Monday, April 11, 2016

New Journey...with Excitement and Continous Learning

Article is under drafting...

I will share amazing experience of new place, new people, new career path and new mindset.

Please be awaited.

Tanmay Vora

Monday, June 23, 2014

Spending vs Saving

How to control spending and start saving


The biggest challenge for young investors is to control spending. Here are eight ways you can transform from a spender to a saver
You may have landed yourself a good job, earn a fat salary and have a bright future. Yet,none of this is quite evident when you look at your savings. This is not a one-off case and you are not the only one to have not paid heed to saving for the future. Young people often find it difficult to save in the initial years of their careers. Studies reveal that discretionary spending can be as high as 18-20% of the income for young people. A 2011 study by Assocham revealed that almost 35% of the urban youth spend up to 5,000 a month on clothing alone. This is one of the reasons most young people have such low savings. “Gen Y usually focuses on their EMIs, but ignores their SIPs. They want to splurge on the latest smartphones and the newest cars but not save for their future,“ says Sudipto Roy , business head, Principal Retirement Advisors.Discipline and self-regulation are the cornerstones of a successful investment plan. We know it is difficult to salt away money when everyone around you is spending as if there is no tomorrow.
There is tremendous peer pressure and even the most level-headed youngsters can stumble. Our cover story this week looks at 8 secret mantras that can help transform a spendthrift into a saver.
MANTRA #1 SAVE BEFORE YOU SPEND Many people are not able to save enough because they don't have anything left after all their expenses. Their financial equation is: Income Expenses = Savings. Legendary investor Warren Buffett offers a simple solution. He says the equation should be changed to Income Savings = Expenses. Instead of saving what is left after expenses, you should spend what is left after you are done with your savings for the month.
We know controlling expenses is easier said than done. However hard you may try, there will be some expense that will gobble up the surplus and prevent you from saving. The solution lies in automating your savings. If you give an ECS mandate to your bank for an SIP, the money will automatically flow into your mutual fund even before you can withdraw it. Ideally, the savings should flow into an investment option that does not allow easy withdrawals. This is one of the reasons that make the Provident Fund such an effective tool for long-term savings. Every month, the employee's contribution is deducted from the salary and deposited into his PF account.
The money keeps growing till the person retires. He can access the corpus before retirement only in certain circumstances.
MANTRA #2 WAIT BEFORE YOU SPLURGE The urge to buy something you like can be overwhelming. Easy financing options and plastic money prevent an individual from distinguishing his wants from his needs. Whenever you want to buy something expensive but not essential, follow the 30-day rule. Just postpone the purchase by 30 days. During that period, think hard whether you really want the item. At the end of the month, if you still want to buy it, go ahead and purchase it. However, if the item was not really essential, you will get over the urge to buy and will probably junk the idea.
This simple rule works very effectively in case of gadgets, apparel, footwear and accessories. It's also not very difficult to follow because you don't actually deny yourself the item. You merely postpone the purchase by a month. As a fringe benefit, you also get to research the item over the next 30 days.
There is another guideline that can help you know the difference between wants and needs. The 30-minute rule says that if you are unlikely to use an item for a least 30 minutes a day on average, you should not buy it. The fancy coffee maker is really no use if you take it out once a month. Of course, this rule is only for gadgets and appliances and should not apply to other essential household items.
MANTRA #3 AVOID USING PLASTIC MONEY Credit and debit cards are essential because an increasing number of our financial transactions take place online.
However, plastic can be dangerous in the hands of a reckless spender. Studies show that people tend to overspend if they use a credit card for a purchase. If they have to make the payment in cash, they feel the pinch. Since the credit card user only signs on the slip, the full im pact of the purchase is not felt.
To suppress the shopaholic inside you, leave your debit and credit cards behind when you go to the mall. Take cash instead. Experts recommend some extreme measures for serious shopping addicts. Some say you should just note down the card details and then cut the card into pieces so that you can't use it anymore. Others suggest you keep the card in a paper sleeve and stick pictures of your kids or spouse on it. You will be reminded of the other goals you may be jeopardising when you swipe the card for an unnecessary purchase. “Keep in mind that every craving sets you back when it comes to reaching your longterm goals,“ says P V Subramanyam, financial trainer, Iris. One bizarre idea is to literally freeze your card inside a block of ice. It won't damage the card, but the user will have to wait for the ice to melt before he can access it. However, we believe the average spender won't have to resort to such extreme measures.
