Power of debt/loans

Two months ago I posted this rant on Grapevine (https://share.gvine.app/CLkpBuEqcCvrzKvx6) which I think is one of the most viral posts on the platform. Since then I took a break, learned Vipassana, went to the mountains, read, and reflected. Here are some truth bombs that have been exploding in my head 1) There is a leadership crisis Is it me or do today's self-proclaimed leaders just suck? Look around Grapevine: insecure toxic managers forcing people back to the office, overhiring CEOs who don't know WTF to do, and founders just abandoning ship. "Leaders" and founders today are about as disconnected from reality as the political class, because like politicians most of them are privileged, sheltered, and already wealthy. 2) Technological innovation doesn't mean progress. I couldn't laugh harder when I saw the Indus Valley report basically saying that maybe all of us VCs overestimated how much money we could make funding lending and consumer apps. Maybe funding lending apps that "open up credit for the poor" isn't sustainable when the rate of interest is >18%? Technological innovation doesn't always mean real-world progress. A lot of times, it just ends up perpetuating and amplifying pre-existing inequality. 3) Endless growth toward nothing Most of India's startup money comes from the West. Most of that money was just printed to repeatedly get out of an economic crisis. That's it. There was no great vision to fund the future of humanity behind all this new capital. Just Central Bankers and Presidents pressing the "Create Money" button to delay the inevitable. Most of us here owe our wealth to Easy Money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpMLAQbSYAw PS: A book, that completely flipped my worldview during this time is this: https://www.amazon.in/Debt-First-Years-David-Graeber/dp/0143422715. I urge all fellow foot soldiers of capitalism to read this. Until the next rant, stay sane, safe, and debt-free!

Seeing a lot of posts on profitability of startups and I'd like to burst some bubbles. Debt is good for companies because debt's value decreases as inflation increases. Most successful companies of today leverage debt and managing risk, not by using cash in the bank all the time. Plus inflation and money printing has been pretty steadily growing in the last 30 years or so. Elon is a good example, he takes loans against his assets and equity and doesn't take a salary. Saves tax and still has money to use. Most people take EMIs even if they can afford something in cash to have more flexibility with their payments plus save taxes. Yes, it's riskier. If things go south you can lose ownership of assets. But in a global economy that mostly runs on debt with even countries being in deficit, debt is a useful tool for those who have access to it and can afford to pay it off against other assets or cash. My startup has no debt right now but we did have debt and were unprofitable over periods when we invested more into product and growth. It's all about balancing priorities and managing risk well.

Most of us have had financially restrictive childhoods and now earning well above our parents at the same age. (You got the point, Don't come at me with inflation and all) It has been ingrained in you to save resources and spend less. Deprive now, so your future can be better. But future is uncertain How have you built the mindset or financial habits that let you enjoy the present and also not worrying about the future?

I recently came across one of the videos on YouTube that talked about Loans against mutual funds.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK7KuMzRm8U&t=3s Overall this product looks very convincing & it is so true that people sell their mutual funds when they require funds to make a downpayment on a House/Car. The ROI is so low & this is an Overdraft, so no foreclosure fees for this loan & the best part? The process is super smooth of few platforms like Volt Money. I am convinced that it's a good product & want to avail for some personal reason. Want to check if anyone has used this & they are also positive about loans against mutual funds?

I recently came across an idea/perspective about debt and it seemed to bring me clarity among discussion & fights online about credit instruments like credit cards etc. Here it is: Debt is a chainsaw tool, it is a dangerous tool. But it can be incredibly useful if used appropriately (like in cutting down trees) but can do incredible damage if it's misused. Let me elaborate with couple of examples: 1. Credit card is dismissed as a dangerous tool by many and traditionally, people are hesitant to use it. But if you use it and pay it off in full every month, you can earn back 2-5% of your purchases, offsetting inflation partly. But if you use it as a bridge to pay for your expenses until you get paid or use it to take on debt or buying things that you cannot afford, it will damage you. Understand the tool and use it to your advantage. 2. Many people need a vehicle for their job. Lot of times people need to take debt for this. And it makes sense as you need to go to your job to earn money. Purchasing a good value for money vehicle is the choice, but instead of that many people buy what they can't afford by extending their loan tenures and spending a huge chunk of their income. Again, here debt isn't the problem, how you plan to use it makes all the difference. I came across this idea when there was a lot of twitter chatter between influencers about good/evil of credit cards etc. In conclusion, credit is just a tool and by itself, it's neither good nor bad. Understand the tool and use it to your advantage or if the tool isn't for you, then just ignore it. Don't let tool make & control your financial decisions

To a relatively new adult, what financial advice(s) would you give on how to and where to invest my money?

Ask those influncers whats will you do with your life after FIRE. Assuming target completed at 35yrs of age then what? And even after that what will you do with the money. Keep in bank or stocks to be passed on to "no one" after you or just maybe taken up by banks and govt and home taken up by land encrochers. Life is not at end after FIRE. FI is good so you can protect your family but when you "killed" your family tree itself to achieve FIRE what did you acheive ,for whom, for what? Good for show offs maybe but internet fame is limited till there only no one is there for you on ground. Empty 4 walled rooms being cat/dog "moms" all have been already experimented in west and now being tried to replicate here. They want us to stay poor by selling us the lifestyle they are living though the money they got by selling the courses. The logic they applied maybe worked at that time but does it guarantee the same logic will work in next 10 yrs and if thats true why not they themself buy all those assets with all that money will get 100 bagger in next 10 yrs themselves. I can continue the same with their rent vs buying home logic but maybe keep it up for another day.

Suggest any good videos / podcast / coaches for learning to startup from Scratch.