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Best Balance Mutual Funds for Investment – Benefits and Returns

balance funds

Balance mutual funds are like balance diet for investment it provides best of both world, safety and capital appreciation. A balance mutual funds is recommended for risk averse investor looking for stability and income generation. A balance mutual fund is also known as hybrid funds.

What is balance mutual funds?

The mutual funds are classified based on investment patterns.

  • The fund which invest their money in equity, as well as a debt instrument, is known as balance mutual funds.
  • The fund which invest their money in equity is known as equity mutual funds.
  • The fund which invest their money in debt is known as debt mutual funds.

Types of balance funds

Usually, two types of balance funds are available under balance fund. (1) Equity oriented and (2) Debt oriented hybrid funds.

  • Equity Oriented – Equity oriented mutual funds invest 60% money in equity based instrument and remaining 40% money in debt instruments. 
  • Debt Oriented Hybrid Funds – Debt Oriented mutual funds invest 60% money in debt based instrument and remaining 40% in equity instruments. 

Let’s look at Top 5 Best Balance Mutual Funds.

Top 5 Best Balance Mutual Funds for Investment

balance funds

 All these funds are equity oriented balance mutual funds.

Benefit of Investing in Balance Mutual Funds –

  • Balance fund investment provides inherent diversification as an investment is done in both equity and debt instruments.
  • Balance mutual funds are comparatively safe and low risk as certain portion of the money is invested in debt instruments.
  • These funds are less volatile as a downturn in the market affects this fund very less.
  • No long-term capital gain is applicable on these funds. Short term capital gain is charged 15%
  • Balance mutual funds help to rebalance your portfolio.
  • Balance mutual funds are best for the first time investor as it is risk averse.
  • One can select balance mutual funds for critical financial goals like retirement planning, kids education etc.

How to select good balance mutual funds?

Risk Tolerance – First thing you need to know is risk tolerance level. Based on your risk profile you can select equity oriented or debt oriented hybrid mutual fund.

Expense Ratio – Lower expense ratio means a good fund for investment. You should evaluate fund on the low expense ratio. You will able to get information about expense ratio from the website or respective funds.

Investment Patten – You can further study a type of investment being done by these mutual funds. You can easily get this information online.

Past Returns – Past performance is one more indicator for the selection of right mutual funds for the selection. You should at least see performance history of last 5 years.

Mutual Fund Type – Balance mutual fund is type Debt or Equity. It is advisable to select equity-based mutual funds for higher returns.

Fund Manager – You should ideally look for detail about fund manager, who is managing this fund and he is capable enough or not.

Summary –

Balance mutual funds are one of the best investment options which give peace or mind and balance in asset allocation. So, what are you waiting for? Invest in best balance mutual funds and enjoy the benefits.

Have you invested in any of Balance Mutual Funds mentioned above?

Do you think balance mutual fund is good for investment?

Do share your query and views in comment section.

15 Small Mistake that Cost you Money

Money

Life does not give you second chance. A small mistake done by you can cost you a money. You should avoid doing a mistake that cost you a money. It is true that Money is not the most important thing in life, but money does affect everything that is important to life. So, it is absolutely essential to manage money in effective manner. So, here is 15 small mistakes people does which cost them money. You should avoid these mistakes.

15 Small Mistake that Cost you Money

1. You forget to track your spending – You should evolve a mechanism of tracking your spending. Make a habit to note down your expense. Not tracking your spending means inviting cost which you are not aware of.

2. Investing money without Financial Planning – Another most common mistake that can cost you big money is investing money haphazardly without doing proper financial planning.

3. Not Making Emergency Fund – You should be financially prepared to handle any eventuality in life. Not making emergency fund will cost you money.

Also Read – 15 Tricks to Save Money

4. Investment in stock without proper research – You should not invest in a stock market without doing proper research. Investing in stock market is a risky affair and you may lose all your hard earned money.

5. Don’t put all your money in a single basket – You should diversify your portfolio, please don’t keep all your money in a single basket. Keeping all money in a single basket will cost you money.

6. Not taking Medical Insurance for family – Not taking medical insurance is another most common mistake you should avoid. A medical emergency can turn up anytime and can eat your savings.

7. Not doing routine car maintenance – Car is a necessity today, If you are owning the car you must go for regular car maintenance this involves tuning, change in oil, filter etc. This it to avoid major future repairs.

