Six honest, India-specific playbooks. Each one tells you what to do this month, this year, and what to stop worrying about. No shame, no cross-selling.
18–22 · college / early skills
🎓 The Student
"Learn the language of money before you have any."
This month
Open a zero-balance savings account in your own name (Jupiter / Fi / Federal Selfie / IDFC First).
Set up UPI, but keep one bank strictly for savings — never link its UPI.
Get a lifetime-free credit card the moment you're eligible (IDFC First LTF or ICICI Amazon Pay). Use it for one small subscription — build history.
Track every rupee for 30 days in the Vybe Budget Planner. Just observe, don't judge.
This year
Start a ₹500/month SIP in Nifty 50 Index Fund. Doesn't matter that it's small. It's a rehearsal.
Learn PPF, EPF, ELSS, index funds — one concept per week from Zerodha Varsity.
Get health insurance if not on parents' cover — ₹5L base plan is ~₹6,000/yr at your age.
Never carry a credit card balance. Pay in full, always. That's the whole game.