Ritesh Sabharwal CFP®

W.M.W #1: Why I Regret Not Taking Money Seriously at 27

Reading time: 3 minutes - June 21, 2025

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Hey Reader

If you’re reading this, you’re already ahead of where I was in my late 20s. Most people wait until their 40s to realize money isn’t just about saving—it’s about building a life you actually want. I learned this the hard way.

I used to think earning well and investing in mutual funds would sort everything out. But by the time I hit my 30s, I was staring at a pile of financial goals—buying a home, planning for my retirement, planning for my kid’s education—and feeling completely overwhelmed.

If you’re in your late 20s or 30s and want to buy a car, take a vacation, send your kid to college, and still retire at 50, you’re not being greedy. You just need a better system.

Today’s email is about building that system—starting with the foundation.

In this issue:

• Why most people mess up their money in their 20s and 30s
• What it actually means to have a “personal finance foundation”
• How to fix things without reading 47 blogs or watching 92 Reels

Let’s make it boring-on-purpose. That’s where the magic is.

3 Steps to Build a Strong Personal Finance Foundation

Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner:

1. Get Clear on What You Actually Want

You can’t build a system for your money if you don’t know what you’re solving for. Most people say they want “freedom” or “security,” but can’t put a number or a timeline to it. I was the same. For years, my goals were “Save more” and “Invest wisely.” That’s not a plan—it’s a vibe.

What helped me? Writing down clear, life-linked goals:

• ₹10L for a car in 2 years
• ₹50L for a house down payment in 5 years
• ₹2.5L for vacation every year
• ₹30L for kid’s education in 15 years

The next step?

Once I wrote my goals, I calculated how much do I need to invest every month to meet these goals.

The next step?

Budget and see if I even make that much and if not then tweak either my budget or my goals. Either I change my goal value i.e. amount or the timeline so that I have more time for money to grow to meet my goals.

2. Track Everything—Simply

There’s too much advice, too many apps, too many spreadsheets. You don’t need more dashboards.

You need one system that tells you:

• What you’re earning
• What you’re spending
• What you’re saving/investing
• Whether you’re on track for your goals

That’s it.

I built my own Personal Finance Operating System (nerdy, I know) because I was tired of logging into five different apps and still not knowing where I stood. It’s not flashy, but it keeps me honest.

You don’t need to copy mine—but you do need a system that works for you. If you don’t have one yet, reply to this email—I’d love to help you get started.

3. Set Up Safeguards (So You Don’t Have to Be Perfect)

Here’s the truth: You don’t need perfect decisions. You need default safeguards:

• Automate SIPs right after your salary hits your account
• Keep a separate account for guilt-free spending
• Say no to investments you don’t understand
• Do a quarterly review of your finances, —like a CEO of your own life

I still make money mistakes. But thanks to these guardrails, the damage is contained. That’s what a strong foundation does—it gives you room to live without falling apart financially.

Sneak Peek👇

Next week I tell you about “The 8 Insurance Traps No One Warns You About”

So stay tuned!!

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