8. Not renewing your car insurance – Another common mistake related to a car is not renewing your car insurance. It is a very small mistake, but it can cost you lot of money.

9. Failing Credit card payment date – Make sure that you pay credit card bill in time. If you miss credit card bill payment you need to be ready to pay a lot of interest.

10. Taking personal loan – Another small mistake which can cost you big money is taking a personal loan. You should avoid taking a personal loan. A personal loan will cost you big money.

11. Buying things without usage – Before buying any product you should be clear that it is absolutely necessary. Buying product without usage is a waste of money.

Also Read – 80 Best Tips to Save Money

12. Buying cheap quality products – Don’t get attracted with cheap product available in half price. Buying less costly things save your money but cheap quality does not stay for long. You should buy a quality product.

13. Dining out and party more often – If you are daily visiting expensive hotels for lunch or dinner you should avoid that. If you have a habit of organizing party more often probably you should avoid that. Dining out and party more often will cost you lot of money.

14. Smoking and Drinking – Smoking kills but who cares. Smoking and drinking is part of our lifestyle. It is an easy way to reduce stress. Whatever be the reason, both smoking and drinking will cost you more not only that it may cause health related problems like cancer, kidney failure etc.

15. Not tracking smartphone expense – Another common mistake which people does is not looking at expense associated with the smart phone. Value added service and Internet connections like 2G, 3G and 4G are an added expense in your monthly expense list. You should evaluate this expense that cost you money.

Over to you –

List down what mistake you are doing which is costing you money. Try to avoid these mistakes, it can save you big money down the line.

Don’t forget to leave your comment below, because your comment and suggestion will help me in writing better content in future.

80 Best Tips to Save Money

Save Money

How to save money – It’s the first week of month and you must have got your paycheck. You must be happy as you will be able to spend money on shopping, restaurants, movies and all other stuff. But as the days goes this happiness turns in to sadness due to unavailability of money. Don’t worry you are not alone there are many friends like you who suffer badly at the end of month due to bad spending habits and mismanagement. In order to help you here are 100 Best useful tips to save money. Obviously, not all tips will be applicable to everyone. Just go through list and find out best saving tips applicable to you.

80 Best Tips to Save Money

General

  1. Pay yourself First – You should adopt strategy to pay yourself first. Invest first before spending money.
  2. Keep Track of Spending – You should keep track of money you are spending.
  3. Establish budget – Establish budget based on your spending and stick to it.
  4. Follow 10 Second Rule – Think for 10 second before spending money. This will help you to save lot of money.
  5. No spend day – Keep one day as No spend day to save few bucks.
  6. Start piggy bank – Start your own small piggy bank and start putting money in it.
  7. Do Price Comparison – You should do price comparison before buying any products.
  8. Learn Time Management – Time is money, hence you should learn time management.
  9. Follow Simple Living High Thinking – Follow warren buffet strategy of simple living and high thinking.
  10. Set reminder for bill payment – Set visual reminder for bill and debt payment. This is to avoid late fee and penalties.

Banking & Insurance

  1. Switch Bank Account- You should shift your bank account to the bank where  more interest is paid. Kotak bank is paying 6%. RBL pays 7.1% highest interest rate on saving bank account.
  2. Negotiate rate with credit card company or Bank– You should negotiate well with credit card company to save money.
  3. Switch to Term Life Insurance – Term Life insurance is better option instead of insurance policy paying long term low return.
  4. Switch your Home Loan – You should switch to home loan with less interest burden.
  5. Make Repayment of Home Loan – Repayment of home loan is best option to save lot of money.
  6. Minimize usage of ATM card – Multiple ATM transaction per month cost you money. You should minimize use of ATM card for withdrawal.
  7. Switch to low cost credit card – Compare credit card option and switch to best credit card option.

Food and Fitness

  1. Limit Junk Food – You should avoid junk food like Pizza, burger or hot dog, it is not good for health. If you limit junk food you can save money.
  2. Keep yourself Fit – You need to maintain good health by doing exercise or yoga. Good health will give you financial benefit in terms of reducing medical bills.
  3. Give up Alcohol – You should give up alcohol it is bad for health and for pocket.
  4. Reduce taking soda – You should avoid excessive usage of soda along with alcohol to save money.
  5. Avoid eating outside – You should avoid eating outside. This can save more money.
  6. Don’t take mineral water at hotel – You should avoid taking mineral water bottle at hotel. If possible take water from home.
  7. Make Pizza at Home – Instead of buying pizza from hotel make pizza at hotel
  8. Eat Less Non veg – You should avoid Non Veg Food make habit of eating veg food.
  9. Drink More water – You should drink more water. More water intake is good for health. Because of more water you will eat less and stay fit.
  10. Quit Smoking – You should quit smoking. Smoking will kill you physically and financially.
  11. Generic Medicine – Ask doctor to prescribe generic low cost medicine to save more money.
  12. Find low cost medical store – Find out low cost medical store offering discount to save money.
  13. Make your own beer or wine – Sounds funny but effective. You can think of making your own beer or wine.

