Ek Croreएक करोड़
◆ Series

Zero to One

Everything a salaried Indian needs to understand about their money — in the order it actually matters. From the day you get your first salary slip to the day you have a coherent plan.

14 chapters. 70 articles. Each one answers a question you actually searched for. No jargon, no products to sell, no advice — just the mechanics, the numbers, and the decision left to you.

14
Chapters
70
Articles
~8 min
per article
01

Why is my in-hand salary so much less than my CTC?

  • 1.If my CTC is ₹20 LPA, how much will I get in hand?
  • 2.Why your basic salary percentage affects your EPF, HRA, and gratuity more than the number itself
  • 3.How HRA is calculated — the three-part formula and when HRA is fully taxable
  • 4.Can I pay rent to my parents and claim HRA exemption legally?
  • 5.How to increase your in-hand salary without changing your CTC
02

Old vs new tax regime — which is better for salaried employees?

  • 1.Which tax regime is better for salaried employees in FY 2025-26?
  • 2.Can I claim 80C deductions in the new tax regime?
  • 3.Is health insurance premium deductible in the new tax regime?
  • 4.The extra ₹50,000 NPS deduction: who should use it and how
  • 5.Section 87A rebate — when it applies and when it doesn't
  • 6.Can I switch between old and new tax regime every year?
03

EPF — withdrawal, transfer, EPS vs EPF, and VPF explained

  • 1.Should I withdraw my PF or transfer it when changing jobs?
  • 2.Is EPF withdrawal taxable before 5 years of continuous service?
  • 3.What is the difference between EPF and EPS — where does your employer's 12% actually go?
  • 4.How to transfer EPF from old employer to new employer online
  • 5.What is VPF and is it better than PPF for tax-free long-term returns?
04

Term insurance vs endowment vs ULIP — which is right for you?

  • 1.Why term insurance is better than endowment, money-back, or ULIP plans
  • 2.The hidden charges in ULIP plans — and how they reduce your actual returns
  • 3.Should I surrender my LIC endowment policy and invest in mutual funds instead?
  • 4.Is your company health insurance enough or do you need a separate policy?
  • 5.What is a room rent sub-limit in health insurance and how does it reduce your claim?
  • 6.How much term insurance cover do I need based on my salary and dependents?
05

Direct vs regular mutual fund, ELSS lock-in, and index funds vs active

  • 1.What is the difference between direct and regular mutual fund plans — and how much does it cost you?
  • 2.Does switching from regular to direct mutual fund attract capital gains tax?
  • 3.How does the ELSS 3-year lock-in work for SIP investments — per installment or per SIP start date?
  • 4.Do index funds beat active funds in India? The SPIVA data over 10 years
  • 5.Should I stop my SIP when the market is falling?
  • 6.Is a lump sum investment better than SIP in mutual funds?
06

Capital gains tax on mutual funds and shares — STCG, LTCG, Budget 2024

  • 1.What changed in capital gains tax after Budget 2024 — new STCG and LTCG rates explained
  • 2.How much LTCG on equity mutual funds is tax-free per year?
  • 3.Is switching between mutual fund schemes a taxable event?
  • 4.What is LTCG harvesting and how to use the ₹1.25 lakh exemption before March 31
  • 5.Can short-term capital loss be set off against long-term capital gain?
07

NPS Tier 1 vs Tier 2, tax benefits, and what happens at retirement

  • 1.What is the difference between NPS Tier 1 and Tier 2?
  • 2.Should I invest in NPS just for the extra ₹50,000 tax deduction?
  • 3.How is NPS taxed at retirement — the 60% lump sum and 40% annuity rule explained
  • 4.Which NPS fund manager performs best in India — and does the choice actually matter?
  • 5.Can I withdraw from NPS Tier 1 before the age of 60?
08

How to file ITR — Form 16, AIS, deadlines, and what happens if you miss them

  • 1.Do I need to file ITR if my employer already deducts TDS?
  • 2.What is the difference between Form 16, Form 26AS, and AIS?
  • 3.What is AIS and how to check it before filing your ITR
  • 4.What happens if your AIS does not match your ITR — and how to reconcile them
  • 5.What happens if you miss the July 31 ITR deadline
09

Credit card debt, BNPL, and EMI-to-income ratio — how debt limits your wealth

  • 1.What happens if you pay only the minimum due on your credit card every month?
  • 2.How much interest does a credit card charge on outstanding balance in India?
  • 3.Does BNPL affect your CIBIL score in India?
  • 4.What is a safe EMI-to-salary ratio in India — and what happens when you cross it?
  • 5.How long will it take to pay off credit card debt paying only the minimum?
10

Emergency fund, goal-based investing, and lifestyle inflation — the actual foundations

  • 1.How much should you keep in an emergency fund in India — and where should you park it?
  • 2.What is the cost of starting your SIP 5 years late?
  • 3.What is goal-based investing — and how to assign a timeline to every rupee you save
  • 4.Is a fixed deposit post-tax return positive after inflation in India?
  • 5.How does lifestyle inflation stop salary growth from building wealth?
  • 6.How much should a 25-year-old invest monthly in India to reach ₹1 crore?
11

Sovereign Gold Bonds vs physical gold, real estate vs mutual funds, rent vs buy

  • 1.Is SGB better than physical gold or gold ETF for investment in India?
  • 2.Is capital gain on Sovereign Gold Bond taxable if held till maturity?
  • 3.Real estate vs mutual funds in India — what the long-term return data actually shows
  • 4.Should I buy a house or keep renting and invest the difference?
  • 5.What is rental yield in Indian metro cities — and does it justify buying property?
12

EPF transfer on job change, gratuity, and what happens to your PF at retirement

  • 1.Should I transfer or withdraw my PF when I change jobs?
  • 2.How to transfer EPF from old employer to new employer online — step by step
  • 3.How is gratuity calculated in India for private sector employees?
  • 4.Am I eligible for gratuity if I leave before 5 years — does 4 years 8 months count?
  • 5.Does EPF earn interest after you leave a job?
13

F&O trading losses, SEBI-registered advisors, and nominee vs legal heir

  • 1.What percentage of F&O traders actually make money in India — SEBI's own numbers
  • 2.How to check if a financial advisor or influencer is SEBI-registered
  • 3.Can a nominee claim mutual fund units — or only the legal heir?
  • 4.What is the difference between a nominee and a legal heir in India?
  • 5.Can F&O losses be set off against salary income or carried forward?
14

LTCG harvesting, tax-loss harvesting, and HUF — legal ways to reduce your tax bill

  • 1.What is LTCG harvesting and how to save tax by booking gains before March 31
  • 2.Can you sell and immediately rebuy mutual funds to claim the ₹1.25 lakh LTCG exemption?
  • 3.What is tax-loss harvesting and is it legal in India?
  • 4.Can both husband and wife each claim the ₹1.25 lakh LTCG exemption separately?
  • 5.What is HUF and how much income tax can it save?
  • 6.How many years can capital losses be carried forward in India?

Articles are being published in order. Start from Chapter 1.

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