Personal Finance

I recently went on a cycling trip in Bali. I was excited for the challenge, picturing scenic climbs and rewarding descents. It was a five-day trip covering almost 250–260 kms — and eventful right from the start.

When you're young, talented, and just signed your first professional contract, life can feel like a highlight reel. The numbers on that cheque — whether from endorsements, prize money, or signing bonuses — are dizzying. Overnight, your bank balance transforms. So does your lifestyle.

Most milestones come with noise. Fifty comes with silence—and clarity. There’s no applause, no external pressure. Just a quiet pause where you realise: this next chapter needs a new kind of thinking. For me, turning 50 wasn’t about slowing down. It was about rebalancing—my body, my wealth, my priorities.

One health emergency shouldn’t become a business emergency. A founder once said: “We had insurance for the team—but not for me. I assumed I’d never need it. Then a hospital bill wiped out our working capital buffer.” Another shared: “I bought the cheapest group policy, just to check the box. It didn’t cover maternity or pre-existing conditions—our employees found out too late.”

Not all “returns” are financial—and not all debt is bad. A client once asked: “I’ve got ₹10 lakhs in surplus. Should I prepay my home loan or invest it back into expanding the business?” Another shared: “I’m uncomfortable with debt, so I keep putting every spare rupee into my EMI—even though my business needs fresh working capital.”

In a business household, emergencies don’t send a calendar invite—liquidity must be ready before the need. A business owner once said: “When COVID hit, I had enough inventory—but no liquid funds. We had to borrow for basic expenses.” Another shared: “My family assumed we were secure because the business was doing well. But we didn’t have cash for even 3 months of household needs when sales dipped.”