Investment minus emotions: Is it possible with the mentality we have?

Very recently I have started reading about things I never thought of reading. But thanks to some random reading triggered from home schooling kids and pandemic situation. This random reading inspired me to read more about financial planning and investments. When it comes to finance and money what I understood till date is that you should save money. That’s how traditional and orthodox approach is, and we all have grown up with that. We never realized the importance of saving and investing.

In all the advises and explanations people said that one should keep emotions aside and then invest. Be practical and logical about these investments. Market does not care about your feelings and emotions. You feel or your gut says that this “Investment” is good is of no use. You need to do through research and go through a pile of excel sheets before arriving to a decision. But can we really do it? Is it possible to keep emotions separate from yourself then discuss and provide genuine feedback or decide.? When it comes to your hard-earned money how can you consider investing without emotions. However, I would like to highlight 3 specific areas where I realized the difference between an “Asset and Liability”.  Each one is related to emotions only and nothing to do financial planning.

 

1. House – The moment you start earning owning a house and living there is one of the most basic expectation you have. Even if it is related to taking a loan and paying EMI. I believed this is an Asset. We all have this emotional need. However, after doing research I realized that this is incorrect. If you own a property (house or flat) and live in it, it’s a liability as we would be paying a huge amount as an EMI and maintenance cost. So, if you calculate average return of investments in both the scenario then you would realize that renting is always better and economical with no headache. But can we accept this fact that we should continue living in a rented property and not think of owning a house and living in there. With real estate prices going high every year, it is becoming difficult to own a house without taking a loan. Even if we have a choice accepting this is extremely difficult. May be for generation next this would be an asset but for us a liability which we must carry as it is extremely important.
2.  Jewelry – The entire business of jewelry is based upon emotions and even the advertisements target emotions. Every company who is in this are advertising about emotional value associated with jewelry. They have associated this with all the emotional/social events that happen in various stages targeting women. Birth, graduation, engagement, wedding, birthdate, anniversaries, festivals and so on. Even currently most of the parents would buy jewelry in whatever possible quantity the moment a girl is born. However, financial planners would say that you need to buy “Digital Gold” as it is pure and there is no making charge. It’s impossible for me to even imagine gifting someone “Sovereign Gold Bond” as an anniversary gift or wedding gift. So, no matter what happens gold jewelry will always have a bright future. It will always be an Emotional Investment and not as a “Commodity Trading”.
3. Automobile- This is again a liability as most of us want to own and drive expensive cars based on the budget we have. And yes, as we don’t have so much of money, so we fall into the EMI mode of payment and take loan from the bank. Even though we understand that its value decreases the moment you take it out from a show room. We still buy or aspire to buy as we all have heard stories about our parents bragging about when they bought their first car and how they are unable to sell even if it is not working. Now, with the advent of OLA and Uber this has changed to certain extent. There is no need to own a car, but people still buy the same and upgrade it as well. Another emotional attachment which is difficult to get rid of.

 Hence, these are somethings where I feel whatever be the repercussion, but these emotional attachments would remain as is and very few people can get rid of these things. We spend a considerable amount on gadgets as well but that is not included because no emotions are attached to it. If one had access to and can afford would be upgrading every single day. No one is holding on to a mobile as a personal item which is indispensable.

Not sure how next generation behavior pattern would be as they are very much careless about things they own. They are shocked that there existed television which was not known as “Smart TV” but was called an “Idiot Box”. Emotions at that time was not related to the switching of the internet and I recall the power cuts where we used to talk to our neighbors daily. Now you hardly know the neighbor. Hoping that whatever be our investment strategy or financial planning we should not forget to invest in Education, values, health and personal relationships.

By,

TulikaJV

10/11/21

8 Business Ideas that you can start with little or no investments.

Lockdown in India was extremely difficult for each one of us in so many ways. With everyone staying at home looking after the household chores and Home schooling. It was difficult to handle things.

However, I saw many of my friends setting us small businesses with little or no capital. Slowly and gradually, they have built a small name for themselves.

