How to Save Money for Big Purchases Without Taking a Loan in 2025 – Best Strategies

“Bhai, EMI bharna asaan lagta hai kya?” Ravi’s elder brother shook his head while staring at his credit card bill.

Ravi, a 28-year-old marketing executive from Mumbai, had just decided—he wanted a new SUV. A sleek ₹10,00,000 beauty, his dream car! But when he checked the loan options, his excitement faded. ₹15,000 EMI for the next 5 years? That meant paying almost ₹2,00,000 extra in interest! “Itna paisa sirf bank ko kyun doon?” he thought.

Rather than getting trapped in the EMI cycle, Ravi thought ahead. He decided to save ₹20,000 each month.

• ₹12,000 into a high-interest savings account.
• ₹5,000 into a recurring deposit.
• ₹3,000 from monthly expenses (bye-bye unnecessary online shopping and expensive coffee!).
• He also began utilising UPI cashback, discount offers, and zero-cost payment options to save even more.

In 2 short years, Ravi had ₹10,00,000 in hand—no loans, no anxiety! 

The Best Part? He went to the showroom, paid with his card, and drove away in his dream car without paying a rupee of interest!

If you, too, wish to purchase something grand without sinking into debt, read this article, which will reveal the same achievable, simple saving tips. Let's begin!

The Smart Saving Mindset: “Koi Loan Nahi, Sirf Planning!”

Loans can be tempting but come with high interest, long EMIs, and financial tension. Using the saving-first method allows you to maintain control over your financial situation.

Read More – How to Save Money Faster Using the 52-Week Challenge
 

Start by defining the specific goal, like a car or home, and then set an achievable timeframe. Divide it into manageable steps:

1. How much do you need? Calculate the exact amount that you need.
2. When do you need it? Set up a deadline.
3. How much money do you intend to save each month? Create a financial plan that matches your budget.

Let's take Ravi’s example:

Ravi wanted to purchase an SUV costing ₹10,00,000, yet he avoided monthly payments of ₹15,000 for 5 years. He decided not to take a loan and created a focused plan to save money by dividing his target amount into manageable steps.

• Total amount needed: ₹10,00,000
• Timeframe: 2 years
• The monthly saving goal is ₹20,000 (for two separate accounts of high-yield savings and recurring deposits).
  
  

Automate Your Savings: “Pehle Bachao, Phir Udao!”

Automating money transfers to a high-yield savings account right after you receive your salary is an effective method for building your savings. This approach allows you to make savings your priority, which accumulates your wealth over time.

How Automation Increases Savings

• Sustained Growth: An automated transfer of ₹15,000 every month for 2 years will yield approximately ₹3,85,000 at a compounded interest rate of 7% per annum in a high-interest savings account.

• Compounding Advantage: A regular monthly investment of ₹5,000 through a recurring deposit at an interest rate of 6% per annum will grow to approximately ₹1,32,000 over the next two years with due compounding interest.

• Expense Control: Automated fund transfers cut monthly spending by about 20% to 30%, as they occur before your spending cycle starts.

Best Accounts for Automated Savings

The following banks provide savings account rates that compete favourably with each other:

Budget Like “Monica Geller"—Plan Every Rupee

A budget plan lets you control your finances while helping you achieve your targets more efficiently. The 50/30/20 rule provides an easy solution to budget your income by dividing expenses into three categories.

1. 50% For Needs: Essentials First
   
   

• A budget must include payments for essential expenses like household bills, rent payments, and transportation expenses.

• For example, if your salary is ₹80,000, you must allocate 50%, that is, ₹40,000, for basic needs.

   

2. 30% For Wants: Enjoy Without Guilt

• Spend these funds on shopping, fine dining, movie outings, and exploratory trips.

• For example, with your ₹80,000 monthly salary, you can afford to spend ₹24,000 a month on weekend activities and entertainment, such as movies, gadgets, and Netflix subscriptions.

3. 20% For Savings: Secure Your Future

• The savings category is essential because it builds long-term wealth while offering protection and the ability to become debt-free. This segment includes emergency savings, fixed deposits, mutual funds, retirement funds, and systematic investment plans.

• For example, with a monthly income of ₹80,000, one must allocate ₹16,000 for savings:
• ₹12,000 in a high-yield savings account for compound growth.
• ₹4,000 as a recurring deposit to yield fixed returns.

“Jugaad Is The New Smart”: Cut Down Unnecessary Costs

1. Ditch Impulsive Buying: Unsubscribing from marketing emails while implementing the 24-48 hour rule will help you resist the temptation to buy non-vital items. This reduces unnecessary spending.

• For example, by skipping just one unnecessary ₹2,000 purchase per month, you can build up ₹24,000 annually, which could pay for a short vacation.

• Use Second-Hand Markets: Major expenses can be saved by buying secondhand instead of new or renting unused items instead of buying them.

• For example, a fresh iPhone costs ₹80,000, but you can save ₹20,000 by purchasing its refurbished model at only ₹60,000.

Smart Investment Choices: “Aaj Ki Kamai, Kal Ki Savings!”

Investors should evaluate the following investment alternatives to maximise their saved money.

Avoid “Impulse Ka Jalwa”—Stick To The No Spend Challenge

The No-Spend Challenge is an efficient technique to transform purchasing patterns while helping you accumulate significant savings.

How It Works:

• Select a timeframe—7 days, 15 days, or a complete month—to buy only essential goods such as rent, food, bills, utilities, and public transportation.

   

• Eliminate unnecessary purchases, including dining out, shopping, entertainment, and all impulsive buying activities

   

• Keep track of your daily expenses before marking where you typically overspend funds.

The Mechanism Behind It:

• The process of breaking impulse-buying habits helps people identify their spending patterns.
• Your savings balance grows automatically when you reduce your unnecessary expenses by ₹5,000 per month, which will become ₹60,000 annually.

Also Read - How to Spend Wisely and Save More with a Minimalist Lifestyle
 

Bonus Tip:

A spending tracker application allows you to track your progress and maintain accountability.

For example, Ravi decided to spend a month without spending. Let’s compare Ravi’s monthly spending before and after the month.