#CelebrateingtheRainbow at the workplace – share your stories of Pride!
In our twenties, many of us put off planning our finances for a distant ‘future’. But, can the future we want happen if the money for it doesn’t exist?
Youth is like a butterfly; beautiful, swift and wants to do everything today! I loved all the fun I had in my twenties and today, when I look back, I do realize I could have done a few things better, but don’t we all?
Not to second guess myself but the one thing I would definitely pay more attention to would have been my finances and my lack of interest in them. All I did was put in a fixed amount as savings (under duress from my parents) and spend the rest of it. Spending money was so much fun but what do I have to show for it 15 years down the line?
Many say money cannot be equated with happiness; true, but it makes for an excellent support staff when we are sharing our true happiness. A few rupees more for that exclusive sari, that dress, phone or that vacation to give you a much-needed break. Where does this money go, why do you end up searching for it?
We need to start today and if it were possible I would go back to the twenties me and tell myself these things about a well-planned life for a beautiful tomorrow.
It is a lot easier to get insurance in your youth and the benefits outweigh the cost; if you start too late, it is like throwing good money out of a window due to the high premium.
Youth is the time when we are most carefree; a good time to be responsible for our own long and happy life in the future. We might like to live free and be whimsical about our choices but insurance is like the backup we take for all our devices. Why not for our life too? You don’t wait for the device to be full before you take a back up, do you?
When in our prime all of us tend to live for the moment, but we forget our tomorrow and the need to ensure that ‘Kal Khoobsurat Hai’ (The future is beautiful too).
Tomorrow will be today soon enough so try not ‘living for today’ by spending all that you earn. I too had my wild phase when my entire salary was blown on clothes, shoes, parties and jewelry. Now when I look back, the gold jewelry I bought is the only saving grace from my youthful ignorance.
Saving up for our nest egg is important and if we don’t start early, really early, we might not be able to pay up for the house of our dreams. Add to this the need to maintain your lifestyle post retirement – saving early makes sense.
Don’t let your money drip away. ‘Little drops make an ocean’ is quite apt for the drain on our finances due to things like the 50 rupees for the extra channels we never watch or the 100 rupees for magazines we buy but never have enough time to read, the 20 rupees nail polish we buy at the checkout counter but never use. All these individually don’t mean much but over a year they add up to a big dent on your money pile.
As youngsters, it is okay to take an interest in the financial well being of the household, and as parents, teach your child about the value of money. If children are taught the worth of money they grow into responsible adults who are wise enough to stay away from debt traps and credit card misery.
If I could go into the future and tell myself one thing so that I could be happy today, what would that be? It would be, ‘Live for today but plan for tomorrow’. It does not mean that we defer today to live for tomorrow but realize that the money, comfort and financial independence we love so much in our youth should last for a long and happy life.
This post is supported by Exide Life Insurance. Exide Life Insurance has a pretty useful tool to plan your financial future, My Money Book, which you too can use to align your insurance planning, saving and investment with your goals. Here is where you can get your own copy.
Top image of savings jar via Shutterstock
Inderpreet writes for her love of writing, edits manuscripts and reads endlessly. An authors' editor with a decade of experience, she provides manuscript critique, linguistic editing, substantive editing and developmental editing for fiction and nonfiction. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Can you believe this bloke compelled me to wear only saris - full time at home- till the eighth month of my pregnancy?! The excessive heat coupled with humidity made my life miserable.
Recently when I browsed an interesting post by a fellow author on this very forum I had a sense of déjà vu. She describes the absolutely unnecessary hullabaloo over ladies donning nighties and /or dupatta –less suits.
I wish to narrate how I was in dire straits so far wearing a ‘nightie’ was concerned.
I lived in my ultra orthodox sasural under constant surveillance of two moral guardians (read Taliban) in the shape of the husband’s mom and dad. The mom was unschooled and dim-witted while the dad was a medical practitioner. But he out-Heroded the Herod in orthodoxy.
My supervisor introduced me as a valuable member of the team, emphasizing my skills and contributions rather than focusing on my gender identity. This simple act set the tone for my experience in the workplace.
As a transwoman navigating the corporate world, I had encountered my fair share of discrimination and challenges. Transitioning without the support of my parents and having limited friendships in my personal life made the journey difficult and lonely. However, when I stepped into the office, something remarkable happened, I left behind the stress and negativity, embracing a space where I could truly be myself.
Joining the marketing team as a graphic designer, I was initially apprehensive about how my colleagues would react to my gender identity. But to my surprise, the atmosphere was welcoming and respectful from day one. My supervisor, Sarah, introduced me as a valuable member of the team, emphasizing my skills and contributions rather than focusing on my gender identity. This simple act set the tone for my experience in the workplace.
As I settled into my role, I discovered that my colleagues went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and included. They consistently used my correct name and pronouns, creating an environment where I could be authentically me. Being an introvert, making friends wasn’t always easy for me, but within this workplace, I found a supportive community that embraced me for who I truly am. The workplace became a haven where I could escape the stresses of my personal life and focus on my professional growth.
Please enter your email address