You earn well. You work hard. So where does all the money go?

If you have ever stared at your bank balance on the 25th of the month and wondered, "How did this happen? I earn so much. Where did everything go?" — this book was written for you.

In India, we are taught the dates of historical wars, the chemical formula for glucose, and twelve different uses of the word "set" in English grammar. But nobody teaches us how to handle the one thing we will use every single day of our adult lives — money.

Money Basics Every Indian Should Know is the financial education school never gave you. Written in the simplest possible language, with Indian families, Indian salaries, family wedding conversations, chai-stall stories, and real numbers from your life — no jargon, no hype, no get-rich-quick promises.

Inside this book, you will learn:

Why earning more does not automatically make you wealthy
How inflation silently eats your savings — even when your bank balance grows
The magic of compounding, and why ten extra years matter more than ten extra thousand rupees
Why an emergency fund is the most important account you do not yet have
How to spot a bad EMI from a good one, and escape credit card traps
The honest truth about LIC policies, ULIPs, and why insurance is protection — not investment
A guided tour of every major Indian investment instrument, from FDs to mutual funds to gold
How to spot a Ponzi scheme, fake advisor, or "guaranteed return" scam before it swallows your money
The six pillars of a strong Indian financial life
A simple, one-page financial plan you can fill out today
Who this book is for: Whether you are a college student getting your first part-time income, a young professional who just got your first salary, a parent worried about your child's future, or a 50-year-old who finally wants to understand the LIC policies your agent sold you — this book will give you the foundation.

A Class 9 school student should be able to read it and understand it. So should your uncle who has never opened a stock market account in his life.

About the author: Sreejesh Madampath is a Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) with over 15 years of experience in the Indian banking industry. His professional credentials span mutual fund distribution and advisory, retirement advisory, Portfolio Management Services (PMS), NISM Equity Research Analyst certification, and Specialised Investment Funds. Over the years, he has watched the same patterns repeat in family after family — hardworking people earning well but struggling to save, falling for guaranteed-return schemes, and reaching retirement with far less than they should have. This book is his attempt to change that.

This is Book 1 of the Financial Literacy for Every Indian series — your starting point for a lifetime of confident money decisions. By the end of this book, you will not be a stock market expert. You will be something far more useful — an informed Indian who can pick up any product brochure, ask the right questions, and decide for yourself whether it suits you.

"Knowledge without action is just entertainment."

Take the first step. Read this book. Then start building the financial life you actually want — not the one your colleagues are showing on Instagram.