How to start a SIP, which demat account to pick, where to put your first salary — explained with calculators and real comparisons. No lectures.
Free Tools
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SIP Calculator
See how much a monthly SIP grows — year by year, with a chart.
FD vs SIP vs RD
Same money, three options. See which one wins over 5–20 years.
EMI Calculator
Monthly EMI and total interest for any loan or credit card — before you borrow.
80C Tax Saver
Enter your salary and see how much tax you can still save under Section 80C.
Salary Planner
Split your in-hand salary into needs, wants and savings — with an emergency fund target.
SIP Calculator
Move the sliders. The result updates live — and Guru reacts 😄
You need a demat account to start a SIP. Opening one on Zerodha or Upstox is free and takes about 10 minutes.
Open a Free Demat Account →
Beginner Guides
Real charges, real screenshots, straight talk. We only write about what we use ourselves.
Zerodha vs Upstox vs Angel One (2026): Which is best for beginners?
Charges, app experience and our honest take — in one table.
Got your first salary? Here's where to put it — step by step
From emergency fund to SIP in 5 simple steps.
Coming soonBest first credit card for a new job (zero annual fee)
Who will approve you, what to check, what to avoid.
Coming soonHow to save up to ₹46,800 in tax with Section 80C
ELSS, PPF, NPS — what each one gives you.
Coming soonIndex fund vs FD — 5 years of real data
The numbers speak. We just made the table.
Coming soon10 mistakes to avoid before you start investing in stocks
Every beginner makes them — here's how not to.
Coming soonBeginner questions, answered
Short, direct answers — the kind you'd want from a friend who knows money.
What is a SIP?
A SIP (systematic investment plan) is a way to invest a fixed amount in a mutual fund every month, automatically from your bank account. You can start with as little as ₹500. Because you invest regularly, you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when they are high, which averages out your cost.
How much does ₹5,000 a month in a SIP become in 10 years?
At an assumed 12% annual return, ₹5,000 a month for 10 years (₹6 lakh invested) grows to about ₹11.6 lakh. At 10% it is about ₹10.3 lakh. Returns are not guaranteed.
Do I need a demat account to start a SIP?
For mutual fund SIPs you can invest directly through the fund house or an app without a demat account. A demat account is needed to buy stocks and ETFs. Most beginner apps (Zerodha Coin, Groww, Upstox) open one for free.
What is a good first investment for a beginner in India?
Most beginners start with an emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses in a savings account or liquid fund), then a monthly SIP in a low-cost Nifty 50 index fund. Add tax-saving ELSS if you use the old tax regime.
Is My Investor Guru free?
Yes. All calculators and guides are free with no login. The site earns through affiliate links and ads, at no cost to you. It is not a SEBI-registered advisor and gives no personal investment advice.
Why learn with Guru?
- ✓Beginner's language. We explain what "expense ratio" means before we use it.
- ✓Real numbers, real screenshots. We show the actual charges of the apps we use.
- ✓No stock tips. We're not advisors — we help you understand, the decision is yours.
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