Transport

  1. Buy used car – If you are planning to buy new car you should think of buying used car.
  2. Car Pool – Make use of car pooling this will save lot of money.
  3. Air Pressure of Car – Make sure air pressure of your car tire is proper this will ensure high average.
  4. Clean Air Filter – You should clean air filter of your car regularly. This will help to improve average of your car.
  5. Maintain Fuel efficiency of Car – You should maintain fuel efficiency of your car to reduce expense.
  6. Select Best alternative route – Instead of crowded traffic route you should select best alternative route to save on fuel and time.
  7. Use Public Transport –Instead of using private vehicle you can use public transport facility.
  8. Convert your car in CNG – You can think of converting your card in low cost CNG fuel.
  9. Cab Service – Compare Cab service before opting. This can save you money.
  10. Check Airline for low fares – Search for online low cost airline.
  11. Live Near to workplace – Live nearby workplace to save fuel cost and time.

Communication

  1. Use Whatsapp – Use Whatsapp calling instead of ISD calling.
  2. Use prepaid phone – Instead of going for post paid mobile connection. Limit yourself to prepaid SIM.
  3. Avoid Extra Mobile / Data Services – You should avoid extra data pack or value added service on your mobile.
  4. Use email – Communicate via e-mail and not by phone to save on communication expense.

Shopping

  1. Shop at Thrift store – Start making shopping at ordinary store and not branded store.
  2. Buy good quality green appliance – You should buy five star green appliance. This will save lot of revenue expense.
  3. Buy goods in large quantity – You should start buying items in large quantity from whole sale store to save money.
  4. Buy Refurbish products – Instead of buying original product think of purchasing refurbish products.
  5. Avoid Imported Goods – Instead of buying imported goods go for local made goods.
  6. Delete credit card number from website – You should delete credit card details from website this will help you to save unnecessary buying.
  7. List making before purchase – You should make proper list before making any purchase.
  8. E-shopping – You should prefer online e-shopping. This will save lot of money.
  9. Purchase handmade gift and greetings – Handmade gift or greetings are less costly and can save you more money.
  10. Coupons can save money – You can find out good discount coupon or offer for online purchase. This can save lot of money.
  11. Avoid going to Mall – You should avoid going to mall unless it is necessary. Impulsive buying is bad for your pocket.
  12. Don’t buy branded cloths – Instead of buying branded cloths. Try to purchase normal clothing to save money.

Housing

  1. LED Bulbs – Use CFL and LED bulbs wherever possible this can save lot of money.
  2. Learn how to fix furniture – You should learn how to fix furniture on your own.
  3. Turn of lights – You should turn off light and appliance which is not in use.
  4. Repair vs buying new – You should opt for repairing instead of buying new things.
  5. Unwanted magazine – Stop unwanted magazine subscription to save more money.
  6. Buy Water Filter – Instead of buying mineral water bottle every month you should switch to water filter.
  7. Borrow from Library – Borrow book from library instead of purchasing new books.
  8. Use Thermostat – You should use thermostat at home. AC should be at auto cutoff limit with 25 degree temperature.
  9. Turn off unused appliance- To save electricity you should turn off unused appliance.
  10. Rent out unused space of your home – If you are living in big house you can rent unused space of your home.
  11. Buy Smaller house – You can opt for buying smaller house instead of buying bigger house.
  12. Do Regular car and home maintenance – You should regularly do car and home maintenance.
  13. Cut down vacation spending – You should cut down vacation spending to save more money.
  14. Start Garden – You can start your own garden at your home. You can farm useful things at home to save money.
  15. Turn off Television – You should stop watching television. This will lead to lot of financial benefit. It will lower your electric bill not only that you will be less expose to impulsive buying by watching TV ads.

