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Here's a crisp roundup of the top personal finance stories by Money9's editorial team.

In modern times, financial worry is one of the most common stress that many of us deal with. Financial distress is not something new due to the pandemic, it existed even before Covid-19. The economic difficulties amplified due to Covid-19 means that now more people are facing financial struggles and hardship.

On Money Matters, we bring top personal finance stories that will directly impact your wallet. Be it stories related to employment, escalating debt, dealing with unexpected expenses, insurance, market updates, etc., we have covered it all for you. It is a unique show that focuses solely on the stories across India that will give you a better perspective on day-to-day finances as well as update you with recent investment and financial developments happening in the country.

Here’s a look at some of the top personal finance stories 

1. Need emergency fund from EPF or PPF? Know details of tax deduction

Employee provident fund (EPF) and public provident fund (PPF) are two of the fundamental government-guaranteed instruments that salaried and self-employed people in the country invest in. Though most financial planners advise that one should avoid withdrawing money from these, many have reached out to these funds for medical emergencies during the pandemic.

2. Divorce: Here’s how you can ensure money matters don’t turn messy

The meaning of divorce is not limited to the separation of husband and wife. Besides taking a toll on mental health, it also has financial consequences. Sometimes a major reason behind couples seeking divorce is financial issues. Speaking on this issue to Money9, FinFix founder Praleen Bajpai feels that the tension between husband and wife over expenses is a major reason behind separation. From wasteful spending to giving money to parents, there can be many reasons for differences cropping up in a marriage.

3. Planning to buy a car: Follow the 20-10-4 formula to reduce monthly installment burden

With the second Covid-19 wave ebbing, you might be planning to buy a new car in a while. If you do, chances are more than not that you are going to apply for a loan.

While taking a loan, it is useful to remember a 20-10-4 formula that many personal finance advisers suggest. But just like any other rule, it might vary from individual to individual according their monthly income and other liabilities.

4. 35% of mobile wallet users face fraud regularly: FIS survey

Online and digital payments have gone up by leaps and bounds in India and fraudsters have also found a way to strike gold in the new transaction trend. Phishing and scam involving QR codes or UPIs were most frequently reported, according to a new PACE report released by FIS, a Global Fortune 500 company.

The study jointly done by FIS and different mobile wallet company reveals that in the past one year between June 2020 and April 2021 phishing-related frauds have been the most common among different age groups.

5. Pandemic boosted investment in liquid funds and gold ETF: RBI

Investments in liquid funds and gold exchange-traded funds got a fillip from Indian investors, Reserve Bank has said in its monthly report in June.

In a section titled “Covid-19 and household financial savings” RBI stated, “The savings of high net-worth individuals and retail individuals in liquid funds surged sharply in Q1:2020-21 – mirroring the impact of uncertainty amidst Covid-19 induced lockdown. Households also parked their funds in gold exchange-traded funds.”

6. NPS annuity rider limit up to Rs 5 lakh, not in sync with needs of savers

Pension regulator PFRDA’s move to allow subscribers to withdraw an entire corpus of up to Rs 5 lakh without investing in annuities is a welcome move but falls short of providing the required fillip for savers.

Puny annuity rates have been a source of concern for subscribers, a fact admitted by PFRDA chief.

7. Passengers disallowed train travel due to Covid symptoms to get a full refund

While the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020 paused the routine services of the Indian Railways for months, this year the situation was slightly different. Though trains were running, several steps were taken by the authorities to ensure no further spread of the virus.

Strict Covid protocols have been followed by the railway authorities since the pandemic hit. This includes social distancing, sanitization and Covid screening for all the passengers. Only those with a travel ticket are allowed to enter the platform if they pass the screening test.

8. Proper closure of loans reflects good financial health

There is a great sense of achievement, success, and satisfaction when you are about to pay that last equated monthly instalment on that home loan or personal loan for which you have been paying for the last 20 years. Ideally regular closure, pre-closure and part-payment are the three options for closing any personal loan. The traditional method or regular method of repaying a loan is to set monthly EMI and pay it on time each month. A borrower can also choose to end loan before completing the repayment period in a pre-closure or foreclosure. This is frequently done when a substantial chunk of money is received all at once that is close to the outstanding loan amount. The third option is to make a partial payment.

9. With lockdown restrictions lifting should you bet on building material stocks?

The decline in Covid 19 cases has been good news on the healthcare front as well as on the economic front. With as many as 15 major states lifting lockdown restrictions, the construction activity has resumed across the country. A key beneficiary of an uptick in construction activity is the building material sector.