Expense Account, Mint
The hoardings are in your face—you can’t miss them. Real estate projects in and around the National Capital Region promise returns of 12% if you invest in the upcoming buildings. These are “guaranteed”, says the ad pitch and deliver better than bank deposits through the kicker of capital appreciation. You begin to think: equity markets are down with the annual return at a negative 11.46%, deposit rates for a term of five years and above are about 9% but there is no room for growing your principal over time. The real estate deal looks solid. The builder is giving post-dated cheques to show his commitment to the guarantee. It looks too good to miss and you find yourself dialling the number you’re being asked to call.