Below are the ten ideas which you can use if you are gifted and yet not sure how to go about doing this.

1. Online Teaching: - When we were children, we never imagined attending school on a computer at home. Till date I have a mindset that training, and learning can happen only when you are physically present in a class with an Instructor. You have friends with whom you can discuss your problems, get suggestion, and collaborate for any report of assignment. But now this has changed completely. The entire education system across the world is now online. This is across any type of course you want to take and starting as early as nursery. Apart from schools there are lot of online platforms where you can publish your content with respect to course and you can even get paid. Setting this up in Udemy or Unacademy is extremely easy. Even if you don’t want to resister with these companies, you can take online tuitions. For this you need to have the acumen and knowledge, credentials are not big deal.

Now a days this is not just related to Academics but can easily be done even for drawing/chess/gymnastics/phonics etc. And they have customers for these things. All you need is basics of Facebook marketing /Instagram marketing, and you are all set.

2. Home Baker : This is not new thing but it became very popular because all the local shops were closed and most of preferred to take these things from our neighbors. From Brownie to Bread to Puff to basic cake and in some cases they even made fancy cakes. With assured quality and timely delivery this was a cool thing to do. Here as in some case they bought ingredients only when the order was given in a couple of days in advance. However, if you are a home baker and not professional it is very difficult to plan for things in advance. Eg, a day before or on the day of delivery they can come and say “Sorry, it is not done”. That’s fine as this in very occasional and they try to be professional as much as possible. Needles to say social media exploded with numerous home bakers who were even trained to make fancy came. Not to mention some of them bought fancy equipment’s. This was extremely supported by local community.  

3. Content Creators – Be it Instagram/Facebook/YouTube we saw everyone creating content, you could easily see some kids singling #bachpankapyaar being viral or some other trend which came out. From random videos to well thought content everything was available. Some became influencers by just doing a regular content. From big production house to small businesses everyone was reaching out to them for a paid promotion. The more viewers you get the better is the reach. You can easily find jobs a s a freelancer or being associated with a particular company or brand.

4. Book Publishing: Thanks to the time at home with practically nothing to do , people started writing their thoughts on a piece of white paper. Because this lockdown gave plenty of time especially if you don’t have children. Even someone like Priyanka Chopra admitted that this lockdown gave her the time to finish her book. #unfinished. Ofcourse, you should have a flair for writing. Even if you don’t have a money producing a Kindle edition is extremely easy with many Apps/Website helping you to do so. 

5. Yoga/Zumba/meditation/dietician Trainer: - This is again something which can be started very easily. Get some training and start taking online classes on Zoom/Google Meet. Charges, timing everything can be flexible. Create some fancy profile/pages to promote and start promoting.

6. DropShipping:- In this model the seller purchases inventory as needed from a third party—usually a wholesaler or manufacturer—to fulfill orders. So if you know a fancy wholesaler in Orissa or Kanchipuram or any other place. This is the time when you can connect with them and sell on any of the social media. No need to set up a shop or even maintain any inventories. 

Details :-  Feel free to google this term and read as it is very interesting topic.

7. Cloud Kitchen:- If you are in IT , you would have definitely heard of Cloud Computing/Cloud CRM, Cloud Architecture and so on. So what is this Cloud Kitchen now? 

It’s nothing but commercial facilities built specifically for food deliveries. Sometimes they are also called shared kitchen, virtual kitchen or even ghost kitchens. Which in simple terms means that there is no building where this restaurant is based. You simply register on Swiggy/Zomato and start taking the orders. In this you can use your own kitchen for receiving the orders. 

Do Read the Link :- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rise-of-cloud-kitchen-concept-in-india/article34787157.ece

8. Affiliate Marketing:- In simple words it is just associating your self with a simple company and promote their good. If it materializes than you will get a small percentage share. You can use your friend circle to promote these goods. However, in this basic knowledge of digital marketing helps. https://affiliate-program.amazon.in/

These are some of the things that my friends are using to generate income and I found them good so sharing the same. Also, it would be extremely helpful if you can do a digital marketing course, so you have a fair idea on the usage of social media platforms.

