In this edition of the reader story,  “Two years ago, I made a decision that reshaped my relationship with money, risk, and peace of mind. Last year, I shared how after losing six months’ worth of income in futures and options (F&O) trading, I stepped away from the chaos and adopted systematic investing. It wasn’t…

We recently received an interesting email, which is reproduced below with the author’s permission. “I have come across your work in the field of saving/investing for financial independence very recently. I come from a family of marginal farmers. Both my parents toil in the fields. For more than 30 years, they used to borrow money…

In this edition of the reader story, “If I were to describe my financial journey in one line, I’d say: It’s been a life of ordinary beginnings, supported by extraordinary people, and driven by quiet persistence.” About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of…

In this edition of the reader story, we have a response to our recent article – Is it better for a young family to rent than to buy a home? My father retired in 2008 from a PSU in Hyderabad. The company is not part of any govt pension scheme, so all he had was a…

In this edition of the reader story, “I’m 42 years old and currently working as a Product Manager in the healthcare sector. My spouse, aged 49, previously worked in the IT industry but chose to step away for personal reasons. We have two children—my son is in the 7th standard and my daughter is in…

In this edition of the reader story, we meet a reader who started with multiple thematic funds, learnt his lesson, and now streamlined his portfolio with three funds. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers. Some of the previous editions are linked…

This is the third in the series of my finance audits. Focus is again on how I track my personal finance related metrics. This should be helpful for DIY investors and should help them to focus on what and how to measure. I am using the same format and adding a FY25 v/s FY24 section….

First, I would like to thank you for sharing your views and guidance with all those who want to achieve a peaceful retirement and financial goals. I have been reading your articles since 2018, especially when you gave an alert on Franklin Templeton Ultra short-duration fund, where you highlighted the risks involved and its NAV…

We are back again with our fourth yearly audit of our financial health (the first three parts are linked below). A huge thanks to the numerous yearly audits posted on freefincal – we were also motivated to document ours, at least once a year. Thankfully, we are doing this for the fourth year in a…

A reader says, “Thank you for being a source of financial wisdom in my journey. Your articles have given me the needed direction and ideas to plan my finances. My situation might be a bit different from that of most of your readers, but I think there might be some lessons in my story”. After…

I’m Rajkumar, a 40-year-old professional who has been part of the hospitality industry since 2006. My investment journey began the same year, sparked by an early encounter with *Rich Dad Poor Dad* during my college days. Though the book ignited my curiosity, the equity markets truly captured my imagination. I started small, with SIPs of…

In this edition of the reader story, a reader bravely shares his mistakes, hoping that younger people will not repeat them. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can…

In this edition of the reader story, we meet a software professional and certified table tennis coach from Coimbatore. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can…

In this edition of the reader story, Abhineeth shared his 3rd financial audit with us. In April 2023, then 31, he shared his plans for achieving financial independence and buying/constructing a decent house for his family. In his second audit, he shared how he rebuilt his finances after a personal tragedy. About this series: I am grateful…

A few weeks ago, Swati wrote: “I regularly follow the Reader Story section on Freefincal and deeply appreciate its effort in sharing valuable insights into personal finance journeys. As a strong advocate for women’s financial independence, I understand the critical importance of women taking charge of their own finances, rather than leaving the responsibility solely…