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What a Home Store can Bring in your Life 

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home store thane

In a world that often moves at a breakneck pace, there’s a growing desire for spaces that offer comfort, elegance, and a touch of opulence. Enter the luxurious home store, a haven where exquisite design, high-quality craftsmanship, and refined aesthetics converge to create dream interiors. In this blog, we will delve into the concept of the home store, exploring what makes it special and why it has become an essential destination for those seeking to elevate their living spaces.

The Essence of Home Stores

A home store is more than just a retail space; it’s an experience designed to cater to discerning individuals who value the finer things in life. These stores are a testament to the idea that your home is not merely a place to live but a canvas upon which you can express your personality and style. Here are some key aspects that define the essence of a home store:

1. Impeccable Craftsmanship: One of the hallmarks of a home store is its commitment to craftsmanship. Every piece of furniture, decor item, or accessory is carefully curated for its quality and attention to detail. These stores often collaborate with renowned artisans and craftsmen, ensuring that each item exudes excellence.

2. Exclusive Collections: Home stores are known for their exclusive and curated collections. They offer a selection of products that are not readily available in mainstream retail outlets. This exclusivity adds an element of prestige and uniqueness to the items, making them all the more coveted.

3. Timeless Elegance: Luxury is often synonymous with timeless design. These stores prioritize classic and enduring styles that transcend passing trends. Whether it’s a vintage-inspired chandelier, a handcrafted leather sofa, or a meticulously designed area rug, the emphasis is on pieces that will stand the test of time.

4. Personalized Service: The staff at home stores are well-trained to provide exceptional customer service. They understand that each customer has their own vision for their living space, and they are skilled in helping clients find the perfect pieces to bring their ideas to life.

5. Inspiration and Expertise: Luxurious home stores are not just places to buy furniture; they also serve as sources of inspiration. Many of these stores feature beautifully designed showrooms that allow customers to visualize how various pieces can come together to create a cohesive and harmonious living environment. Additionally, they often employ interior designers or consultants who can offer expert advice on how to achieve the desired look and feel.

home store thane

The Appeal of Luxurious Home Stores

So, what makes the concept of a luxurious home store so appealing to homeowners, interior designers, and those with a penchant for luxury living? Here are some reasons:

1. Quality Assurance: Luxury home stores take pride in their commitment to quality. When you purchase from these stores, you can be confident that you are investing in pieces that will not only look stunning but also stand the test of time.

2. Unique Selection: The exclusivity of the products found in luxurious home stores means that you won’t find them in every home on the block. This uniqueness adds a sense of individuality to your space, allowing you to express your style in a truly distinctive way.

3. Design Inspiration: Walking through the carefully curated showrooms of a luxurious home store can be a source of inspiration. It helps you envision how different elements can come together to create a cohesive and elegant interior.

4. Expert Guidance: The knowledgeable staff at these stores can provide invaluable guidance and suggestions to help you make informed decisions. Whether you’re revamping an entire room or looking for the perfect statement piece, their expertise can be a valuable resource.

The luxurious home store is a heaven for those who seek to transform their living spaces into oases of luxury and refinement. With an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, timeless elegance, and personalized service, these stores offer an experience that goes beyond mere shopping. They provide an opportunity to curate a home that reflects your unique style and sensibilities, elevating your living environment to new heights of sophistication and comfort. So, if you’re in pursuit of the extraordinary for your home, a visit to a luxurious home store may be just the inspiration you need.

Top 5 ways to scale up a Local Business

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a business woman

Scaling up a local business can be a daunting task, but it’s a crucial step for long-term success. Whether you’re a small retail shop, a local restaurant, or a service provider, expanding your business beyond its current boundaries can lead to increased revenue and greater influence within your community.

Let us delve into top 5 essential strategies that work for local business growth .

