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Just Started Earning ? Small SIPs are Better Than No Investment

By REPAKA PAVAN ADITYA

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Updated on: Apr 22nd, 2025

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3 min read

Getting started with investing might feel overwhelming, especially when your income's just beginning to flow in. But here's the thing: it’s not about how much you start with, it’s about building a habit. A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is one of the easiest, least intimidating ways to begin your financial journey. You don’t need to know everything about markets, and you don’t need a huge bank balance. SIPs help you make small, regular investments that grow steadily over time. And the best part? You can tailor them to fit your current life and earnings.

What is Meant By SIP?

SIP is called as Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) it involves investing small, regular amounts of money in mutual funds to gradually build wealth towards long term.

Why SIP is Ideal for Beginners

For first-time earners, managing expenses like rent, food, transport, and student loans often takes up most of the cheque. What’s left might not feel like enough to invest. That’s where SIPS shine. With some mutual fund providers, you can begin investing with as little as ₹500 per month.

Builds the Habit of Saving:

Setting money aside every month becomes a part of your routine, like paying bills or refilling your phone plan. Over time, you adjust your lifestyle around this small outflow.

Reduces Emotional Investing: 

Investing one lump sum during a market high or pulling out funds when the market dips often leads to poor results. SIPS eliminate that guesswork.

Gives You Tax Relief:

If you choose ELSS mutual funds, your SIPS count under Section 80c of India’s tax laws up to ₹1.5 lakh of what you invest can be claimed as a deduction. That’s a big help when filing taxes.

All this means you’re building wealth quietly in the background while living your life. It’s a steady, balanced way to grow your money.

How to Customise Your SIP

The one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for money, and SIPS respect that. They give you room to adjust based on your financial rhythm.

Start Where You Are:

The low entry point of ₹500/month makes it doable for nearly anyone. And if that’s too much, some months, most fund houses allow pausing without heavy penalties.

Pick Your Schedule:

Monthly SIPS are common, but you can choose weekly, fortnightly, or even daily if that better aligns with your money management.

Increase Over Time with Step-up SIPS:

These plans let you gradually raise your investment amount, usually once a year. For example, if you start with ₹1000/month and bump it up by 10% yearly, you're investing ₹1100 the following year, ₹1210 the year after that, and so on. It’s a way to invest more without feeling the pinch all at once.

This flexibility ensures your investments can keep pace with your salary growth and life goals.

Benefits of Investing in Small SIPS

Financial Discipline

SIPS teaches you how to budget with what you have. You learn to set aside money, no matter how tight things get. Over time, that self-discipline seeps into other areas of your life, like saving for a trip or avoiding credit card debt.

No Need to Time the Market

You don’t have to worry about when to invest. By investing a fixed amount regularly, you're buying more units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high. This keeps your average cost reasonable and your stress levels low.

Automated Deductions Simplify Everything

Set it up once, and your bank handles it from there. There are no reminders, delays, or missed months—your investments happen in the background, like clockwork.

Long-term Gains Add Up

When markets dip, your SIP buys more mutual fund units for the same money. When they rise, your earlier purchases gain value. This cost-averaging strategy and long-term commitment often result in substantial returns over time.

Power of Compounding

Imagine a snowball rolling downhill—it picks up more snow and grows bigger. That’s what compounding does to your investments. Even a small SIP, started early, can grow into a significant sum decades later because your returns start earning returns too.

Scalable for All Incomes

Whether freelancing, working part-time, or just starting a full-time job, SIPS offer the space to start small and grow. You’re not locked into big financial decisions upfront, which lowers pressure and keeps your options open.

Combines Tax Benefits with Wealth Creation

ELSS SIPS offer a dual advantage. You lower your taxable income and, at the same time, grow your wealth in equity markets, which historically outperform fixed deposits or traditional savings options over long durations.

Potential Disadvantages of SIPS

No plan is perfect. SIPS might not deliver quick returns during a sharp market rally because they average your investment cost. So, while lump sum investors might enjoy big wins during sudden upswings, SIP investors grow more steadily. However, this is usually a worthwhile trade-off for someone aiming for long-term stability.

No plan is perfect. SIPS might not deliver quick returns during a sharp market rally because they average your investment cost. So, while lump sum investors might enjoy big wins during sudden upswings, SIP investors grow more steadily. However, this is usually a worthwhile trade-off for someone aiming for long-term stability.

Conclusion

Getting into the habit of investing with SIP’S while your career takes off helps set a foundation that most people miss. It’s about building smart habits, not chasing huge returns. Start small. Stay consistent. Adjust as you grow. With time, your SIP’S will do the heavy lifting, turning disciplined effort into meaningful wealth. There is no need to wait until you’re “earning enough.” Begin now with what you have.

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About the Author

I manifest my zeal in financial quantitative & quantitative research and have been instrumental in creating a robust process for the evaluation and monitoring of mutual funds. I’m responsible for Equity and Mutual Funds Research while creating instrumental mathematical models for portfolio construction after evaluating funds, and I play an integral role in analyzing changes in mutual funds, micro, and macro-economic indicators, and equity market events and trends. My views on asset classes which are integral in creating an investment strategy for any profile. Read more

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