Investment: Invest now

Once we have saved enough for our immediate requirement or emergency fund, we can start our investments.

If we start early and invest Rs. 2500 only every month for 40 years @ 9 %, we have invested Rs. 12 lakhs and the expected amount is Rs. 1,06,24,012. This is the wonder of compounding return.

If we find it difficult to invest Rs. 2500 initially, we can reduce the investment amount to  Rs. 1000 but keep the investment period and rate of return as 40 years and 9% respectively, the expected amount is over 42 lakhs. 

The above examples show we can start our investments with any amount. As our income grows,  we need to save more and increase our investments. 

Investment: Start early

We should start early in the matter of investment. Investment should start when we receive our first salary.

The process is simple. Save first to invest. If we start early, a SIP of a small amount for a long time is enough.

We can start a SIP in the mutual funds or shares. A weekly, monthly or quarterly or yearly SIP in mutual fund can be planned and a fixed amount will be debited from the bank account on a fixed date.

SIP in share is different as the price of share varies everytime and every day.

Finally, invest early to retire early.

Investment: How much should we save?

Now the question is: How much should we save?

Saving should be enough to cover your immediate expenses for a few months. One has to decide one's comfort level of immediate expenses. Some may feel comfortable with six months expenses amount while others may need more.

Investment: Save first

Investment should start with our income. We have to save first from our income. We know, Income - Expense = Saving.

Here we have a problem. After considering all the expenses, saving would be the second priority. 

If we change the formula to Income - Saving = Expenses, saving becomes the first task to do after we earn salary,  wages,  bonus and other incomes. 

So separating immediately some portion of our income as saving would compel us adjust our expenses to a certain limit.  

Set a target for saving say 5% or 10% to begin with and slowly increase the saving percentage every year or as required.