1. Embrace Digital Marketing

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for any business. Start by creating a user-friendly website that provides information about your products or services, contact details, and customer reviews. Invest in search engine optimization (SEO) to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. Utilize social media platforms to engage with your local audience, share updates, and run targeted advertising campaigns. Effective digital marketing can help you reach a wider audience and attract more local customers.

2. Expand Your Product or Service Offerings

One way to grow your local business is by expanding your product or service offerings. Evaluate the needs and preferences of your target audience and consider diversifying your offerings to meet those demands. For instance, if you own a local bakery, you could add a coffee bar, gluten-free options, or even catering services. By continually innovating and staying attentive to market trends, you can attract new customers and increase your sales.

3. Collaborate with Local Partners

Collaboration with other local businesses can be a powerful strategy for scaling up. Partnering with complementary businesses can help you tap into new customer bases and increase your exposure within the community. For instance, a local gym might collaborate with a nearby health food store to offer exclusive discounts to members of both businesses. These partnerships not only benefit your customers but also create a supportive network of local entrepreneurs.

4. Implement Efficient Systems

As your business grows, it’s essential to have efficient systems in place to manage operations, maintain quality, and handle increased demand. Implementing robust inventory management, hiring skilled employees, and using point-of-sale (POS) systems can help streamline your operations. Furthermore, consider automating routine tasks and processes, allowing you to focus on higher-level strategic decisions to drive growth.

5. Explore New Markets and Locations

Expanding your business geographically can be a significant step toward scaling up. If your business has found success in one location, consider opening new branches or satellite offices in other areas. Before doing so, conduct market research to identify promising locations and assess the competition. Opening additional locations allows you to tap into new customer bases and grow your brand’s reach.

Scaling up a local business involves a combination of smart strategies and hard work. Embracing digital marketing, expanding your offerings, collaborating with local partners, implementing efficient systems, and exploring new markets are all effective ways to achieve growth. Keep in mind that scaling up should be a gradual and well-planned process to ensure long-term success. By following these top five strategies, you can take your local business to new heights and secure a prosperous future.

How Hyper-Local Communities Can Help Local Businesses Grow

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hyper local community thane

In a world increasingly dominated by global corporations and digital giants, it might seem like local businesses are struggling to survive. However, there is a growing trend that is breathing new life into local economies: hyper-local communities. These tight-knit, geographically centered groups of residents are proving to be a powerful force in supporting and propelling local businesses. In this blog, we’ll explore how hyper-local communities can be a game-changer for small businesses and help them not only survive but thrive in today’s competitive market.

The Rise of Hyper-Local Communities

Hyper-local communities are formed by individuals who share a common geographical location, such as a neighborhood, town, or even a specific city block. These local communities are typically connected through social media platforms, local forums, or in-person meetings, and they focus on supporting and engaging with businesses, services, and activities within their immediate area.

1. Enhanced Visibility

One of the most significant benefits of hyper-local communities for local businesses is the increased visibility they provide. When businesses actively engage with these communities, they become an integral part of the local conversation. Whether it’s through posts on neighborhood Facebook groups, mentions on community websites, or participation in local events, businesses gain valuable exposure that is often more effective than traditional advertising.

2. Loyal Customer Base

Hyper- local communities foster a sense of camaraderie and loyalty among their members. When a local business actively participates in these communities, it can build trust and rapport with potential customers. People are more likely to support businesses that they feel a personal connection with, and this sense of community can lead to a loyal customer base that chooses local over corporate options.

3. Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly potent within hyper-local communities. When community members have positive experiences with a local business, they’re likely to share their recommendations with friends and neighbors. This organic form of advertising can be far more effective than traditional advertising channels, as people trust the opinions of those in their immediate circle.

4. Collaboration Opportunities

Local businesses can also benefit from collaboration within hyper-local communities. For instance, a coffee shop may partner with a nearby bakery to create a neighborhood breakfast special. By working together, businesses can leverage each other’s customer bases and offer unique experiences that larger competitors can’t match.