Just keeping the card in a safe place in stead of carrying it around in the wallet is good enough.
MANTRA #4 START SMALL TO SAVE BIG At the beginning of your career, your income may not be very high. In many cases, there is a very small investible surplus after the all the expenses. Still, this should not hold you back from sav ing. For a young investor, the low quan tum of investment is more than made up by the long period available for the money to grow. The magic of compound ing ensures that even a small sum grows into a gargantuan amount over the long term. The investment can be scaled up as the income grows in the coming years. However, it is difficult for the av erage investor to maintain the discipline required for this approach over a long period of time. Mutual fund investors start SIPs but don't enhance the amount every year. Ulip investors pay the same premium year after year without any top-ups. Investors in recurring deposits and fixed deposit don't even have the option to increase their investment in the same account.
MANTRA #5 DON'T BE PRESSURED TO SPEND Everybody's financial situation is dif ferent. Just because your colleague has bought a new car or booked a flat in a fancy location does not mean you should follow suit. Bangalore-based Rajesh Prasad (see picture) learnt this early in his career. “When I started working, there was a lot of peer pressure to go out and splurge. However, my father and senior colleagues advised me against blowing away my entire income,“ he says.
When it comes to big-ticket items like cars and houses, do the math carefully before committing expenses. For in stance, the total cost of ownership of a car is much higher than the price quot ed by the dealer. You also have to include the cost of fuel, insurance, servicing, spares and repair. There are a few rules for buying a car. The price of the car should not be more than 60% of your annual household income. The EMI should not be more than 15% of your monthly income or 30% of your investi ble surplus after expenses. Besides, a new car should be used for at least 8 years for complete return on investt ment. Similarly, assess how much you really need the new smartphone before upgrading.
MANTRA #6 LEVY LUXURY TAX ON YOURSELF , The intention of this article is not to make you deny yourself the very luxu ries that you have worked for so hard to , attain. Every now and then, you need to treat yourself and your family to some some fun as well. Take the case of Punebased Vikas Mathur (see picture). He has found a novel way to boost his savings everytime he spends. No, we are not talking about credit card reward points here. Every time Mathur indulges in some discretionary spending, he socks away an equal amount for his savings.
If a dinner and movie with the family costs him 2,000, another 2,000 is put into his savings. There is another advantage of this rule. The luxury tax that Mathur levies on himself helps him get over the guilt of spending on discretionary items.
MANTRA #7 DON'T SPEND TO DE-STRESS For many people, spending can be therapeutic. It is a way to unwind after a stressful day and gives the person a sense of control. However, the aftermath of this de-stressing exercise can be even more stressful if it burns a big hole in your pocket. Worse still, if the bills you pile up remain unpaid, because it will definitely hurt your credit score and you might find yourself denied a bank loan if you happen to require one. “You must use your credit card wisely and with caution. If you use more than 30% of your total available credit card limit, it will affect your credit score adversely,“ says Nitin Vyakaranam, Founder & CEO, ArthaYantra.com.
Do you also frequently head to the mall and pick up stuff to fight depression and anxiety? Get a grip on the situation and look for healthier (and less costlier) alternatives to unwinding.
When you feel overwhelmed by the urge to go on a shopping spree, go for a stroll in the park or do some light exercise.
This will act as a distraction and ease the urge to spend.
MANTRA #8 FIX A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT This should have been the first mantra, but has been deliberately brought up at the end because Gen Y is put off by the B word. The fact is that setting up a budget is the first step towards prudent financial planning, and it's not too difficult. You have to just set a limit on how much you are going to spend on your clothes, travel, movies and eating out in a month, and stick to your budget. Budgeting also helps you keep tabs on the itsy-bitsy expenses, such as casual shopping for clothes, eating out, gifting, and entertainment. Most of the time, these smaller items go unnoticed even though they take up a large portion of the total monthly expenditure.
In the good old days, financial planners advocated the `envelope' method, where the outlay for each head was put in separate envelopes. Now you can sign up with a money management portal.
These websites aggregate all your finances, from savings bank accounts and credit cards to loan payments and mutual fund SIPs. They help you keep track of your money , alerting you when a payment is due or when you have overspent under a certain head.

