Credit and personal finance tools

Credit score and credit reports

What a credit report contains, how to read it, and what to do about an entry that looks wrong.

• Credit score and credit report: what they areThe difference between a credit report and a credit score, who keeps them in India, and what may influence a score.
• How to get and read your credit reportGetting your free annual report from each credit information company, and what each part of the report means.
• Errors in your credit report and how to dispute themSpotting wrong accounts, payment statuses and enquiries, raising a dispute, the time limits and compensation, and where to complain.
• Building and improving your credit profileHabits that generally support a healthy credit profile, what to avoid, and why there is no fixed timeline or number of points.
• Credit report review checklistGo through each part of your credit report and confirm it is right.
• Credit report error checklistThe errors people most often find in credit reports, and what each one may mean.
• Credit report dispute preparation checklistWhat to have ready before you raise a dispute with a credit information company or lender.
• Credit profile health check (warning signs)A self-check of signs that a credit profile may need attention. It does not produce a score or a risk rating.
• Credit report helpHelp reading your credit report or preparing a dispute.

Credit utilisation

How much of your card limits you use, and why it matters to lenders.

• Credit utilisation calculator

  See what share of your credit card limits you are using, and how much credit is still available.

  Use it

  Before applying for credit, or to keep an eye on card balances.

  You will need

  Total credit limit on all your credit cards; Total amount outstanding on them

  Open calculator: Credit utilisation calculator Credit score and credit report: what they are Questions and answers: Credit utilisation calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Credit score and credit report: what they areThe difference between a credit report and a credit score, who keeps them in India, and what may influence a score.

Personal loans

The EMI, total interest and tenure of a loan, paying extra, and preparing an application.

• Loan tenure comparison and interest calculator

  Compare the EMI, total interest and total repayment of the same loan over two or three tenures.

  Use it

  To choose a loan tenure, or to see the total interest a loan will cost.

  You will need

  Loan amount; Interest rate (% a year); First tenure (months); Second tenure (months)

  Open calculator: Loan tenure comparison and interest calculator Why loan applications are turned down, and what to do next Questions and answers: Loan tenure comparison and interest calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Extra monthly payment calculator

  See how much sooner a loan closes, and how much interest you save, if you pay a fixed amount above the EMI every month.

  Use it

  When you can afford to pay a little more than your EMI each month.

  You will need

  Loan amount still outstanding; Interest rate (% a year); EMIs left; Extra amount you will pay each month

  Open calculator: Extra monthly payment calculator Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratio Questions and answers: Extra monthly payment calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Why loan applications are turned down, and what to do nextCommon reasons lenders give, how to find out the reason in your case, and steps before applying again.
• Secured and unsecured credit: the differenceWhat security means for a loan, examples of each kind, and what to weigh when choosing.
• Credit and personal loan application readiness checklistQuestions to answer before you apply for a loan or credit card.
• Credit application document checklistDocuments lenders commonly ask for. Each lender has its own list; ask for it before you apply.
• EMI calculatorMonthly EMI and repayment schedule (Finobazaar Calculators).
• Loan prepayment calculatorInterest saved by a lump-sum prepayment (Finobazaar Calculators).
• Personal loan productsLenders' personal loans from official sources, with the date each detail was checked (Finobazaar Finance).
• Personal loan enquiryAsk about personal loans from listed lenders.

Credit cards

What carrying a balance costs, the minimum amount due, and comparing cards on their official terms.

• Credit card interest and outstanding balance calculator

  Estimate the interest on the part of a card bill you do not pay, and the balance it leaves for the next statement.

  Use it

  When you cannot pay the full card bill and want to know what carrying a balance costs.

  You will need

  Statement balance; Interest rate on the card; Days until the next statement

  Open calculator: Credit card interest and outstanding balance calculator Credit card interest, the minimum amount due and your rights Questions and answers: Credit card interest and outstanding balance calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Credit card repayment and interest calculator

  See how long a card balance takes to clear and the interest it costs, compared with paying only the minimum amount due.

  Use it

  When you carry a card balance and want to choose a monthly payment.

  You will need

  Outstanding card balance; Interest rate on the card; Amount you plan to pay each month

  Open calculator: Credit card repayment and interest calculator Credit card interest, the minimum amount due and your rights Questions and answers: Credit card repayment and interest calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Credit card interest, the minimum amount due and your rightsWhen interest is charged, what paying only the minimum costs, and what RBI requires of card issuers.
• Compare credit cardsFees, charges and benefits from issuers' official terms, checked by a person.
• Credit card enquiryAsk about a credit card or which details to compare.

Debt management

Your monthly debt burden, the order to repay debts in, and whether consolidating helps.

• Debt-to-income ratio calculator

  Add up your monthly loan EMIs and other debt payments and see what share of your income they take.

  Use it

  To understand your monthly debt burden before taking on more.

  You will need

  Monthly income

  Open calculator: Debt-to-income ratio calculator Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratio Questions and answers: Debt-to-income ratio calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Debt repayment planner (snowball and avalanche)

  List your debts and an extra monthly amount; compare the smallest-balance-first and highest-rate-first orders.

