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Plain-language guides to credit cards, credit scores, loans, fixed deposits and government schemes in India — how they work and how to choose, without the jargon. Researched and written by founder Rakshit Dohare. Nothing here is paid for by a bank or lender, and none of it is personal financial advice.
Credit cards
How to choose a credit card in India based on how you spend
A practical way to pick a credit card: start from your own spending, work out what a card is really worth after fees, and avoid the common traps.
6 min readCredit card annual fee: when it is worth paying and when to waive it
How to decide whether a credit card annual fee is worth it, how fee waivers really work, and how to compare a fee against the value you get back.
5 min readHow credit card interest and the billing cycle really work
Understand the statement date, due date and interest-free period, why paying only the minimum is costly, and how to use a card without paying interest.
6 min readReward points vs cashback vs miles: which is right for you?
Compare credit card reward points, cashback and travel miles, how to judge what each is really worth, and which type suits which kind of spender.
5 min readSecured credit cards: how to build a credit history from zero
How a credit card secured against a fixed deposit works, who it suits, what it costs, and how to use it to build a credit score in India.
5 min read
Credit score & loans
What is a CIBIL score and how do you improve it?
A plain-language guide to the CIBIL credit score in India: what it measures, what a good score looks like, what lowers it, and steps that improve it.
6 min readHow personal loan interest is calculated: reducing balance vs flat rate
Why a flat interest rate costs far more than the same reducing-balance rate, with a worked example, and how to compare loan offers fairly.
6 min readCommon credit card and loan mistakes that hurt your CIBIL score
The everyday habits that quietly lower your credit score in India, from late payments and maxed-out cards to settlements and too many applications.
5 min readHome loan basics: fixed vs floating rate, tenure and EMI
A first-time buyer's guide to home loans in India: how EMI works, fixed versus floating rates, how tenure changes the cost, and what else you pay.
7 min readShould you prepay your loan or invest the money instead?
How to decide between prepaying a loan and investing the money, by comparing the loan rate with your after-tax return and considering risk and liquidity.
5 min readHome loan balance transfer: when switching lenders pays off
How a home loan balance transfer works, the costs of switching, how to work out whether it saves money, and the alternative of renegotiating with your lender.
5 min readSecured vs unsecured loans: what is the difference?
What secured and unsecured loans are, how they differ in rate, limit and risk, and how to choose between a home, gold, deposit-backed or personal loan.
5 min readGetting a loan with a low credit score: what to expect and what to avoid
Options for borrowing in India with a low CIBIL score, how to lower the cost, and the warning signs of predatory lenders and loan apps.
6 min read
Deposits
Fixed deposit vs recurring deposit: which is better?
Fixed and recurring deposits both give a guaranteed return, but they suit different situations. Learn how each works and how to choose.
5 min readHow fixed deposit interest is taxed, and how TDS works
FD interest is taxable income in India. Learn how tax is calculated, when banks deduct TDS, and when Form 15G or 15H can help.
5 min readDICGC deposit insurance: what is covered and how to protect your savings
What DICGC deposit insurance covers in India, what it does not, and how spreading deposits across banks can reduce your risk.
5 min readSmall finance bank FDs: higher rates, and the safety question
Why small finance banks often pay higher fixed deposit rates, whether they are safe, what deposit insurance covers, and how to decide.
5 min readFD laddering: a simple strategy for steady returns and easy access
How to build a fixed deposit ladder by splitting money across different maturities, and how it balances returns, liquidity and interest rate changes.
5 min read
Government schemes
PPF explained: how the Public Provident Fund works
A clear guide to the Public Provident Fund: tenure, contribution limits, interest, tax benefits and how it compares with a fixed deposit.
6 min readNPS vs Atal Pension Yojana: which retirement scheme fits you?
Compare the National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana: how each works, who can join, returns, tax benefits and what you get at retirement.
6 min readSukanya Samriddhi Yojana: rules, benefits and how it works
A plain guide to the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana savings scheme for a girl child: eligibility, deposits, interest, tax benefits, maturity and withdrawals.
5 min readPM Mudra Yojana: who qualifies and how to apply
How the PM Mudra Yojana collateral-free business loans work in India: the Shishu, Kishore and Tarun categories, who can apply, and how to apply.
5 min read
Accounts
Savings account vs current account: which do you need?
The key differences between savings and current accounts in India, including interest, limits and charges, and which suits individuals, freelancers and businesses.
5 min readZero balance accounts: the hidden costs to check
What a zero-balance savings account offers, and the fees and limits worth checking, from debit card charges to free transaction caps.
5 min read
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