This is the archive of all our articles from readers detailing their investment journeys.
You too can share your investment journey in this section (anonymously if you wish). You do not need to be financially independent, a crorepati, or have experience to write your journey.
Just write down your relationship with money in chronological order. You do not need to include portfolio amt or investment details (you can if you are comfortable). Please write naturally without the use of AI.
This will inspire the DIY community, and most authors tend to get a better perspective on money management as a result.
There is no required format or age limit. English fluency is also not required — only a willingness to share and aid the community.
Contact us if you are interested. You can send the article to the email from which you respond.
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL NOT OFFER ANY PERSONAL ADVICE ON YOUR PORTFOLIO.
In this edition of the reader story, “The path to financial independence is rarely a straight line. For me, it has been a story of shifting mindsets, career pivots, and learning how to manage risk without losing my mind”. I am 32 years old, married for four years, and a father to two daughters aged three…
Continue reading →A reader shared a health scare he recently experienced and the lessons he learnt from it. He would like to remain anonymous. I have diligently built my net worth to Rs. 10 crores over the past 20 years, with a good but not spectacular salary, all of which has been earned in India. Thanks to…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we have “a late-starter story with a few bruises, some luck, and a system that finally makes sense”. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we have a 25K salary-to-25X corpus growth story. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story archive. Opinions…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, “Like most engineering graduates in India, I pursued a non-IT engineering major but ended up joining an IT services company as a campus recruit. Unfortunately, the 2008 recession delayed my joining by almost a year. Even today, I regret wasting that precious year. With some additional effort, I could…
Continue reading →I have been a follower of Freefincal for 3+ years now and have immensely benefited from Pattu sir’s articles and fellow reader stories. I wish to share my journey, which I hope will help someone just starting their financial journey. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives,…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story … It all started in 2010. I wanted to pursue engineering. I had scored around 90%, yet I joined a tier-3 college for my B.E. in Computer Science. Even today, I don’t fully know why — whether I failed to filter colleges well, or whether competition was already that…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we have a personal financial audit in three parts. (1) A reader’s investing journey and how his thinking evolved, (2) a factual audit of his current financial position, and (3) how he is approaching the road ahead. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, SEBI RIA Ajay Pruthi’s client shares a story. As regular readers may know, Ajay Pruthi is a regular contributor at freefincal. A few years ago, my financial awareness was limited. Like many people, I trusted my bank representatives to guide me toward products that would genuinely benefit me. When…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we have a debt-to-riches story. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story archive. Opinions expressed…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet a 41-year-old unmarried woman who freelances to earn a monthly income of Rs 50,000. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story … “This is a chronological account of my investing journey since I started earning in 2017. I am not an expert investor. I have made mistakes, learned along the way, and slowly built discipline. I am sharing this in the hope that it helps early earners who are…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet a tax professional who started investing late but has admirably caught up. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can…
Continue reading →An investor in an SDI (securitised debt instrument) recently shared with us his experience following a default on interest payments. Before we get to the story, a quick (simplified) primer on SDIs (it will remind you of The Big Short if you have seen it; if you have not, you should!). Suppose A, B and C…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we encounter a 12-year transformative personal finance journey. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story…
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