5. Feedback and Improvement

Hyper- local communities provide an ideal platform for businesses to gather feedback and make improvements. Customers who are part of these communities are often more willing to share their thoughts, enabling businesses to refine their offerings based on local preferences.

6. Local Events and Sponsorships

Local businesses can gain significant exposure and goodwill by sponsoring or participating in community events, such as street fairs, charity runs, or neighborhood clean-up initiatives. These activities not only showcase a business’s commitment to the community but also provide opportunities for direct engagement with potential customers.

7. Resilience Against Economic Uncertainty

During times of economic uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, local communities played a critical role in supporting local businesses. These communities rallied around their favorite establishments, ordering takeout, shopping online, and providing financial support when needed. This kind of community backing can help local businesses weather the storms of economic downturns.

Hyper-local communities are proving to be a lifeline for local businesses in an increasingly globalized world. Through enhanced visibility, a loyal customer base, word-of-mouth marketing, collaboration opportunities, feedback channels, local events, and resilience against economic uncertainty, local businesses can tap into the power of these communities to grow and thrive.

To take full advantage of hyper- local communities, local businesses should actively engage with them, both online and offline. By becoming an integral part of the community and aligning their values with those of their neighbors, businesses can establish themselves as cornerstones of their local economies. In this way, hyper-local communities and local businesses can continue to support and elevate one another, creating vibrant and prosperous communities for all.

Tips for Teaching Teenagers to be Responsible

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BY XCEEDIBLES – FOR CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP

When asked what traits parents would like their children to have now and as adults, one of the most common responses is to be responsible. This is a broad term that means many different things – from being helpful around the house to behaving responsibly at school to giving back to the community and using one’s talents responsibly in the workplace. Parents want their children to be responsible because this predicts success both now and later in life, even into adulthood. With these goals in mind, how can you best teach teenagers to be responsible? Here are some tips:

Instill Values: Children will always make mistakes, but there are a few ways parents can help their kids build a strong foundation of responsible behaviour. Before discussing what these values are, parents should define what they mean by responsibility. For example, you might say that responsibility means taking on only obligations that you know you can complete successfully or finishing tasks before you move on to something else.

Encourage Respectful Behavior: One reason that many teenagers act irresponsibly is that they feel that their actions will not have any consequences. They make decisions based solely on what feels good in that moment without thinking about how it might affect them later on. This is why you need to sit down with your teen and explain what exactly responsible behaviour means.

Be Patient: Developing good habits isn’t going to happen overnight. It will take time and dedication on your part, but it can happen. The first step is going to always be practice. You are building a muscle, and it won’t grow in one day – you have to exercise that muscle repeatedly over time before it becomes strong enough that you don’t need constant focus.

Set Consequences: The problem with “because I said so” is that it doesn’t teach a child anything. The reason isn’t important, but how you follow up on your instructions is crucial. And even if you think it will work, Because I said so! rarely leads to responsible behaviour. When your teenager understands that there are concrete consequences for their actions—or lack thereof—the odds of them making better choices increases exponentially. In conclusion, When it comes to teaching teenagers how to be responsible, there are no quick fixes. Good parenting is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. The best way parents can teach teenagers about responsibility is by modelling and providing good examples in their own lives. Let your teenager see you working hard at work or helping others in need. Teens want to please their parents, and if they see you being responsible in your daily life, they will want to learn from you too.

10 ways to achieve Hormonal Balance in Women

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10 ways to achieve Hormonal Balance in Women

BY DEEPAK KHERA
Dietitian/Nutritionist

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs to help them do their work. They are produced by the endocrine system that signals various parts of your body to carry out their functions. The endocrine system, consisting of 8 glands (hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pineal body, the ovaries, and the testes) produce and secrete most of the hormones.

Types of Female Sex Hormones

Hormones play an important role in maintaining and regulating your overall health. The primary sex hormones in females are estrogen and progesterone which are produced by the ovaries (the primary female reproductive organs), the adrenal glands (small glands located on top of each of your kidneys), and the placenta (the structure that develops in your womb during pregnancy which provides nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby).

