Owner: Layman\'s Finance Blog ..... URL:http://www.laymansfinance.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 05:51:52 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Laymans Finance Blog is an endeavor to simplify the complicated financial jargons and products to make it understood by laymen.
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Real Estate 2008-05-20 14:21:00 Should you rent or buy a FLAT?Ten Tips For First Time Home BuyersBlack Money Cushioning Real Estate Read more:Real Estate
Black Money Cushioning Real Estate 2008-05-20 14:16:00 Swaminathan writes: But Indian borrowers do not walk away from their homes — and loans — if prices dip. This is because a large proportion, often half, of almost all home purchases is paid in black money. If a house is sold for Rs 100 lakh, the official registered value will typically be only Rs 50 lakh, with the balance paid under the table in cash. A bank may loan Rs 50 lakh, covering th Read more:Black
, Estate
, Money
Ten Tips For First Time Home Buyers 2008-05-20 14:10:00 Are you like most Indians? If so, chances are that you have never bought a home before, i.e., you are a first time buyer. Buying a home is going to be the biggest investment that you will make in your life. No wonder this process is financially and emotionally draining. These tips will help you during your home buying experience. 1. Don’t budge from your budget There is too much choice in the Read more:Buyers
, First
Myths & facts of filing your tax returns 2008-05-20 13:42:00 The fiscal year-end is around the corner and many choose to make tax-related investment decisions around this time. Despite this being a regular, annual ritual, several tax payers have some misconceptions, some of which are listed below: Misconception No 1 Filing tax returns is a complex and cumbersome process. I need a Chartered Accountant to help me file my tax returns. Contrary to popular bel Read more:facts
, Myths
The best bet in Stock Market: “MIDCAPS” 2008-05-20 02:27:00 The small and midcap rally is taking root in an unprecedented way in the Indian stock markets. High liquidity, decent valuations, good prospects are contributing to this phenomenon. Many people are suspicious of the manner in which small and mid-caps stocks have run up lately. However, those claiming to be value investors believe that small and midcaps truly holds tremendous future for long term i Read more:Market
, Stock
, Stock Market
Why the Indian Stock market tumbled down? 2008-05-19 06:25:00 In last 4-5 years or so, Indian Stock
Markets had been zooming up non-stop (barring the January 08 fall), crossing one milestone after another. This rise had defied law of gravity and law of average. Better economic conditions, higher GDP and greater liquidity from retail investors as well as FII were main drivers. However, during this period, good news was being given extra premium and negatives
Higher Inflation: Whom to blame and the way ahead… 2008-05-16 13:39:00 Is an inflation rate of 6 - 8 percent is bad news for India when countries like Zimbabwe have hyper-inflation of 100,000 percent? In 1981 we had an inflation rate of 10.4 percent when GDP growth was over six percent. In 1991, inflation was as high as 13.1 when GDP growth was just one percent. Why are the common man and the policy makers worried about inflation? Let's take an update on th Read more:ahead
, Higher
, Inflation
U.S. fundas that are different in India 2008-05-15 17:38:00 The number of India
n financial bloggers are few and far away, and when you search for financial information you might hit more U.S. based bloggers who tell you about their experiences. Unfortunately some concepts just don't apply here - perhaps for the reason that our financial system is created different
ly - here's a few instances where things are different. Checking and Savings accounts Ramit
After all it's your life... 2008-05-15 07:40:00 What financial goals should you be thinking about? Anything you want to do in your life can usually be quantified in terms of the money that you will need to spend on it. All goals have a monetary value attached to them. For instance, if you want to buy a house in India, you can easily quantify whether it will cost you Rs. 20 lakhs or Rs. 40 lakhs. Financial Goals that you should think about can
Your Savings might be Taxed next year!!!! 2008-05-14 09:33:00 An Economic Times article states that some of the 80C deductions, those that helped you make 1 lakh of your income off the taxman's list, may now be removed as part of the next year's budget. The government's reasoning is simple: Make taxation more transparent and simple, but do not affect collection of tax. Previous year a huge amount of tax were collected. This reason coupled with the fact Read more:Savings
Mutual Funds v/s Direct Stocks Investing 2008-05-07 05:03:00 Investing in the equity market directly is exciting and sexy. You are in the thick of things and are able to take responsibility for yourself. Though the volatility and the information overload makes it a daunting task.How about investing through Mutual
finds? Doesn't it have its own loading and administrative charges and the fund managers making merry on your hard earned money? And can't we see t Read more:Direct
, Funds
, Investing
, Mutual Funds
, Stocks
Systematic Investment Planning 2008-04-23 00:09:00 The SIP route is usually recommended because it helps you to:1. Phase out your entry into the equity markets over an extended period of time.2. Helping you benefit from market cycles.3. If there is a significant correction in stock prices even as you invest, you reap the benefit of that by acquiring some units at relatively low prices.What happens when the minute you start your SIP, the market goe Read more:Systematic
Invest in a Company serious about CSR & Corporate Governance 2008-04-21 03:18:00 CRISIL launched a 50 scrip index which tracks the top Indian companies on the basis of Corporate Governance, Ethics and Social responsibility. It's called the ESG Index. (Environment, Social, Governance)This is what I was looking for when I am looking around for stocks to invest. Infosys, ITC was already in my radar and I am glad to see that they rank right on the top of the 50 scrips. The top ten Read more:serious
