Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta has come up with a simple answer to the problem of whether to live in the moment or plan for the future. Gupta wrote about her “10-30-50” rule on X not too long ago. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep track of your money at different times in your life.
Gupta started her lecture by talking about a problem that a lot of young people tell her they have: “I meet so many young people who say they don’t know where to start with investing.” How much … and then how did it happen in the first place? She said that the fight between “going to the next Coldplay concert and saving money” is real. It’s a tug-of-war that has been going on for generations, even before social media made people’s lifestyle goals so clear.
To YOLO or to save?
— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) August 24, 2025
I meet so many young people who tell me they don’t know where to start with investing. How much … and then how in first place?
The tussle between attending the next Coldplay concert and putting money away is real. Every generation had it, even before…
The main idea behind her thinking is that making plans for your money doesn’t have to mean giving up all the fun things in life. She says that the “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) way of thinking might lead to extravagance, thus she suggests a more balanced way of thinking. “Life isn’t about choosing between YOLO and savings. It’s about finding a balance,” she added.
Gupta came up with a plan for progressive savings to help people find this balance:
In your 20s, you should start saving 10% of your salary. She said that saving even 1% is a good start because the habit of saving is more essential than the amount.
In your 30s: As your profession grows and your income rises, save 30% of it. At this point, “life and goals get serious,” therefore you need to be more diligent.
This is the time in your 40s when you make the most money. Gupta says you should save 50% more to “make the most of it,” which will help you reach your goals like paying for your kids’ education and retirement.
Gupta came up with a great new word, “SDS,” which stands for “Savings Deducted at Source,” to make saving easy. She said that people should set up Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), Recurring Deposits (RDs), or Fixed Deposits (FDs) to automatically save money before they even have an opportunity to spend it. She compared this to how taxes are taken out of a paycheck. “Why not do the same with your money?” Automate your SIPs, RDs, or FDs before you even receive the money,” she said.
Gupta ended by saying again that it’s possible to enjoy life and be financially responsible at the same time. “You can do both: buy the handbag and save money for the start-up. That’s real flex for Gen Z,” she said, providing a new generation the opportunity to earn wealth without giving up the things that make life worth living.