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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 11:37:15 pm

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar....

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar. Choose the Right Ingredients A Modak is only as good as the ingredients that go into it. Fresh coconut, good-quality jaggery, properly prepared rice flour and the right flavours all contribute to the final result. Our investments and financial products are the ingredients of our financial plan. Equities, mutual funds, fixed income, gold and other investments each have a specific role to play. The objective is not to pick whatever appears most exciting at the moment, but to select suitable, good-quality investments that match our financial goals, time horizon and ability to take risks. Health and life insurance are equally important ingredients. Adequate coverage helps protect savings, the family, and their financial goals and dreams. Good ingredients provide the foundation. But ingredients alone are not enough. Get the Recipe Right You may have the finest ingredients in the kitchen, but if the proportions are wrong, the Modak may still not turn out well. The same applies to investing. Asset allocation is the recipe of a financial plan. Too much of one ingredient can spoil a Modak. Similarly, excessive concentration in one asset or too much money in low-return products can spoil a portfolio. Balance is key. A thoughtfully constructed portfolio brings different investments together in the right proportions. To keep asset allocation very simple - short-term goals can be planned through bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits and debt mutual funds. For long-term goals, one can consider hybrid mutual funds, equity mutual funds or direct stocks. Trust the Process Once the Modak is shaped and placed for steaming, constantly checking whether it is ready will not make it cook faster. Investors often make the same mistake. We keep checking markets, reacting to every correction, chasing recent performers or changing strategies because of short-term noise. Good investing requires patience and discipline. Invest regularly, review periodically and allow your financial plan enough time to work. Compounding is powerful precisely because it rewards those who remain invested for long periods. Sometimes, the best thing an investor can do is simply avoid unnecessary interference. Enjoy What You Have Created Finally comes the most important part - eating the Modak! The purpose of investing is not merely to accumulate the largest possible number on a statement. Wealth should eventually help us fulfil our goals, support our families, create financial security and enjoy life with greater peace of mind. A good Modak needs the right ingredients, the right recipe and trust in the process. A good investment journey needs exactly the same. This Ganesh Utsav, may Bappa bless us with the wisdom to make good financial choices, the patience to stay disciplined, and the prosperity to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Ganpati Bappa Morya! (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Money Saved Is Money Earned — A Beautiful Reflection

Writer: Asha Tripathi
Asha Tripathi
Nov 24, 2025
3 min read

Money saved is money protected, money honoured, and money that grows with you.

In a world that constantly pushes us to spend, to upgrade, and to chase the next new thing, there is a quiet power in choosing to walk a different path. There is dignity, strength, and a steady sense of self-respect in the simple yet meaningful act of saving. After all, money saved is not just money earned — it is money protected, money honoured, and ultimately, money that grows with you and supports the life you truly want to build.

 

Every rupee you save is a silent victory over impulsiveness. It is a gentle whisper from your wiser self saying, “I am building my tomorrow. I am taking care of myself.”

We often celebrate incomes, salaries, and bonuses. But very few of us pause to acknowledge the smaller decisions — the ones that quietly shape our days. Like choosing to walk instead of taking a cab, cooking at home instead of ordering out, or saying “not today” to a purchase we know we don’t truly need. Yet it is these seemingly small choices, repeated over time, that shape our financial future far more than the big moments we usually applaud.

 

People often assume that saving is a sacrifice, something that takes away from the present. But in truth, saving is one of the purest expressions of self-love. It is choosing long-term security over momentary temptation, choosing peace over pressure, and choosing freedom over fear. When you save, you are not depriving yourself — you are gifting your future self a life that feels safer, calmer, and far more beautiful.


Within your means

Living within your means is not about scarcity; it is about clarity. It is about knowing what truly deserves your money and what doesn’t, what adds value to your life and what only adds noise. A person who learns how to save becomes rich long before their bank balance grows. This is because they develop discipline, wisdom, and the emotional strength that forms the real foundation of wealth.


Money saved eventually turns into opportunities. A trip you’ve always wanted to take, a dream you hope to fulfil, a small comfort you can enjoy without guilt, a cushion for emergencies, or even the foundation for future investments. It is your money quietly working behind the scenes, opening doors you didn’t even know existed and creating possibilities long before you need them.


When you save consistently, something almost magical begins to happen. Your money starts working for you instead of the other way around. Interest grows, investments grow, your confidence grows, and suddenly life starts opening up in ways that simply weren’t possible before. This is why we say, “Money saved is money earned… and money invested is money multiplied.”


Wise saver

A wise saver is never stingy — they are simply selective. They understand the value of every rupee, and they choose to direct their money toward purpose rather than pressure. Such people do not chase luxury; in time, luxury finds its way to them. They do not chase status; respect comes naturally to them. Because the world instinctively admires someone who lives with clarity, dignity, and a strong sense of who they are.


Saving is not just about finances — it is a mindset, a way of living with intention, and a beautiful commitment to the future you want to create for yourself.


So, every time you save even Rs 100, pause and remind yourself: “I am building my tomorrow. I am protecting my peace. I am growing — slowly, steadily, and beautifully.”


Because truly and deeply… Money saved is money earned — and it is one of the most beautiful forms of empowerment.

 

(The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

 


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