Courtesy : Times of India, 23 June 2014, Page No. 16

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Man’s 25 Rules of Style

1. Get to know your tailor. No matter what you wear, he can make it look better.

Hackett London, fall/winter 2014







2. A suit jacket or sports coat should fit like a glove. Once buttoned, you should be able to slide a palm between your chest and the coat. Anything more, and the jacket is too big.
sleeve-break

3. A tie should hit you at the belt buckle. Never higher or lower.
tie-length

4. Your tie should never be wider than your lapel. 
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig in Tom Ford

5. Pocket squares are a great addition to any suit. Just remember it should never match your tie, only complement it.
pocket-squares
J. Crew

6. You should always see some of your shirt cuff once your sleeve ends. A quarter to a half-inch is plenty.

7. Suit pants should never pool at your shoes. They should have about a one-inch break.
tailor-pants

8. A bulky wallet doesn’t make you look rich. Only carry the necessities: your ID, a credit card, and a few small bills.
wallet

9. When wearing leather shoes, your belt should always match. Brown with brown and black with black.
brown-shoes-and-belt

10. Dress shoes are a staple in any mans closet. Invest in a quality pair.
alden-dress-shoes
Alden

11. Keep your shoes clean and polished. Nothing looks worse than scuffed and faded toes.
shoe-shine


12. You should never wear square-toed shoes. NEVER.
square-shoes-flames

13. Jeans should distress on their own. Never buy them that way.
Robert Redford

14. Never wear a belt and suspenders. Only one or the other.
belt-suspenders

15. Flip flops are for the beach only.
flip-flops

16. A plain black or white T-shirt never goes out of style.
steve-mcqueen-white-t

17. Never button the bottom button of your jacket. You don’t want to look like a bellboy.
Canali
Canali, fall/winter 2014

18. Pleats are not flattering. Stick to flat-front pants.
hermes11
Hermes, fall/winter 2014

19. Socks are an extension of your personality. They don’t need to match your pants, but they should complement your whole outfit.
shoes-socks

20. The basting stitches on the shoulders and the rear vents of your coat should be removed.
basting-stitches

21. White socks are for the gym, not with a suit.
white-socks

22. Lose the plastic watch. Invest in something refined and timeless.

23. Oversized watches are not flattering on anyone. Keep the dinner plates on the table.
large-watch

24. It’s always best to show up overdressed rather than underdressed.
alain-delon

25. Follow your instincts, not the trends.
Steve McQueen

Illustrations by Bryan Mayes, bryanmayes.com

for best outfits you can visit 

http://www.amazon.in/Mens-Clothing 
   

Read more: http://www.mademan.com/made-mans-25-rules-style/#ixzz34vRrZlHU

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Spotlight on Influence

1. Is it better to be LOVED or Feared ?

The growing body of research suggests that the way to Influence -and to LEAD - is to begin with Warmth.
Warmth is the conduit of Influence: It facilitates trust and the Communication and absorption of ideas.

Even a small nonverbal signals-a nod, a smile, an open gesture-can show people that you are pleased to be in their company and attentive to their concerns. Prioritizing warmth helps you connect immediately with those around you, demonstrating that you hear them, understand them, and can be trusted by them.

"Before People decide what they think of your message, They decide what they think of you."

Article continues...



Monday, August 12, 2013

I have become a Proud Father



I have become a father: 
Blessed with precious gift - Prince...
Close to 3.56PM on 10th Aug 2013 , I have become a proud father, blessed with a boy.

I have begun my New journey after day. At the office & to Friends, whoever heard the news congratulated me and I felt great.