  Use it

  To plan the order in which to clear several debts, and see how long it may take.

  You will need

  For each debt: amount outstanding, interest rate and monthly payment

  Open calculator: Debt repayment planner (snowball and avalanche) Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratio Questions and answers: Debt repayment planner (snowball and avalanche)

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Debt consolidation comparison calculator

  Compare paying your debts as they are with one new loan that clears them: monthly payment, time and total cost.

  Use it

  Before taking a loan to pay off cards or other loans.

  You will need

  For each debt: amount outstanding, interest rate and monthly payment; Interest rate of the new loan (% a year); Tenure of the new loan (months)

  Open calculator: Debt consolidation comparison calculator Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratio Questions and answers: Debt consolidation comparison calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratioListing your debts, the snowball and avalanche orders, when consolidation may help, and when to talk to your lender.
• Responsible borrowing checklistPoints to think through before taking on new credit.

Budget planning

Where your money goes each month, what is left and your savings rate.

• Monthly budget planner

  Add up income, expenses, debt payments and savings to see what is left each month and your savings rate.

  Use it

  To see where your money goes and how much you can save.

  You will need

  Monthly take-home income

  Open calculator: Monthly budget planner Budgeting, saving and an emergency fund Questions and answers: Monthly budget planner

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Budgeting, saving and an emergency fundTracking income and spending, saving first, building an emergency fund and planning for goals.
• Personal finance health checklistA quick look at the basics of your finances: income and spending, saving, an emergency fund, on-time payments, debt and insurance.
• Financial guidance enquiryBudgeting, debt, savings or an emergency fund.

Savings and emergency funds

An emergency fund target, the saving a goal needs and how long it will take.

• Emergency fund calculator

  Work out an emergency fund target from your essential expenses, how many months you are covered now, and how long the rest may take.

  Use it

  To set aside money for job loss, illness or urgent repairs.

  You will need

  Essential expenses each month; Months of expenses you want to cover

  Open calculator: Emergency fund calculator Budgeting, saving and an emergency fund Questions and answers: Emergency fund calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Savings goal planner

  Find the monthly saving needed to reach a goal by a date, with or without an assumed return.

  Use it

  For goals such as a down payment, education or a planned purchase.

  You will need

  Goal amount; Months until you need the money

  Open calculator: Savings goal planner Budgeting, saving and an emergency fund Questions and answers: Savings goal planner

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Savings timeline and goal progress calculator

  See how many months it takes to reach a goal at the amount you save each month, and how far you have come.

  Use it

  When you know how much you can save and want to know when you will reach your goal.

  You will need

  Goal amount; Amount you save each month

  Open calculator: Savings timeline and goal progress calculator Budgeting, saving and an emergency fund Questions and answers: Savings timeline and goal progress calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Budgeting, saving and an emergency fundTracking income and spending, saving first, building an emergency fund and planning for goals.

Loan affordability

What a new EMI would do to your debt burden and the money left each month.

• Loan affordability and personal loan readiness calculator

  See the EMI of a loan you are considering and what it would do to your monthly debt burden and the money left over.

  Use it

  Before applying for a personal or other loan.

  You will need

  Monthly take-home income; Loan amount you are considering; Interest rate (% a year); Tenure (months)

  Open calculator: Loan affordability and personal loan readiness calculator Why loan applications are turned down, and what to do next Questions and answers: Loan affordability and personal loan readiness calculator

  An estimate from your own figures, not a credit decision or offer.

• Why loan applications are turned down, and what to do nextCommon reasons lenders give, how to find out the reason in your case, and steps before applying again.
• Credit and personal loan application readiness checklistQuestions to answer before you apply for a loan or credit card.
• Loan eligibility calculatorAn indicative loan amount from income and EMIs (Finobazaar Calculators).

Financial education

Plain-language guides and checklists for borrowing responsibly.

• Secured and unsecured credit: the differenceWhat security means for a loan, examples of each kind, and what to weigh when choosing.
• Building and improving your credit profileHabits that generally support a healthy credit profile, what to avoid, and why there is no fixed timeline or number of points.
• Managing debt: repayment order, consolidation and your debt-to-income ratioListing your debts, the snowball and avalanche orders, when consolidation may help, and when to talk to your lender.
• Responsible borrowing checklistPoints to think through before taking on new credit.
• Personal finance health checklistA quick look at the basics of your finances: income and spending, saving, an emergency fund, on-time payments, debt and insurance.
• Credit profile educationUnderstand what affects your credit score and history.

Credit products and comparisons

Personal loans and credit cards from official sources, with the date each was checked, and a loan offer comparison.

• Personal loan productsLenders' personal loans from official sources, with the date each detail was checked (Finobazaar Finance).
• Compare credit cardsFees, charges and benefits from issuers' official terms, checked by a person.
• Loan comparison calculatorTwo loan offers by EMI and total cost (Finobazaar Calculators).
• Loan comparison requestHelp comparing loan offers you have or are looking for.