Parking Money the Smarter Way
When M sold his ancestral house five years ago, it
wasn’t just a property transaction for him. That house had seen his childhood,
his parents’ laughter, and countless memories that lingered in every corner.
But life had moved forward, and with two young children, he dreamed of giving
them a home that felt just as special.
He placed the entire sale proceeds in his savings account,
telling himself that a new home was just around the corner. But time has its
own way of humbling plans. One promising neighbourhood felt too crowded,
another lacked the warmth he wanted, and yet another did not feel right for the
children. Months passed quietly; then years slipped by.
All this while, the money lay untouched, almost like a
suitcase packed for a journey that never began. The growing bank balance seemed
to stare at him, asking the question he kept avoiding: “What are you waiting
for?”
At tax time each year, M felt a sting. The interest credited
on the large balance pushed up his tax liability. It wasn’t the tax itself that
bothered him, it was the feeling that he was letting something valuable sit
idle, losing quiet battles to time and inertia.
One evening, sharing these worries with his friend and advisor
S, M finally let the frustration spill out.
“I’ve been searching for years and still haven’t found the
right place,” M said softly. “And meanwhile, this money… it’s just lying
there.”
S listened patiently, then spoke with the reassuring clarity
only a close friend can offer.
“Your heart is waiting for the right home. That takes time. But your money
doesn’t have to wait with the same helplessness.”
He suggested shifting the funds into a debt mutual fund - liquid,
stable, and far more efficient than a savings account. M was hesitant at first,
fearful of committing to anything that might delay his dream. But the idea
wasn’t to lock the money away, only to give it room to grow while he searched.
He took the step. And within a year, he felt something
unexpected: relief. The returns were better, the yearly tax bite reduced, and
the money finally seemed to have a purpose again.
Now, as M focuses on finding a neighbourhood where his
children can begin their schooling, he feels lighter. The pressure has softened.
“When the right home appears,” S told him, “you’ll redeem the
fund and step into it with confidence. Till then, let the money breathe.”
For the first time in years, M believes that the waiting, too,
has meaning and that his resources and his hopes are finally aligned.
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