Estrogen, produced by your ovaries, is found in both men and women. It is responsible for the development of the female reproductive system and it imparts female sex characteristics such as breasts and pubic hair. 

  • It maintains the thickness of your vaginal wall and promotes lubrication.
  • It regulates your menstrual (period) flow and stimulates the growth of the egg follicles (sac-like structures filled with fluid in which an egg develops). Periods is the monthly shedding of the lining of your uterus (womb) in the form of blood, through the vagina.

Progesterone, the hormone released in the ovaries, is responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle and supporting your pregnancy. 

  • During pregnancy, progesterone helps in the development of the fetus (baby to be) and prepares the pelvic wall muscles for labour (childbirth or delivery).

Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormonal imbalances can cause disturbances in a range of body functions and deteriorate your overall health. In women, this imbalance is mainly due to abnormal (less or more) levels of estrogen and progesterone. 

Common causes of hormonal imbalance in women include unhealthy and stressful lifestyle, unhealthy dietary habits, chronic conditions such as diabetes or thyroid problems, pregnancy, certain medications, severe injuries or infections, birth control pills, and menopause (the natural stopping of a woman’s menstruation or periods).

Hormonal imbalance can cause of a variety of symptoms in you such as:

  • Sudden weight gain or weight loss
  • Excessive sweating
  • Difficulty in sleeping
  • Dry skin or rashes
  • Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar concentration
  • Weak bones
  • Anxiety, depression, and irritability
  • Bloating, headaches, nausea, and fatigue
  • Reduced sexual drive

Lifestyle and Dietary Recommendations to Balance Your Hormones

Correcting your hormonal imbalance early and on time, can save you from further complications and health issues. 

Here are 10 ways to achieve hormonal balance to stay young and healthy:

1. Eat a balanced diet. Your diet affects the balance of your hormones. Eating a diet that contains all vitamins and nutrients in the right proportion is a must. Include foods such as lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, seeds such as chia seeds and flaxseeds, nuts, olive oil, and unsaturated oils and fats, and whole grains like buckwheat, brown rice, and quinoa.

2. Reduce all insulin stimulating foods. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. When your body’s cells don’t respond normally to insulin (known as insulin resistance), there is a build-up of insulin in the blood, resulting in excess sugar in the bloodstream. Excess sugar is known to cause an imbalance in your hormones. 

To correct this imbalance, it is advisable to reduce foods that promote insulin resistance. These include white sugar, excess alcohol, and all processed flours.  

3. Include glucagon stimulating foods in every meal. Glucagon is another hormone that controls or rather maintains the levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. When sugar levels are low in your blood, your body releases ‘glucagon’ so that you have the energy to continue with your tasks. A mess-up between insulin and glucagon can cause hormonal imbalances.

To maintain the blood sugar levels, choose glucagon stimulating foods such as proteins (chicken, fish, turkey, cottage cheese, yoghurt, lean beef, eggs, hemp) in every meal. 

4. Support your hormonal health with essential fats and fatty acids. Healthy fats help in maintaining a balance of hormones, especially those involved in appetite, metabolism, and keeping you full. Fatty acids such as omega-3 reduce the levels of stress hormones (primarily cortisol and adrenaline) and help maintain a balance.

Foods high in good fats include vegetable oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn), nuts, seeds, and fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, nuts, and seeds.

5. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can affect the functioning of the glands of the endocrine system, leading to hormonal imbalance. 

Drinking water helps flush toxins from your body and keeps your cells functioning, thus maintaining hormonal balance. Drinking 2 litres of water per day is vital for your energy, and overall health. Including green tea in your daily diet will keep you hydrated and boost your metabolism.

6. Exercise has a strong influence on your hormonal health. One of the major benefits of exercising is insulin sensitivity. Reduced levels of insulin maintain harmony in body functions. Exercise also lowers cortisol response, thus reducing stress and boosting overall health. 

