### He Treated His Rs 5,000 SIP Like Rent: Building Wealth, Peace, and Unbreakable Discipline
In an era of get-rich-quick schemes and viral stock tips, a simple X thread by Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik (@Finance_Bareek) has struck a chord, amassing thousands of views and shares. Titled "He didn’t chase multibaggers. He just chased peace — one SIP at a time," the post chronicles his client's unflashy journey from a modest salary to financial serenity. Starting in 2020 with just Rs 5,000 monthly in a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), this everyday investor treated his contributions like rent—non-negotiable, no exceptions. Five years on, it's not just about the numbers; it's a testament to how discipline trumps hype, fostering not only wealth but profound peace of mind.
#### The Humble Beginnings: A Salary Squeeze Turns into a Lifelong Habit
Kaushik first met his client in 2020, a young professional earning Rs 35,000 per month in a small town. After essentials—rent, bills, groceries—little remained for savings. Yet, driven by a quiet resolve to "start somewhere," he committed Rs 5,000 monthly to a straightforward, diversified equity mutual fund. No exotic small-caps, no leveraged bets—just consistent rupee-cost averaging.
Challenges came fast: Expenses spiked during family emergencies, headlines blared "recession ahead," and friends urged pauses amid market dips. But he persisted. "He treated that SIP like his rent — non-negotiable," Kaushik recounts in the thread. Not once did he skip in five years. This mindset shifted investing from an "option" to an obligation, mirroring the reliability of housing costs.
By October 2025, his total investment stood at Rs 3 lakh (60 installments). The corpus? Rs 4.9 lakh—a steady 12-13% annualized return, powered by compounding in a bull market but rooted in unwavering execution. Reflecting on a growth chart Kaushik shared, the client smiled: “It’s not a big amount yet, but it feels like I’ve built a habit that will make me rich someday.” That sentiment? Pure gold—wealth starts as a ritual, not a windfall.
#### The Math Behind the Magic: From Rs 5,000 to Future Freedom
SIPs thrive on time and consistency, not spectacle. Kaushik's thread breaks it down simply: At 12% annual returns (a realistic long-term equity average), small starts snowball. Here's a projection snapshot for a Rs 5,000 monthly SIP:
| Time Horizon | Total Invested (No Step-Up) | Corpus Value (12% CAGR) | With 10% Annual Step-Up | Step-Up Corpus Value |
|--------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
| **5 Years** (Like Our Hero) | Rs 3 lakh | Rs 4.9 lakh | Rs 3.3 lakh | Rs 5.4 lakh |
| **10 Years** | Rs 6 lakh | Rs 10.2 lakh | Rs 7.3 lakh | Rs 13.2 lakh |
| **20 Years** | Rs 12 lakh | Rs 49 lakh | Rs 20.5 lakh | Rs 80 lakh |
| **30 Years** | Rs 18 lakh | Rs 1.4 crore | Rs 41 lakh | Rs 3.2 crore |
*Assumptions: 12% post-tax returns; step-up adjusts for salary hikes/inflation. Tools like Excel's FV function or SIP calculators confirm these—compounding turns "ordinary" into "extraordinary."* As Kaushik notes, "That’s how ordinary salaries create extraordinary futures."
#### Lessons from the Thread: Why Consistency Outshines Everything
This isn't just a feel-good tale; it's a blueprint for financial discipline. Kaushik distills key takeaways:
- **Non-Negotiable Mindset**: Treat SIPs like rent or EMIs—automate deductions on salary day. It builds resilience against life's curveballs.
- **Ignore the Noise**: Friends' "bad timing" advice? Market crashes? Tune out. "SIPs don’t make noise... Just time itself doing the heavy lifting."
- **Start Small, Scale Smart**: Earning Rs 30,000-50,000? Rs 5,000 is enough. Your "first SIP will teach more than any finance video." Step up 10% yearly to beat inflation.
- **Peace Over Profits**: Beyond rupees, it's emotional armor. "SIPs... build something far more valuable—peace of mind, financial independence, and confidence." Tax perks (10% LTCG on gains >Rs 1.25 lakh) and low costs amplify this.
The thread echoes broader trends: India's SIP inflows hit Rs 25,000 crore monthly in FY25, with 9 crore+ accounts—proof small-town savers are rewriting wealth narratives.
#### Why This Matters Now: In a World of FOMO, Choose the Quiet Path
Kaushik's client proves: Wealth whispers, it doesn't shout. No side hustles, no crypto gambles—just repeated action. As markets flirt with peaks (Nifty at 26,000+), his story reminds us: Volatility is noise; habits are signal. If you're stalling on that first SIP, heed the call: "If you’re earning ₹30,000... it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you start."
What's your "rent-like" habit? Share below—maybe it's the next thread worth threading. For personalized math, plug into a calculator; consult a SEBI-registered advisor for funds. Consistency: Your original multibagger.
Long-term investing remains one of the most powerful ways to build sustainable wealth and financial stability. Its greatest advantage lies in the power of compounding — the process where returns themselves generate additional returns, creating exponential growth over time. The longer an investor stays invested, the more pronounced this effect becomes.Another major benefit is the ability to withstand short-term market volatility. By staying invested through temporary declines, investors give their portfolios time to recover and grow, as markets historically trend upward over extended periods. This philosophy of patience and persistence is at the heart of a story shared by CA Nitin Kaushik — one that beautifully captures what true financial discipline looks like.
Back in 2020, Kaushik’s client was earning just Rs 35,000 a month. After paying rent, covering bills, and managing household expenses, very little remained. But he wanted to begin his investment journey, however small. So he started a Rs 5,000 monthly SIP, not in any exotic fund, but in a simple, diversified mutual fund. His only rule? Never stop.
There were difficult months — when expenses rose unexpectedly, when “Recession Ahead” dominated news headlines, and when friends advised him to pause investments. But he never did. He treated his SIP like rent — a non-negotiable expense.
