From the “Important Information Document” bundled along with the Manhattan Platinum Credit Card application: Death and Insolvency of a Cardholder: The entire outstanding dues in the Card account shall become payable in full by your successors or assignees in the event of your death or insolvency or winding of your business. Credit APR = 37.20% […]
In an unusual turn of events, a few days after I’d written my thoughts on improving the Sodexo Coupon System, D’s office (the new one), withdrew this excellent prepaid food card issued by her old office and in lieu issued this Sodexo Meal Card. I was impressed. Smart Card! Wow! I thought I was mighty […]
On a remote ghat road. I think I’ll own a Swift as long as they keep manufacturing one. With 49,000 on the odo, the treads are beginning to wear out. Who knew those JK Tyres would hold-up this well. The Bridgestones on my Santro had given up around the 40,000 mark.
I’m a big fan of ERE. When I embarked on my journey towards financial freedom last year, I followed many of the principles outlined in ERE, just that I didn’t know there was an official term for doing what I was doing. My ERE strategy is quite simple. Each month: I contribute first and foremost […]
[Another how-to! But I couldn’t find a detailed one elsewhere.] It’s really no wonder that BSNL doesn’t make a rupee in profit. When your customer, since 25-plus years, lodges repeated complaints of a non-functional connection and you don’t do a thing about it, there’s no way you’re going to retain that customer. There’s no way […]
At my previous job, salary was credited into a savings account while reimbursements were credited into a current account. The salary slip, however, combined both salary and reimbursements into a gross figure. Much chaos was caused when one needed to show proof of income/salary (for example when applying for a credit card) because the gross […]
I was looking at a colorful and eye-catching full-page ad for Videocon’s 3D-enabled d2h (direct-2-home) service when I caught this fine print: Standard cable length is 12 meters. Free Lifetime Warranty shall mean and be valid for 5-years from the date of activation. I wonder if that standard cable length measurement has some statistical backing […]
Wow! I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I read this on Wednesday morning. Increase the cap on your annual Public Provident Fund (PPF) investments from Rs 70,000 to Rs 100,000? I’d be the first person in the queue with a deposit form. I’d still be the first person in the queue even if […]
[Posted on priority and out of turn due to many reader requests.] Who’d have thought that Health Insurance could be this complicated? If you opt for LIC’s Jeevan Arogya health insurance policy, be prepared to have a Statistician and a Doctor living with you full-time. Because when you’re hospitalized, you’d need the Doctor to tell […]
Here’s a recent conversation I had with an ex-colleague. How’s your job/work going? Pretty good. D’s also working right? Yeah. In fact, her division at Company L was recently taken over by Company N. [The conversation then revolved around family life…] Then both of you must be really busy with your careers? No. Not at […]
It’s irresistibly tempting. My head spins non-stop with how-can-I afford-this thoughts. Since the iPhone 4 launched [in India], I’ve had these financially-destructive thoughts: Dip — no, make that dive — into my emergency fund. In a weird way this does count as an emergency because my present phone, a Nokia E52, has had its share […]
If I could make one wish, I’d honestly wish that a copy of my Jeevan Anand surrender request letter be stapled right on top of the policy document that you see in the video below. Now, that would be one insane — but totally spot-on — wish, wouldn’t it? [Here’s the video link if you […]