7. Sleep well. Irregular sleep can increase stress levels. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for proper cortisol secretion and weight loss. Sleeping boosts overall health and a healthy body is able to maintain a healthy hormonal balance.

8. Hug someone you love. Whether it is your child, husband, friend, or parent – hugging naturally lowers cortisol response and increases the production of endorphins, your “feel-good hormones”.

9. Meditation keeps a check on your cortisol and adrenaline levels. It keeps your mind and body calm and happy.

10. Spend time with yourself. Staying mentally and physically happy and sound keeps a check on your hormone levels. Spending time with yourself either by way of enjoying a hobby, reading a book, listening to music, or taking a walk, helps.

Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please “DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE” and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.

New Ways to Bond with your Gold

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 BY RACHNA MONGA KOPPIKAR

The shining yellow metal always evokes nostalgia, sentiments and a deep sense of security for us. From our Naani’s jhumkas to great grandmother’s naulakha haar, we have adorned the heirloom or traditional gold jewellery. We preserve it in our bank lockers for years with the hope that it will save us on a rainy day or our next generation will cherish our treasure box.

But let’s just think practically NOW.

How frequently do we use the locker jewellery?

Will the locker jewellery come to our rescue incase we need the money in the middle of the night? OR what if the jeweller tells us the quality of the gold isn’t that good, when we actually need it?

Does that gold sitting in the locker earn any income for you?

Whenever there has been a special occasion- milestone anniversary or a marriage, I have hardly used this jewellery and opted for more contemporary pieces. I feel there is snowball’s chance in hell that my next generation will cherish the shining pieces of metal.

After procrastinating the decision many times, I finally took a cue from the country’s top finance woman, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, to monetise my bank locker. Ms Sitharaman had proposed an Asset Monetisation Pipeline to generate extra cash for government assets by leasing them to private companies for a certain time period.

Monetise your Bank Locker
The Monetisation is the process or means of deriving income or generating cash from an asset. A substantial part of any Woman’s asset is the gold jewellery which is kept in bank lockers and doesn’t generate any income until its sold. As and when gold prices show a consistent upward movement, you can sell some of your ethnic gold jewellery and reinvest the money in the gold in a way that’s easily accessible, easily saleable incase of emergency. This encashment could result in some loss, as the jeweller may deduct 20-25% value, depending on the quality of the gold. Another 20% may go in capital gains tax (if gold is being sold after three years of holding period).

Even after considering these deductions, I strongly feel, there are better alternatives to invest in gold and other assets, instead of keeping all the gold in just a locker for which you pay a hefty annual rent or have to keep a fixed deposit with the bank as a deposit amount.

Bond with your Gold in a New Way

Convincing yourself to let go off our gold jewellery is going to be a hard decision. Harder. If you have to convince family too. Think of it as a smart trade-off which no one can refuse. You sell your physical gold. You buy it in a paper form, which mirrors the gold prices, gives you interest income, and can be sold without incurring any loss in value. You can transfer or give them as a gift too.

  1. Sovereign gold bonds (SGBs) are government backed bonds that allow you to buy the purest form of gold (999 purity). You can buy these bonds at current gold prices and redeem them after 8 years at the then prevailing gold prices. So the value of your gold bond increases or decreases inline with gold prices. Here is a quick snapshot of SGBs. You can buy these bonds by filling a physical form and electronically through a bank or a stock broker also.

Purity and Safety is Guaranteed: Unlike sale of jewellery, there is no deduction on redemption of these bonds. Also, you don’t have to worry about the purity of the gold.
Sovereign Guarantee: These bonds are issued by Reserve Bank of India as per a predecided time table. They are completely safe and bond units can be held in electronic format as well. Buy SGBs from stock broker, bank or post office. The next issue of SGBs will be launched on January 10 2022.
No physical gold exchange is involved in SGBs. You actually buy a bond denominated in terms of pure gold. So if you buy one bond, you buy one gram of gold. Minimum allowed quantity is 1gram and maximum is 4 kg per person.

