A few years ago, we would visit nearby stores to purchase items like clothing, books, gadgets, and other necessities. However, shopping has become more convenient since the rise of online marketplaces like Flipkart and Amazon as we can now access thousands of products at the touch of a button—and at great prices, too! The Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) programs, which let us order items online and pay for them later in flexible payments, improve our online shopping experience. But is this facility a blessing or a curse? Let's find out in this blog.

With a short-term credit product called "Buy Now Pay Later," we can make upfront purchases that can be paid for over the course of four or six payments. In essence, we are taking out a short-term loan and we will need to pay it back in a lump sum or through EMIs. The majority of the time, we use these loans for online shopping.

Paytm Post-paid, Amazon Post-paid, Flipkart Post-paid, Zest Money, Simpl, PayPal, Lazy Pay, and Mobi Kwik Post-paid are the entities providing this facility in India.

We can purchase items with the help of BNPL plans without having to pay for them right away. But we should proceed with caution and only purchase items that we can genuinely afford to pay for; otherwise, we run the risk of purchasing something we didn't really want but ended up doing so because it wouldn't immediately strain our budget. In addition, interest will be added to the amount that was defaulted if we delay or neglect to pay an instalment.

Although BNPL schemes offer flexibility in selecting payback terms and instalment amounts at no additional cost, our credit scores are negatively impacted by late payments. But in all the fuss about BNPL hurting credit scores, the opportunity it affords new borrowers to establish strong credit histories is being disregarded. We can build solid traditional credit ratings by making on-time repayments and using credit responsibly. To do this, we must improve our knowledge of personal finance. With this goal in mind, I am developing "Mastering Money Management," a brand-new course on personal finance. Details will shortly be released on my website www.rachanaranade.com.

Moving on BNPL schemes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include quick and simple approval of interest-free loans, minimal documentation, low processing fees, customized repayment schedules, and safe and transparent online transactions. Disadvantages include impulsive spending, interest and fees for late payments, and the possibility of a lower credit score.

There is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to money. The price of our purchases must be paid in any case. Therefore, the choice to buy now and pay now or buy now and pay later is entirely up to us, i.e., the consumer.

Establishing financial goals is a crucial first step toward obtaining success and stability in your finances. But a lot of people have trouble figuring out what their financial goals should be and how to achieve them. We'll go through several actions you can take to make sure your financial goals are practical, achievable, and significant in this blog.

1. Determine how you are currently doing financially - Examining your present financial condition is the first step in defining financial goals. This entails figuring out your net worth, figuring out how much money you make, and figuring out how much money you spend. You can use this information to assess your financial situation and make goals since it will assist you to do so.

2. Define your short-term and long-term goals - It's time to define your financial goals after you've evaluated your existing financial status. Start by establishing both short- and long-term objectives. Paying off debt, setting up an emergency fund, or saving for a down payment on a home are some examples of short-term objectives. Long-term objectives can include supporting your children's education, retiring comfortably, or purchasing a home.

3. Be specific and measurable in your goals - It's important to make your financial goals specific and measurable. For example, rather than setting a vague goal of "saving more money," set a specific goal of saving a certain amount each month or increasing your savings rate by a certain percentage. This will make it easier to track your progress and stay motivated.

4. Establish a schedule for accomplishing your goals - Choosing a schedule for reaching your financial goals is a crucial component of goal-setting. Think about your short- and long-term objectives, and decide when you want to accomplish each one. You can use this to prioritize your goals and build a strategy for accomplishing them.

5. Make a plan of action - It's time to make an action plan when you've established your financial goals and the timeframe for reaching them. This should include concrete actions you can take, like raising your income, cutting your costs, or making stock market investments, to reach each goal. Make a timeline for finishing each goal and break it down into smaller, manageable tasks.

6. Consistently assess and modify your goals - Finally, when your circumstances change, it's critical to periodically assess and modify your financial goals. If your income or expenses change, you might need to revise your schedule, modify your goals, or set new ones after you've reached your previous ones.

In summary, establishing financial goals is a crucial first step toward financial success. You can develop a road map to financial stability and success by analyzing your present financial condition, identifying clear and measurable goals, establishing a schedule, making an action plan, and routinely reviewing and updating your goals. Always keep in mind that setting financial goals requires time and work, but they are ultimately worthwhile.

In addition to this, I have also made a detailed video on “How to set SMART Goals?” 

Starting a family is a wonderful time, everyone is happy, excited, and a little nervous but it can also be a stressful one. If you are a parent, parents-to-be, or planning a family in the future – one of the most important things to consider is how much it is going to cost. You cannot put a price tag on having a child; it is a priceless experience that adds immense joy and meaning to life. However, smart parents are those who are prepared for the journey emotionally, physically, and most importantly, financially.

