Break the “I’ll start saving next month” trap this Diwali
(Because next month isn’t just a date; it’s a delusion)
First off, happy Diwali, folks! Here’s to a year of light and laughter, but most importantly, smarter money moves. Foofi wishes for all of your portfolios to shine brighter than those diyas you’ll light today, and for your wealth to grow faster than your weekend plans. Because true wealth isn’t just about having more; it’s about knowing better, spending wiser, and growing smarter.
Also, in case you’re someone who’s always postponing kicking off their saving or investing journey or buying insurance, Diwali is a great time to shake off the procrastination and get to finally do so. No more of “I’ll start investing next month” BS.
See, most of us don’t fail at saving because we’re careless or don’t want to save or invest at all; we fail because setting aside a specific amount every month, religiously and disciplinedly, feels like something we can always do later.
How many times have you told yourself that you’ll start investing or saving once you get that bonus or some extra cash? Or else, you’ll start next month, “when things will be more financially stable?”
But that “next month” has been coming for years, because the root cause is not the lack of money but rather a lack of system. And this Diwali, Foofi says it’s time to fix it! No more “Tareekh pe tareekh, tareekh pe tareekh, tareekh pe tareekh milti gayi, par investment nahi mila,” as Sunny Deol would lament
Here’s a 5-point checklist to break the “next month” loop for good and finally start saving this month, even if your income feels stretched with all the Diwali gifts and jewelry you’ve purchased this month.
There is no perfect time, so start today
In the film Bachna Ae Haseeno, Ranbir Kapoor, who plays a Casanova, poignantly says, “Kal toh chala gaya, us pe koi control nahi. Aur aane waala kal toh tab hi sambhlega jab aaj kuch theek kar do.”
You cannot go back in time and start saving or investing. But, as Kapoor puts it, your future will only be better if you start doing the right thing TODAY.
We love the idea of starting “when things calm down.” But let’s face it, life rarely has a calm moment. There will always be rent, bills, weddings, birthdays, EMIs, birthday and wedding presents, and that friend group, which will plan trips every two months.
Waiting for a “better month” is like waiting for a running treadmill to stop moving so you can hop on. Will that happen? No. Think of saving like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. Do you wait for the perfect morning? No, you just do it. Every day. Automatically. Think of saving your money just like that.
Action Plan:
Decide on a fixed percentage, not a fixed amount. Even 10% of your income works.
So, say your salary is Rs 50,000; that’s Rs 5,000 per month as savings. This is more than enough to begin your first SIP.
Increase your savings percentage every time your income rises, even if it’s by 1%. Time to put your Diwali bonus to some good use.
With just 10 days left in the month, you’re probably telling yourself, “I’ll start saving from November.” But here’s the thing: That’s the same story every month. Break the cycle. Start now, even if it’s just Rs 500. It’s not about the amount; it’s about building the habit.
Because if you can’t save Rs 500 today, you won’t suddenly save Rs 5,000 later. Habits don’t scale overnight.
Automate your savings
See, you’re not lazy (or maybe you are; Foofi doesn’t judge her kin). But you’re also human. And we are terrible at making the same smart decision every month, disciplinedly.
When you automate your savings, you don’t have to worry about manually setting aside money every month, which can just as easily succumb to your “I’ll do it next month” urge.
Take 5 minutes to set up this system this Diwali, and see the lazy genius of automation grow your money
Action Plan:
Set up an auto-transfer from your salary account to a savings or investment account on payday. If you do not have multiple accounts, open a new account with any of the new-age digital banks like Equitas or Fi. It will take you minutes, but your future self will thank you.
Use this separate bank account for savings. So, say your monthly income is Rs 60,000. Once the money hits your bank account, immediately transfer Rs 6,000 to this new account for investment.
To auto-transfer money between these accounts, log in to your bank’s website or app and go to the transfer section. Then, select the option for recurring/scheduled payments. Select the from and to accounts, frequency (monthly), and start and end dates for these transfers, and voila, you’re done!
Start an SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) in an index fund for as little as Rs 500–Rs 1,000/month. More on that later.
Automation turns “next month” into this month, forever.
Check for lifestyle creeps, because of which every raise of yours vanishes.
Every time your income goes up, your lifestyle quietly expands to fill it. You don’t know it, but it’s happening. What did you buy the last time you got an increment? Did you invest it, or did you use it to buy a new laptop, even when your old one was working perfectly fine? That’s lifestyle creep, the silent killer of your savings.
It feels harmless, even tempting at first: a new phone, a bigger TV, a gaming console, more OTT plans, better clothes. But these micro-upgrades, put together, make sure your savings stay the same (or worse, shrink).
Think of it this way: If you can live comfortably and well on Rs 50,000, why should earning Rs 60,000 mean spending Rs 60,000?
Action Plan:
Every time you get a raise, save half of the increase. Got an Rs 10,000 one-time bonus? Rs 5,000 goes towards your investments, no questions asked.
If your salary jumps from Rs 50,000 to Rs 55,000, keep adding Rs 2,500 to your SIPs every month, and then enjoy the rest guilt-free.
Once a quarter, do a “spending health check.” Here’s the 15-minute drill
Quarterly Spending Health Check (15-minute drill)
Pull statements from the last 90 days from banks and cards. Filter for recurring OTT, music, cloud, gym, newsletters, apps. Then, ask yourself:
Do I use it weekly?
Cheaper tier/family plan?
Free alternative available? If you’re not using it regularly, cancel, downgrade, or pause the subscription. Take screenshots of confirmations.
Turn off auto-renew; remove saved cards from unused services. Then, note the amount of monthly savings from here, and auto-transfer that amount to your SIP
Upgrading your lifestyle is fine. But just make sure your savings are also getting a promotion.
Make your money visible and your spending trackable.
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Most people have no idea where their money actually goes, which is why a techie earning Rs 1 lakh per month also feels broke by the end of the month (a Reddit birdie told Foofi). No one is asking you not to spend on yourself. But along with this, also learn your spending patterns, so that your money doesn’t do a moonlight flit on you every month
Action Plan:
Use expense trackers like Jupiter or a Notion template. For most people, a good old Excel sheet works just fine!
Categorize expenses: essentials (rent, groceries, investments), fun (dining out, ordering in), impulsive (for that last-minute dinner date)
Once you do it regularly, you’ll start noticing trends like
Too many small Zomato or Blinkit spends that almost add up to a weekend trip.
Impulse buys that don’t feel worth it in hindsight.
This awareness can create natural restraint, without you having to feel guilty about anything.
Replace guilt with goals. Saving is about freedom, not sacrifice
Savings and investments can often feel restrictive, but only because they’re framed around what you can’t do right now. But remember, these are major drivers for all that you want to do in your life. Wealth is built when you connect your savings to something you want.
Action Plan:
Create labeled saving buckets (in separate accounts or through mutual funds) for different goals. Examples:
A trip fund: Rs 1,000/month for travel joy.
Future Me Fund: A long-term SIP for financial independence
My bike/car fund: Rs 1,500 every month to make the down payment on your vehicle of choice.
When saving feels emotional, not logical, it sticks. You’re not depriving yourself; you’re choosing yourself.
The Foofi Wrap-Up:
You don’t build wealth by waiting for the “right month.” You build it by making small, boring, consistent decisions this month. So, start tiny. Automate ruthlessly. Spend consciously. And watch your money start showing up for you. Make “next month” happen now.