I Am My Own Laxmi: Beyond Savings Accounts, Let Your Money Walk With You

Last week, we spoke about your bank account and how it is your identity, your key to financial independence. But once your money sits safely in the bank, the next question is: what should it do there? Because money that just rests slowly loses its strength.

Saving Is Beautiful - But It’s Only Step One

We Indian women have always been natural savers. We hide small notes in saree corners, stack envelopes in cupboards, or proudly make a fixed deposit and feel our duty is done. Saving is a wonderful habit. It teaches discipline and brings comfort. But it is only the first step. If your money is not working when you are sleeping, someone else’s money is.

Inflation: The Silent Thief That Shrinks Your Money

Prices keep rising every year. That rise is called inflation. It quietly eats into your savings, reducing what your money can buy. A fixed deposit earning five per cent cannot protect you if prices are climbing at five and a half per cent. To keep your financial power intact, your money must grow faster than prices.

Growth Is Not Gambling - It Is Purposeful Placement

Growth does not mean risk-taking or gambling. It means learning where to place your money so it grows with purpose. Before deciding where to invest, ask yourself why. What is this money meant to do for you? Pay for a child’s education? Build a retirement cushion? Create an emergency reserve? Each answer becomes a financial goal, a clear purpose for your savings.

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The Three Pillars of Smart Money Decisions

Once you know the goal, three things help you decide how to manage your money.

First, risk. Every option carries some level of uncertainty. Some are very safe but grow slowly. Others may fluctuate in value but offer better long-term results. The idea is not to avoid risk but to understand it.

Second, liquidity. This means how quickly you can get your money back when you need it. Cash and bank balances are fully liquid. Gold or property may take months to sell. Some investments require you to wait before you can withdraw.

Third, time horizon. Money needed soon should be kept safe and easily available. Money you will not touch for several years can be invested where it may move up and down in the short term but grows more over time.

When you combine these three factors, you begin to match your money with your life.

Where Does Money Live? Understanding Asset Classes

You may often hear words like mutual funds, bonds, or government schemes and wonder what they really mean. These are simply different kinds of asset classes—places where your money can live and grow. Some are safer, like bank deposits and government schemes. Others aim for higher growth, like shares or equity mutual funds. Then there are real assets such as gold or property that hold long-term value. Each combines risk, liquidity, and time in a different way.

Some give stability, some give speed, and some give growth. You do not need to understand them all today. We will explore each one slowly and clearly in the coming weeks.

For now, your task is simple. Take a notebook and write three goals you want your money to achieve. Next to each goal, write how many years away it is: within a year, within five years, or after ten years. Then note where your money currently rests, whether it is in cash, a savings account, or a fixed deposit, and what interest it earns.

Ask yourself if that return is enough to reach your goal when prices keep rising every year. If it is not, what can you do differently? The answer will not appear overnight, but asking the question is where real change begins.

Your Week’s Task: Put Your Goals On Paper

Do not rush into any investment because someone else says it is good. The best choice is the one that suits your needs, comfort, and time frame. Growing wealth is not about being fast. It is about being thoughtful.

You have already taken the most important step: you are paying attention. The rest will follow. Next week, we will begin exploring investment options one by one, starting with mutual funds. You will see how they work and how they can help your money grow steadily and safely over time.

Until then, remember: money that sits still grows silent. Money that moves with purpose grows strong. You have already mastered saving. Now let your money start walking beside you.

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