One of the most important things you can do to reduce stress is to establish sound financial habits early on. Here are ten financial tips to keep in mind when starting a family:

1. Create a budget

A budget is the foundation of good financial management. It helps you understand your income, expenses, and how much money you can allocate toward different categories. Create a budget including your income sources, expenses, and savings goals.

a. Save for emergencies
Having an emergency fund can provide peace of mind and financial security. Aim to save at least six months of living expenses in an emergency fund.

b. Consider childcare expenses
Child care can be a significant expense for families. A study by Aditya Birla Capital suggested that the cost of nine months of parental care and delivery might go up to Rs. 2,00,000/- and the two-year cost of raising an infant (0 to 2 years) can go up to Rs. 5,00,000/-. Consider the cost of child care when creating your budget, and start planning for it as early as possible to enjoy the best time of your life.

c. Don't overspend on baby items
Babies need a lot of stuff, but you don't have to spend a fortune on it. Consider buying gently used items or borrowing from friends and family to save money.

d. Plan for education expenses
Planning for your child's education expenses early can help you avoid financial stress later on. There is no need to explain how expensive the education system is. According to a survey by NDTV, in most schools in Tier-I and Tier-II cities, the annual tuition fee might range from ₹ 60,000 to ₹ 1.5 lakhs.

2. Get a life insurance
Life insurance is important if you have dependents who rely on your income. It can provide financial support for your family in case something unexpected happens. If you already have insurance then review your insurance coverage regularly to ensure that it meets your family's needs. Consider getting a term life insurance policy if you don't already have one.

3. Plan for retirement

It's never too early to start saving for retirement. There are numerous government schemes as well as private plans to help you accumulate your retirement fund. Consider setting up a retirement investment as early as possible and contribute regularly to it.

4. Make a will

Creating a will is an important step in protecting your family's financial future. It ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and can help avoid legal complications.

5. Communicate with your partner

Effective communication with your partner is essential for good financial management. Set financial goals together, create a budget, and regularly review your finances to ensure you're on track.

Starting a family is an exciting and challenging time, but by following these financial tips, you can establish good habits that will help you achieve your financial goals and provide security for your family's future. This will help you enjoy the happy moments in your life stress-free. So, stay aware and start investing, until next time!

As per above infographic Reliance Retail is majorly in the 5 segments:

1) Grocery

2) Connectivity

3) Fashion & Lifestyle

4) Consumer Electronics

5) Petro Retail

To analyze and estimate the future growth of the entity one should focus on major segments of the business of the entity. Not just segmentation, but how much individual segments are contributing to the entire revenue of the entity and the future prospects of those segments can be considered. 

Along with economic conditions, one of the factors to be considered is the growth of the segment in the market and whether the contribution of the segments is in line with the expected growth of respective segments. 

For Example – In case of Reliance Retail, Grocery segment of the entity contributes 21% of the total revenue of the entity and the market growth rate of the segment is around 48%, Connectivity segment is contributing around 34% of the total revenue and the segment is growing at 28%. 

If one considers these facts for all the segments and relates to the current economic situations, the expected growth of the segments – strength and opportunities of the business can be estimated to a certain extent. 

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the savings of the general public has gone down to a certain extent as well as other financial stress has affected which can have a good impact in short term over the fashion and lifestyle segment of the entity.

The gold market cycle means the period in which the instrument is in the bull run. Simply, it’s the period from the start point of the bull run to the correction start point. Usually, the gold market cycle lasts for around 8 to 10 years. 

For example – the previous gold market bull cycle was started in 2001 and ended in 2011. In 2001 – [In 2001 approx. per gram price was approx. Rs. 400 & in 2012 it was approx. Rs. 3,112. After this high, it corrected up to Rs. 2,227 in the next 3 years i.e. July 2015]. 

According to Experts, currently gold is in a bull market cycle. So, if one checks the below graph, approx. from 2017, the gold entered in the bull run cycle with approx. per gram price of Rs. 2,523 and as on date gold is at around Rs. 5,230. If the usual bull cycle horizon matches with the current gold market cycle, even if in the short term, gold is in an overbought zone, one can see a good amount of growth in the remaining life cycle. 

According to US-based analyst Nigam Arora, the author of The Arora Expert, “ there is more than 50% probability of gold approaching $3000 in this gold market cycle.” Earlier, Christopher Wood had said in his Greed and Fear report that gold could climb up to $4000 in the current bull cycle. [Current Price as at 6th August 2020 is approx. US$2,060.70, Mumbai – Rs. 5,768 per gram].