It was 9th Aug, 2013, Friday. I use to avoid Travel to Bhavnagar on friday, My "Sasural". I do not know why I travelled o that day. I booked ticket on 3PM for 6PM journey. I caught bus at 5.45. I reached sasural at 10.45PM quite a late. I had a dinner at 11.30PM. I talked with my wife-Disha & to be baby for a while. I said to my baby that i waited a much for you, please be in my hand soon. I wondered whether she heard or what but it happened at 3.30AM, when my wife started complaints about fluid flow. I ignored & said get sleep & dont think about it. she didnt sleep & cried by saying some thing is happening strange in my stomach. I ignored again. I got good sleep. At 6, Mitra, my sister in law, came to me and said we are going to maternity home. I shocked with saying what time is it. she said 6, we called Doctor, doctor said come in urgent. I get up, wore a shirt, started running down to disha. She said " what discussion you had with our baby, she took seriously".

We went to clinic, got her admitted. Doctor said technically matter with my Sasu. I stayed with my wife till she finally taken for delivery.

Normal Delivery was a big scare for me, Due to a early knowing of bi-cornet uterus in 4D sonography. I kept having terrible tension with my thinking during the delivery. At 3.56, Doctor came out, congratulated us by saying you have a Baby Boy. Both are fine. Disha had to do some post delivery treatment. Thats it. 

Newborn was in the doctor's hand due to premature birth. At four in the evening, when all were allowed to see, I saw them from outside window for the first time. I could hardly discern anything but his little face. I choose to wait patiently. Aware that he is going to grow up to become fine.

However when you have baby in your Hand, all discomfort disappear. You are at the height of happiness.  

Tanmay Vora

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

"Mindset": The New Psychology of Success

Two Mindsets: Fixed or Growth

One day I was trying to understand why some students/Employees were so caught up in proving their ability, while others could just let go and learn. Gradually I realized that there were two meanings to ability, not one: a fixed ability that needs to be proven, and a changeable ability that can be developed through learning. 

Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. If you have only a certain amount of intelligence, a certain personality, and a certain moral character—well, then you’d better prove that you have a healthy dose of them. 

I’ve seen so many people with this one consuming goal of proving themselves—in the classroom, in their careers, and in their relationships. Every situation calls for a confirmation of their intelligence, personality, or character. Every situation is evaluated: Will I succeed or fail? Will I look smart or dumb? Will I be accepted or rejected? Will I feel like a winner or a loser?

There is another mindset [a growth mindset] in which these traits are not simply a hand you’re dealt and have to live with, always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you’re secretly worried it’s a pair of tens. In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development. This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which can change and grow through application and experience. 

When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world. In one world—the world of fixed traits—success is about proving you’re smart or talented. Validating yourself. In the other—the world of changing qualities—it’s about stretching yourself to learn something new. Developing yourself.

In one world, failure is about having a setback. Getting a bad grade. Losing a tournament. Getting fired. Getting rejected. It means you’re not smart or talented. In the other world, failure is about not growing. Not reaching for the things you value. It means you’re not fulfilling your potential.

I would like to share my own experiences with you for the first time in my Life. As an Engineer I started my career as a simple Engineer who works in Plant/labors/Supervisors doing what is being done since a three decade. Every body was trying to fit himself in that stereotype & nobody had ever tried to innovate/Create something new. That is called Fixed Mindset. By sinking in that routine people had never stretched that brain to learn something new for personal /relationship development.

From 2005 to 2006, I was working as an In house Quality control Engineer., 2006 to 2008, Inspector at Vendor stage, 2009 to 2011, Validation Engineer( Design validation). Every time I learnt something & forgot. In 2011. In 2008, I joined NIRMA for pursuing MBA Part Time Degree to add value to my career. I was not excel in education in school time, but achieved fare excellency in Maths & Logic.  I believe if you have ability to visualize things logically you can do things more simpler than others. In 2011, I expressed my thoughts to my Management about my contribution. I was delegated commercial activities which has nothing to do with engineering. today I am involved in financial measurement for which I am learning accountancy & financial management.

Growth is not what you earn but growth is difference between what you were & now.

"Self-taking", "Self-churning" & 'Self-storming" is the way to change mindset.

(To be continue) 

Tanmay Vora