Creget Journal

Money, markets, and method.

Clear, research-backed guides on mutual funds, personal finance, fintech, credit cards, and Indian markets.

Personal Finance·16 Apr 2026

Emergency fund: How much is actually enough in 2026?

Six months of expenses is the textbook answer. The real answer depends on your job, dependents, and risk profile.

5 min
Personal Finance·14 Apr 2026

The FIRE movement in India: A realistic guide for 2026

Financial Independence, Retire Early sounds dreamy. Here is what it actually takes in India, with real numbers.

8 min
Personal Finance·13 Apr 2026

Step-up SIP: The strategy most investors ignore

Increasing your SIP by 10% every year can double your corpus compared to a flat SIP. The math is compelling.

5 min
Personal Finance·9 Apr 2026

How much should your emergency fund actually be?

The "6 months of expenses" rule is outdated. Here is a smarter framework based on your actual income stability.

5 min
Personal Finance·6 Apr 2026

The 50/30/20 rule: the simplest budget that actually works

Most budgets fail because they are too complicated. This three-bucket approach fits on a napkin — and that is the point.

4 min
Personal Finance·6 Apr 2026

Emergency fund: how much you actually need and where to keep it

Six months of expenses is the textbook answer. But the right emergency fund size depends on your job stability, dependents, and insurance — here is how to calculate yours.

6 min
Personal Finance·5 Apr 2026

Term insurance in India: the definitive guide to getting it right

Term insurance is the most important financial product most Indian families get wrong — either under-insured, over-paying, or skipping it entirely. Here is how to fix that.

8 min
Personal Finance·4 Apr 2026

Health insurance in India: how to choose a policy that actually works

The cheapest health insurance policy is often the most expensive one when you actually need to use it. Here is what to look for beyond the premium.

7 min
Personal Finance·3 Apr 2026

Tax planning in 2026: salaried vs freelancer — the strategies are completely different

Salaried employees and freelancers face radically different tax situations. Here is a side-by-side guide to minimizing your tax burden under each regime.

8 min
Personal Finance·2 Apr 2026

Home loan prepayment vs investing: a framework for the right decision

You have an extra ₹2 lakh. Your home loan rate is 8.5%. Your equity SIP returns 12%. The math seems obvious — but the right answer depends on more than just the interest rate.

7 min
Personal Finance·1 Apr 2026

Retirement planning in India: the number you actually need

How much do you really need to retire comfortably? A simple method that accounts for inflation and withdrawal rates.

7 min
Personal Finance·26 Mar 2026

Why your employer health insurance is not enough

Relying on group cover from work is one of the biggest financial mistakes in your 30s. Here is what to do instead.

6 min
Personal Finance·24 Mar 2026

Term insurance: the one product every earning adult must own

Pure protection, no savings component, dirt cheap. Here is why term insurance is the backbone of any financial plan.

5 min
Personal Finance·21 Mar 2026

NPS vs PPF vs EPF: which retirement vehicle wins for you?

Three government-backed retirement tools, each with different tax rules, lock-ins, and returns. A clear head-to-head.

7 min
Personal Finance·17 Mar 2026

Should you prepay your home loan or invest in mutual funds?

The classic dilemma: pay off debt or chase higher returns. The right answer depends on numbers most people never calculate.

6 min
Personal Finance·17 Mar 2026

Why your 30s are the most important decade for retirement planning

Retirement feels distant at 32 — which is exactly why it is the most critical time to act. The math of compounding makes every year in your 30s worth more than five years in your 50s.

8 min
Personal Finance·16 Mar 2026

PPF vs NPS vs EPF: the complete comparison for retirement saving in India

Three government-backed retirement instruments, each with different rules, liquidity, and tax treatment. Here is how to use all three intelligently.

8 min
Personal Finance·15 Mar 2026

Gold in your portfolio: how much allocation makes sense and what form to hold it in

Gold has preserved purchasing power across centuries and diversifies equity risk. But the right allocation, form, and entry strategy matters more than most investors realize.

6 min
Personal Finance·14 Mar 2026

How to go from a 700 credit score to 800 in 12 months

Your credit score controls your loan rates, credit card approvals, and even rental applications. Here is how to upgrade it.

6 min
Personal Finance·14 Mar 2026

Real estate vs equity: the honest comparison for Indian investors in 2026

Real estate feels tangible and safe. Equity feels volatile and abstract. But the actual long-term returns and risks, when compared fairly, tell a more complicated story.

8 min
Personal Finance·13 Mar 2026

Debt repayment vs investing: a clear framework for every situation

Should you pay off your loan or invest the money? The answer depends on the type of debt, the interest rate, your tax situation, and your psychology. Here is a decision framework.

7 min
Personal Finance·11 Mar 2026

Passive income in India: what actually works in 2026

Most "passive income" streams are neither passive nor income. Here are the few that genuinely deliver.

7 min
Personal Finance·8 Mar 2026

A framework for setting financial goals that actually get achieved

Wanting to "be rich someday" is a wish, not a goal. Here is how to translate vague financial dreams into something you can execute.

6 min
Personal Finance·25 Feb 2026

Decoding your salary slip: why your CTC and take-home pay are so different

Your offer letter says ₹12 lakh CTC. Your salary account gets ₹72,000 per month. Where does the rest go? Here is a complete breakdown of every deduction between CTC and take-home.

7 min
Personal Finance·24 Feb 2026

New vs old tax regime 2026: which one saves you more money?

The new tax regime is now the default — but the old regime is still alive and might save you more if your deductions are high enough. Here is a clear decision framework for FY2026-27.

7 min
Personal Finance·23 Feb 2026

Financial milestones by age: a realistic guide for India's salaried class

Where should your finances be at 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50? This guide sets realistic benchmarks for savings, investments, insurance, and net worth at each life stage.

7 min
Personal Finance·22 Feb 2026

Savings account comparison in India 2026: which bank pays you the most?

The difference between a 3% savings account and a 7% one is hundreds of thousands of rupees over a decade. Here is how Indian savings accounts compare — and when to switch.

5 min
Personal Finance·21 Feb 2026

Insurance portfolio audit: 6 things to check to make sure your coverage is actually enough

Most Indian families are either over-insured in the wrong products (endowment, money-back) or dangerously under-insured on term and health. Here is how to audit and fix your insurance stack.

7 min
115 posts · updated regularly