Equity Investment Basics 2008-04-06 12:47:00 When you buy a share of a company you become a shareholder in that company. Shares are also known as Equities. Equities have the potential to increase in value over time. It also provides your portfolio with the growth necessary to reach your long term investment goals. Research studies have proved that the equities have outperformed most other forms of investments in the long term This may be Read more:Basics
, Equity
Buying gold from your bank? Beware! 2008-04-02 21:49:00 Banks have hit upon a new idea to get a larger share of your wallet – retailing GOLD. While the banks claim that buying gold from them is a wise decision, but is it really wise!!!In fact i would go so far as to say that if you want to buy gold, don’t go to your bank!Why Gold? There are various reasons for which you should own gold in your portfolio. The most important of these is that gold is Read more:Beware
, Buying
Gold, a better option!!! Think about it…. 2008-04-01 13:37:00 Not really ten reasons, but one step at a time. So the US economy is crapping out. Big deal? Yes sir, very big deal. Dollar hits big time lows. What happens then? Look, a lot of us Asian Economies including the guys who have lots of oil and desert, have our bloody reserves in dollars. Ok? And if you flush the dollar down the toilet like the US is most likely to do with some grand Read more:better
, better option
, option
Allocating your ASSETS to Good Use 2008-04-01 12:43:00 Asset Allocation (AA) sounds sophisticated, no? It assumes you have an asset to allocate and gives a boost to your ego, eh! Looks like a smart and sexy word for a thing as drab and dreary as planning your personal finance. And AA also gives you a feeling that you are holding some aces (AA) rolled up in your sleeves. It specially applies to the Financial Planners or Advisors.But seriously, asset a
How Share price goes up in stock markets 2008-03-31 10:11:00 Once upon a time in a village a man appeared who announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rs. 10. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys went out in the forest and started catching them. The man bought thousands at 10 and as supply started to diminish and villagers started to stop their effort he announced that now he would buy at 20 rupees. This renewed the efforts of t Read more:price
, Share
Selecting the Right Home Loan Lender 2008-03-31 09:48:00 How to select the “Right
” home loan lender for you As with any other financial product today, there are plenty of home loan products which are available. Your choice of the lender will be determined by your personal requirements of :Total amount of loan you want to avail of – this is decided both on the basis of the property that you choose and your income. Payment terms you are comfortable Read more:Lender
Personal Loans Buying Guide 2008-03-31 09:47:00 I. How to Buy in 7 Easy Steps You need to determine the amount that you need to borrow through a personal loan. You should use this loan only as a last resort after you have utilized your other sources of money.Choose the kind of personal loan you want – unsecured , or loan against securities, loan against gold etc.Shop for the best rate at www.itrust.in and shortlist the best 3 providers Visit Read more:Buying
, Guide
, Loans
, Personal
Health Insurance Buying Guide 2008-03-31 09:46:00 I. How to Buy Health
Insurance in 5 Easy StepsDecide on the family members that you want to cover through health insurance Decide on the amount of coverage needed, based on your estimate of health costs and your existing coverage from employer provided insurance etc. Compare the options of taking individual policies vis-a-vis a floater policy, or critical illness or other specialized policies ba Read more:Buying
, Guide
, Health Insurance
Fixed Deposits Buying Guide 2008-03-31 09:45:00 I. How to Buy in 4 Easy StepsYou need to determine the amount that you can set aside to invest in a Fixed
Deposit. This is to ensure that the investment is tax efficient as well as does not attract any undue penalties.Shop around for the best rate, refer to online sites, magazines etc.Visit the branch and read the fine print of the termsProvide the required papers and the cheque/draft for the depo Read more:Buying
, Guide
5 Vital Tips on Home Loans 2008-03-31 09:24:00 To increase your loan eligibility, combine your income with that of your spouse, children or parents Always negotiate - the first interest rate quoted is never the final rate Before paying the loan processing fee request lender for preliminary check on the property Buy Loan Protector Life Insurance - ensure your family can use the house if you are not alive Immediate disbursement get best rates Read more:Loans
, Vital
How to pick Stocks and build portfolio 2008-05-21 15:13:00 Being a low risk operator, your leitmotif in life is to avoid anything hot. Touching anything hot will not only scald you but could well burn a hole in your pocket. Rumor mills in our bourses will always provide grist to the mill, but suggest you not to get pounded inside it. Here it would be pertinent to talk about ''momentum investing'' or buying what is going up and thus, has the momentum. Simp Read more:Stocks
No title 2008-05-21 10:08:00 Gold, a better option!!! Think about it….Buying gold from your bank? Beware!
Stocks/Equity 2008-05-23 05:14:00 Equity Investment BasicsKey to Equity Trading How Share price goes up in stock marketsAllocating your ASSETS to Good UseThe best bet in Stock Market: “MIDCAPS”Why the Indian Stock market tumbled down?Mutual Funds v/s Direct Stocks
InvestingInvest in a Company serious about CSR & Corporate GovernanceHow to pick Stocks and build portfolio Read more:Equity
Moving with the times 2008-05-24 10:48:00 Life for the retail investor in India should be easier now. In the ’90s, information was a scarce commodity; so informed decisions were the privilege of a few. Investment decisions were made on a hunch, word of mouth and whatever little data was available. Price data was not easily available, and it was tough getting real time access to company results. This information is now available online. Read more:Moving
All about "Z" group stocks 2008-05-29 04:43:00 Stay away from Z group stocksThe key criteria for selecting stocks for investment should be the quality of management and its adherence to corporate governance. What is the point in investing in companies that do not even bother to send annual reports to their shareholders?Stock exchanges use various provisions in the listing agreement to regulate companies’ corporate governance practices. Stock