 Lot of free links are available to give this training.

Now is not the time !!

 

Now is not the time,

To be a critic,

And criticize everything around,

But to acknowledge what is good.

Now is not the time,

To scold children,

With too much screen time,

But to understand they are at home with no school.

Now is not the time,

To write hate message,

Or troll for a trivial fact,

But to support each other.

Now is not the time,

To Crib, Cry or Sulk,

But to remove it,

From the corner of your eyes and heart.

                    (1)

Now is not the time,

To hoard things for yourself,

But to restrict the usage,

To bare minimum.

Rather, now is the time,

To say a silent prayer,

For each one of us,

So, we can not just survive, 

But thrive on the same. 

                         (2)

Yes, I am afraid!!

 

Yes, I am afraid,

That when my daughter-in-law will come,

My son will not give enough importance to me,

And he will listen and be defined by her.

 

Yes, I am afraid, 

That my thoughts and my beliefs, 

Will never be taken ahead, 

In the precise manner I do or believe in.

 

Yes, I am afraid, 

That I would not have enough money,

As a result, things would not be in my control,

As it is there today when I am earning it.

 

Yes, I am afraid, 

The taste of my son would change, 

And it would be different from what he likes today,

And worst he might not even like what I make. 

                     

But, If I believe in these things and be afraid, 

Would not I be denying the happiness a person brings,

Would not I be giving too much importance to me, 

My beliefs, My thoughts, my culture, my desires.

 

Yes, I would be doing exactly that, 

Then why not chill and relax,

Wishing that whoever comes in his life, 

Treats all of us with Love and respect.

 

More than this values him,

And together they build a beautiful path,

And walk hand in hand forever... And ever,

Taking care of each other throughout.

                             

By 

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan.

12/11/20

Why?

Why are we so bitter,
Why are we so annoyed,
With small things,
Surrounding our day to day life.

When we all of us know,
One thing for sure,
When you eventually die,
Nothing almost nothing can come with you.

You won’t even remember,
Who said what!
Who accepted you with open arms,
Or who criticized you every single day.

You won’t even know,
Whether you were a success or failure,
Or how much money you added in the wallet,
Or simply spent every last penny.
(1)

You won’t even know,
Whether you gonna die,
Is it in the corner of your room,
A hotel or any super specialty hospital.

Yet, we walk through life,
As if we know it all,
Assuming our belief/rituals are perfect,
And it is above every other person.

Yet, we want our children to learn,
Keep our traditions alive even if they are reluctant today,
When all of us know for sure,
That once you go, you simply go..

You simply go!
Leaving memories behind,
Friends/Family who would recall your words,
And feel the empty space you would create.

So all you can do while alive is “TRY”
To fill each moment with countless memories,
That brings a smile on people around,
And make stories worth sharing with others.
(2)

By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan.
5/4/20

COVID 19 Impact

How COVID 19 will change our thoughts/beliefs forever.

COVID19 A New Normal | Work From Home | Digital Work Space| Home Schooling

I would not be lying if I say that I am totally consumed by COVID-19 and every small news affects me in one way or another. Never in my life I ever seen a situation where everyone is trying to maintain a distance as much as possible and staying home. Despite having all the freedom in the world. People are ready to give up maids/household helps just to stay safe. For those who can’t avoid going out are taking all necessary precautions.

You will have people walking wearing a mask on roads and there was a time when even in peak of pollution chaos in Delhi NCR this was not taken up. Avoidance of mass gathering is considered, and families are avoiding birthdays/parties/Puja/creative classes etc. I have a kid who is 6.5 years old and he also understands that he is not supposed to play out till month end. Hopefully!

Even if it goes off it will leave an impact in more possible ways we can imagine.