Offers

  1. Discount and Holiday offers – Start looking for discount offer or holiday offers.
  2. Cash Back Offers – Look for Cash back offers to save more money.
  3. Free Reward Program – Look and subscribe for Free Reward programs.

Entertainment

  1. Invite friends instead of going out – You should do hangover at home instead of going out.
  2. Don’t spend more money on kids entertainment – Avoid spending lot of money on the entertainment of kids at malls.
  3. Avoid visiting cinema often – You should avoid going for movie often to save money.
  4. Cancel unused club membership – You should cancel unused club membership to save money.
  5. Swap Books online internet library – You should swap book, music and DVD online at internet library to save money.

Over to you –

What is your preferred way to save money?

Do you like these 80 Tips of saving money? If yes do share these tips with your friends.

Don’t forget to leave your comment below, because your comment and suggestion will help me in writing better content in future.

80 Best Tips to Save Money

NRI guide for buying property in India

NRI Property

NRI always look for new Investment opportunities in India. Real Estate is one of the most preferred investment options for NRI’s. RBI also allows NRI to buy property in India however, NRI need to follow various rules and regulation while buying property in India.

Let me share with you one Incident. My one of the NRI friend visited India in 2011. He was in a hurry and he wanted to invest money in property. He got a very good offer of one land nearby Surat. The property was agriculture land. My friend was not aware of the rule that NRI cannot purchase agriculture land, farm house or plantation property in India. The land owner sold this land on possession letter (Kabza Rashid) as registry was not possible. My friend completed the transaction innocently by trusting the owner. After inquiring, he came to know about the rule mention above. He approached landowner asking the same, owner promise him that process of converting this agriculture land to Non-agriculture (N.A) is on and soon it will be completed. Four years has passed and still property is agriculture property. My friend is now wondering what to do about this property and possession letter.

So, If you are NRI and planning to buy property in India, you should be aware of the rules & regulation & tax matters related to buying property in India. Here is complete NRI guide for buying property in India.

NRI guide for buying property in India

Can NRI buy property in India?

Yes, NRI can buy residential or commercial property in India. There is no limit on a number of properties that NRI can hold or purchase in India.

  1. NRI can purchase any immovable property in India residential or commercial.
  2. NRI cannot purchase agricultural, farm house or plantation property. They can inherit this type of properties.
  3. They can transfer or sale property to any Indian resident.
  4. NRI can also gift property to any person either residing in India or abroad or person of Indian origin.

Also Read – NRI Money Transfer Options

What documents are required to buy property by NRI

Following documents are required to buy property

  • Valid Passport with PIO/OCI card
  • Address Proof
  • PAN number
  • Photograph

Source of fund for buying property by NRI

  • Source of the fund for buying property can be foreign currency brought in India through rightful banking channels.
  • Alternatively if NRI is holding NRE or NRO account in India they can issue cheque from this account for buying property.
  • NRI can make payment from FCNR account/deposit.
  • NRI can take home loan from banks or financial institution for buying property in India.

Home Loan for NRI

  • NRI can take maximum 80% loan to buy property in India. The remaining amount should be arranged by the NRI.
  • Down payment can be done from the place of residence by banking channel.
  • Repayment and EMI should be paid by similar banking channel.

Tax Implication

  • Principal payment maximum up to 1.5 lac can be deducted under 80C from the Income for the calculation of tax.
  • NRI can claim a deduction of maximum 2 lac for the interest paid on Home Loan for the self- occupied/vacant property.
  • If the property is rented out, one can claim actual interest paid. Rent income needs to be taken into account while calculating total income.
  • The NRI need to pay capital gain tax as per income tax in case he sell- off the property.

Also Read – Capital Gain Tax Calculator

Point to Consider before buying property in India by NRI

  • Never involve yourself in buying agriculture property.
  • You should register property transaction legally. Never trust on possession letter.
  • Check ownership rights of property before making any payment.
  • Take No due clearance from the owner at the time of purchase.
  • If the property is mortgage earlier it is good to take bank release letter.
  • Check Property documents and permits for doing construction.
  • You can prepare power of attorney on the name of a trustworthy person, who can complete the legal formalities on your behalf in your absence.

Over to all NRI people

Hope I am able to clear your doubts about buying property in India. Do share this article with your NRI friend who is keen on buying property in India. Help him to clear his doubt about buying property in India.

And Don’t forget to comment below, because your comments are the fuel for me to write better in future 🙂