of family members

Should investors choose passive funds for smallcap market exposure?

While active smallcap funds have traditionally outperformed benchmarks, passive and smart-beta options offer lower costs and diversified exposure. The choice depends on investor preference and convict

Take-home to gratuity: Understanding the elements of a salary structure

Know how 'cost to company' and leave encashment shape how you earn from work

House, travel, education: How to manage shared goals in a relationship

Couples must openly discuss money and work on savings and investments together

Couple goal in finance: How to balance independence and responsibilities

Partners should fund shared goals together but keep personal spending separate

Interest rate, hidden charges: How to choose the right savings account

Check if the bank allows low minimum balance, free ATM withdrawals and has a good mobile app