• First and foremost, we all will learn and appreciate the work done by our house helps/society helpers/security guard etc even with the money we pay them. If they don’t come for a day or two, we panic. With a lock down of weeks slowly we have adjusted to this routine and learnt to most of the work by our self. Things will never be usual self again.
• Ordering food from outside or eating out was common once or twice a week but now we are all eating inside and making most of it. Social Media is flooded with videos and post with respect to cooking. Especially with easy to make snacks items for kids. From baking to Dalgona Coffee everything is being tried at home with all available ingredient.
• This curfew like situation which has come up without any political mess up or any war. It’s unbelievable how things have unraveled over the past few days. You go to a grocery store and you don’t see any items used in your house on a regular basis, you get scared of things to come. From hand sanitizers to surf to fresh vegetables etc. This is much more than shortage of onions and salt which we had earlier.
• Prices of all essential goods will increase, transport cost etc.
• Wearing a mask would seem to be a new normal and instead of looking with a surprise we would be more considerate towards the person. This would be more like a norm as some would wear it against pollution and some would for cough and cold. Whatever is the reason we won’t be surprised if this becomes a part of uniform. 
• If we come to know that someone is sick the easiest thing to be done would be call up the person first and check on the person rather than visiting the person. Sad, but now I don’t think if someone falls sick, would be getting the level of personal attention we got from friends outside our families.
• Home schooling, will come to limelight and you never know in India also there would be a process and acceptance of students who are home schooled. Very recently I was inquiring with a teacher for my son. She said, she would take a web based or skype call to teach. Ofcourse at that time I refused to do the same. Now I think this would be a norm. As video call gets more accessible and cheap to people this would be very easily done. This is already working well in U.S.A and other developed countries. Would soon be very much possible and affordable. Kids will adjust to this video conferencing studies through Zoom or any other channels.
• We would keep washing our hands , avoid touching face as much as possible. 
• Any cough/cold or fever would be checked immediately to avoid any complication or issues. Even now I had to go through a CT scan and what came out was a cough due to Pollen allergy and season change.
• We would not be able to eat street side food with the same zeal and enthusiasm as we used to do earlier.
• Work from home is now a necessity as going to office is extremely difficult and may not esquire any questions hence forth. Neither it would be looked with anxious with a claim that your life is so easy as you have wok from home. We must understand that work from home makes you do more work than a normal day. Plus you don’t get a half hour lunch break/coffee break etc. No one to talk to and discuss the issues. No personal touches. 
• Going forward we would all think twice before touching any one or shaking hands. Hugging would be out of question apart from near and dear ones.
• More respect for people who clean your house, your roads to places you work at. This is required more than ever especially with so many diseases roaming around just to grab a host. 

More than anything else we must change our behavior and thoughts to support each other in good or bad times. May not be in person but through phones/emails or videos. Doctors/Medical industry would make lot of money as anxious parents would rush to them for consultation. I vividly remember when I was growing up no body bothered to take you to a doctor unless you are really sick. Hence, I have grown up avoiding medicines. Post pregnancy and two c-section I am more prone to pop up a medicine than endure the pain. Also, I believe age gets you as well. However, for kids it is totally different scenario one day of sneezing and coughing we take it to the doctor. Even if we know the medicines. Don’t want to take any chance.

Sincerely praying for us and everyone around that we are able to beat this and many other diseases that will come our way. Amazingly, so much of technology and machine learning is still not enough for curing this. God only knows what future beholds for our children.  However, we must appreciate every day that passes by. 

Thanks,

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan

(19-03-2020).

How I wish!!!

How I wish for time to wait,
Wait for me so that I can slowly sip my tea,
By turning pages of a crisp and fresh newspaper,
Skimming through Politics,
Through BIG words of Editorial to sports and to Page 3.

How I wish time to eat,
Without flipping through channels,
Or waiting for some work to be done,
Or trying to ensure kids eat well.

How I wish I had time to read,
With no disturbance and sound,
Binging into the words written in books,
Rather than watching or hearing it online.

How I wish I had time to talk,
Just sit in a group and conversation would begin,
No botheration about background/caste or culture,
Not just talk but listen to what others view and journey.

What amazes me is,
When we had the time to do these things,
We never bothered and valued,
What small things like these meant?

 By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan
(27/2/20)