I have grown up watching my grandparents handle some of life’s worst-case scenarios with care and prudence. My grandpa’s life is quite simple. He had a decent job, raised three kids and grandkids, retired with pride, and now leads a relaxed life with my Grandma. He is a true testament to the fact that simple investments can bring happiness and stability to one’s life. His investment plan has four main facets:
His investment plan has four main facets:
- Education
When my grandpa narrates his childhood instances with a child-like gleam in his eyes, I always find his desire to be educated inspiring. My grandpa is a framer’s son; he was the first to pass the 10th exam in his family. As a child, he used to do odd chores at his tuition teacher’s house for the class. He always says, “Everything I have now, I owe it to my education” My grandpa never had the opportunity to experience college life. After the victorious 10th pass, he got the chance to do a diploma from a night school while earning for his family.
After his retirement, I thought my grandpa would sit back at home and join some clubs. But, he wanted to study M.A. English, so he enrolled in B.A politics program at my university. He never got the opportunity to complete his graduation because of his hectic life. I can never forget the happiness on his face when we filled out the application and got the books. When he had enough time, money, and health to do anything he wanted — he chose to graduate. My grandpa’s first and lifetime investment is education.
2. Family
My Grandma has always been a homemaker and raised three strong, independent individuals. These kids had their fair share of struggles, like any other members of the Indian family. However, my grandmother seems undeterred in any situation. She spent most of her life raising kids and grandkids. I stayed with my grandparents till I was eight, the best years of my life. Until today, I call my Grandma for advice if I have a crisis. She has a strong emotional quotient, and everyone finds solace in her words. My grandpa started with 90 rupees per month. He spent most of his earnings on his kids. But he couldn’t find time for the family. My Grandma made sure to fill the void. His second investment and probably the best decision of his life is — my Grandma.
3. Savings
My grandpa never invested in the business. He saved. In today’s world, saving is a redundant concept to handling money. But my grandpa is paying rent for the house he is staying, working on his farm during weekends, and paying for his education with the money he saved. In my opinion, this is a pretty good and safe retirement plan. However, my grandpa is a wizard in the matter of land deals. When all his kids settled in their ways, he had no financial responsibility over them. He started to buy land. My grandpa’s third investment is time. He knew the right time to save and the right to invest.
4. People
Despite his struggle to make ends meet, he always reached out to help. My grandpa chose to be kind. Today, he teaches math and yoga to the kids in the village he grew up. My grandpa is independent after retirement only because he gave value to the people around him as much as he valued his family. Everyone around him adores his words. So, his last investment is people.
My dad is currently doing a Ph.D., my mom is working a stressful management job, and I am interning at a hospital. None of us has our life planned out like my grandpa. We are leading a nuclear family life. All three of us are still figuring out our careers, and the best part, we are still determining where all the money is going. I don’t know at what point, but we made life too complex to relax. If you are in my place — confused. Step back and ask yourself. Do you see yourself as sorted as my grandpa in your sixties? If not. Now is the time to start making the right investments.
