Hey folks!
If youâre a regular bus commuter, youâve probably fought with the conductor for change at least at some point in time. Sure, Bengaluru seems to have an e-ticketing system for a few local routes now. But âchange illaâ or âchutta nahi haiâ (no change) is a common problem in smaller markets or when Uber or Ola auto drivers force you to pay in cash no?
Once, I even angrily shoved 31 âš1 coins in an auto driverâs palms when he cried about change. I wonder why it didnât cheer him up or why I was carrying all of that in the first place. But anyway, the RBI has a solution to our unchanging change problems.
In its latest monetary policy decision, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced that the central bank will run a QR code-based coin vending machine pilot in 12 cities. All youâve got to do is use your phone to withdraw coins while the amount gets debited from your bank account.
And although this sounds like the RBI has heard the common folksâ troubles, that isnât really why itâs coming up with this system. In reality, the RBI has lots of coins in its kitty and these clunky things need a lot of storage space. Also, while some parts of India have a lot of coins, others face a coin drought.
So, they thought âWhy not come up with a clever way to make everyone happy?â But you tell us, on a scale of 1â10, how excited are you about this idea?
Hereâs a soundtrack to put you in the mood đľ
Tuta Pull Waha by Deepak Rathore Project
Hat tip to our reader Shivangi Sharma for this lovely recommendation.
Are we good to go now?
A couple of things caught our eye this week đ
Leviâsâ Indian dream
If by the end of 2023, you end up seeing more Indians in denim, then hereâs the reasoning behind it.
Denim maker Levi Strauss & Co. sees India as a great playing field to expand its denim sales. And supposedly itâs scaling up its investment in Indian stores and innovating its products. The reason?
Global recession fears. With inflation and energy prices shooting up in other major economies, a pair of jeans could be the last thing on the western buyerâs shopping list.
Thatâs quite opportunistic because the Indian denim market is smoothly growing at 8 to 9% a year and could explode into an enormous âš92,000 crore market by 2028. And if youâre wondering why, itâs because the Indian denim industry was quick to bounce back from the pandemic and is outperforming global denim growth.
Another factor is that Indians of all ages (young folks mostly) and body types are embracing the ever-comfy and long-lasting denim.
The proof lies in the fact that India currently has over 50 denim fabric mills in the organised sector. Thatâs about 60% more than a decade ago. We also have the second largest installed annual capacity (of over 1,600 million metres) to produce denim fabric in the world after China.
Besides more fabric mills also means more employment opportunities no?
But there are pain points too. See, denim production can pollute and squeeze out natural resources. For instance, denim dyes release a lot of harmful chemicals into the environment. Also, if you remember our story on fast fashion (The Fashion Destruction) you know that it takes about 3,800 litres of water to make a pair of jeans.
So if Leviâs and other denim makers who may follow suit find ways to expand more sustainably â like recycling old denim or innovating their production processes then the growth in the denim industry could be a win-win for everyone.
PS: If youâre watching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (thatâs the name for the cricket test series between India and Australia), youâll notice that the Indian cricket team has a new sponsor logo on their jerseyâââKiller. You now, the one famous for jeans. Theyâre playing to the denim gallery for sure.
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Why are milk prices skyrocketing?
Your cappuccinos and lattes are becoming pricier.
Amul, last week, announced another milk price hike of âš3 per litre. Not just Amul. Other popular names like Nandini and Mother Dairy have also gone the same route. And although this is Amulâs first rate hike this year, they hiked prices at least 3 times in 2022. Itâs a 17% jump in the past year and a half.
Why? You ask.
Well, you could blame production costs.
Take packaging. Packing plastic film has become 7â8% more expensive over the past year. Then thereâs feed prices. Cattle rearing demands a lot of fodder. Stuff like rice bran cakes, corn and soy feed. Last October, extreme weather conditions destroyed crops, taking fodder inflation up to a 9-year high!
To tackle this, states that had excess production of paddy straw like Punjab agreed to transport it to places like Kerala. See, Punjab and Haryana prefer burning their straw because it is high in silica content that can harm cattle. But that isnât good for the environment. So, recent studies have found ways to treat and make it consumable for milk-producing animals.
That could cut down environmentally hazardous stubble burning and help distribute fodder to ailing states. But it still wonât solve the fodder inflation crisis because of the increased costs of treatment and logistics.
The result?
Milk prices are spiralling like thereâs no tomorrow.
Looks like weâve all got to get used to black coffees and green teas. Because this could just be the beginning of the great milk price rise.
Also, to all our vegetarian buddies:
Translation: In a few days, paneer will sell in tiny little pouches at the jewellery stores.
Source: Tenor
Infographic đ
Money tips đ°
Junk food finance
Donât the weekends just take your junk food cravings to a different level?
We get it. And thatâs why we thought â Why not explain finance using junk food as a prop?
Letâs start with risks â the trans fats of the financial world. Look, anything thatâs deep-fried carries trans fats. Think potato chips. Youâve got trans fats in them and boy, theyâre addictive. Thatâs why you canât stop with just a few. You always want more.
Risks look a lot like this. If your stocks are doing well because the markets are smiling, you could be lured to pour in more money, instead of diversifying in other stuff like liquid funds or buying gold.
And just like how trans fatty foods are irresistible, risks can be too. Because theyâre both hidden. Youâll only see them when the tide turns. The trans fats of the financial world could be bad for your financial health.
Next, we have hidden fees in financial products â the added sugars of the financial world. Now, you know sugar can affect your weight if you donât know where to draw the line. But you donât realise how much added sugar or artificial sweeteners you indirectly consume through those âhealthyâ oatmeal cookies and diet colas.
Hidden fees can be the same. That no-cost EMI you used to buy your new phone? It doesnât really come without interest you know. So do many other financial products like credit cards and mutual funds.
And thatâs why itâs always wise to look out for hidden charges before you buy.
Last on the list, letâs talk about the empty calories of the financial world. Any guess what this could be?
Weâre talking about swayed investments, the ones you make because the news recommends them or because companies decorate their future performance. They may not be making any progress in the right direction, but they might tell you otherwise. Itâs like indulging on that piece of cake that isnât adding any nutritional value.
And thatâs why you need to do some analysis before you park your money there because you were swayed by what someone said.
And now that weâve told you how to avoid junk foods, we also think you should know how important it is to realise these things early on to avoid repercussions in the future. A lot like realising how important it is to insure yourself and your family early on in life so that your financial planning doesnât come a full circle.
And if you need any help figuring out health or life insurance for yourself, just talk to our fabulous advisors at Ditto Insurance (Yup, thatâs us)!
1. Go to Dittoâs websiteâââLink here
2. Click on âChat with usâ
3. Enter your query, and RELAX!
Our advisors will take it from there!
And with this guide to junk food finance, we think youâll be good to go. What say you?
Readers Recommend đď¸
What the Health | A Netflix Documentary
We received this amazing recommendation from our reader Meraj Aman. Thanks bud!
A follow-up to the 2014 Leonardo DiCaprio-backed documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, this film reviews the health impact of consuming meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, questions the vile practices of leading health and pharmaceutical organisations and also roots for plant-based diets.
A well-synced suggestion for a time when dairy prices are rising, donât you think?
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Thatâs all folks!
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Until next SundayâŚ
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