The Vibe Journal: Finance Blogs

Fixed Deposits (FDs) are offered by banks and NBFCs where you deposit a lump sum for a fixed tenure at a guaranteed interest rate. They are low-risk, easy to open and suitable for conservative investors who want stable and predictable returns.  Government Bonds are debt instruments issued by the government to raise money. When you invest, you’re lending money to the …

Fixed Deposit (FD) is a retail investment system that allows people put in money to a bank for a fixed tenure at a guaranteed interest rate. Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a short-term, transferable money market instrument issued by banks and financial institutions, usually in large denominations.  Simply put, when comparing fixed deposit vs certificate of deposit, an FD is meant for regular …

EMIs have improved access to retail. We see EMI options everywhere right from phones, laptops, appliances and many more. Nowadays, you don’t even require a credit card to convert your expenses into an EMI. You can just use your debit card.  But here’s the real question most people ask:  Does debit card EMI affect credit scores?  Let’s break it down in simple, conversational language so you know …

Imagine this: Your loan EMI is due on the 5th. You assume everything is fine. A day later, you receive an EMI bounce message from your bank saying the payment failed due to insufficient balance. That’s when you first hear about EMI bounce charges and realise they’re more serious than they sound. Let’s break it down in simple terms, with real examples and data so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.  …

Public Provident Fund (PPF) is an investment plan for individuals that is totally backed by the Government of India. It is known as one of the best long-term savings options. Moreover, you can take out a PPF loan against your balance instead of breaking your savings.  A loan out of the PPF is a smart option for your short-term financial needs, which, at the same …

If you’ve ever taken a close look at the bottom of a cheque, you may have seen a series of numbers in a special font. That’s not just some random numbers; that is what we call the MICR code.  Read on to understand what an MICR code is, its purpose and also how it is relevant in today’s digital banking environment.  What is an MICR Code?  MICR code full form: Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. Banks use this technology for …

If you’ve ever applied for a loan, you’ve probably come across the term collateral. You must have wondered what it means and why lenders care so much about it.  Simply put, collateral means an asset you pledge to a lender as security for a loan. In any circumstance you fail to repay the loan, the lender has the legal right to seize and sell that asset to recover their money.  …

If you’ve ever opened an FD and later thought, ‘I should just move this FD to my spouse/daughter/parent,’ you’re not alone. Deposits are a huge part of how Indian households save. RBI’s household savings publications consistently show deposits as a major component of financial savings.  [Source: Reserve Bank of India]  But here’s the catch: in most banks, an FD is not like a movable asset you can …

GSTIN (GST Identification Number) is your unique GST identity used to log in and file returns. Think of it as your GST ‘account number’ for compliance and tracking. If you’ve ever filed a GST return and wondered, ‘Did it actually go through?’ then, you’re not alone. GST status checking is one of those small habits that saves you from late-fee surprises, missed ITC claims and unnecessary vendor follow-ups.  But the best part is that the official …

TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is a tax system where the payer deducts a part of the payment as tax and deposits it with the Government, so tax is collected at the time income is earned, not just at year-end.  Now, let’s decode Section 194J of Income Tax Act in a simple, real-life way: whenever a business (or specified payer) pays a resident for professional …