You earn 2.5% interest (cash credit to your account on semi-annual basis) on the amount of gold bonds so bought. Locker jewellery doesn’t earn any income like this!

Gift an SGB or Take a Loan: If you hold SGBs in a demat form (electronic mode), you can easily transfer to another person eligible to invest in these bonds. Otherwise also, you can transfer SGBs held in physical form to other family members. A loan can be availed in a bank.

The holding period is bit like our Indian Saas-Bahu Series : SGBs can be redeemed after 8 years. An option is there to redeem after 5 years or sell these bonds on a stock exchange (if held in demat form) but an early redemption or sale before 8 years will make gains subject to tax.

Enjoy tax free redemption: What you get on SGB redemption: you pocket it. Let’s say you bought one unit of SGB at Rs 4710 per gram. When you redeem after 8 years, the price of the bond becomes Rs 5000, your gain of Rs 390 will not attract any kind of gains that is usually paid on selling a capital asset.
A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a must to be quoted along with the application for SGB.
For more details click on this link

  1. Gold-based mutual fund (or Gold exchange-traded fund)- If you don’t like the Saas-Bahu Soap type holding period of 8 years, you can buy gold based mutual funds (Gold-ETF), through a stock broker.

Commonly known as gold exchange traded funds, as you will buy units of this fund, it will purchases physical gold of highest purity at the prevailing gold price.
You can buy these units today and sell them tomorrow, its that easy. For example, since gold prices are very low today you buy units of the most actively traded Nippon India ETF Gold BeES, at Rs 41 (one unit of gold etf represents 0.01 gram of gold) . Three years on, you sell the units to buy actual gold jewellery for your son or daughter’s wedding. If gold prices are higher, the fund’s unit price will be proportionately higher. Unlike SGBs, which once bought are difficult to sell untill redemption, gold ETFs can be sold anytime during stock market trading hours.

While Gold ETF are easier than SGBs to buy and sell, if you sell these ETF units before 3 years, you will pay a short-term capital gain tax as per your income tax slab. So its advisable to hold Gold based ETFs for at-least 3 years to minimize your taxes.

Remember we are suggesting only gold-based ETFs and not gold-based mutual funds that invest in gold mining companies too.

  1. A Fixed deposit for your gold: Another way to monetise your bank locker is to avail of Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), authorised by the Government. You give your existing gold (held in form of bars, coins, jewellery) to designated branches of certain banks, who then test the purity of your gold through authorised collections and purity centres or authorised jewellers. Based on the value of the gold, you earn interest for a certain period of time. While you will earn interest annually in rupee terms, on maturity, you will get an amount equal to the quantity of the gold in your account multiplied by the gold rates prevailing at that time.

You can deposit minimum of 30 grams of your existing gold (held in form of bars, coins, jewellery) with a designated branch of a bank.

Earn annual interest ranging from 0.50% to 2.50% over a chosen deposit period of 1-3 year, 5-7 or 12-15 year period.

There will be no tax on the interest you earn and the maturity amount for such gold deposits.

  1. An investment option that shines more than the gold, literally: Read ahead only if you are OK to detach with the gold as your only safe haven investment. I recommend that part of the gold holdings that you may decide to monetise, can be invested in superior investment options which are risky but have a potential of giving superior returns (percentage difference in the amount we invest and amount when get on getting out or on sale). The reason is that, gold prices over the 5 years haven’t really gone up much, whereas other investments like shares or mutual funds that invest in shares have doubled the money over the same period of time.

A one-time investment of Rs 1 lakh in gold, five years ago, would be worth just Rs 1.60 lakh today.
A one-time investment of Rs 1 lakh in an exchange-traded fund (Nifty-based ETFs) that invests in a basket of top 50 stocks, five years ago, would be valued at Rs 2.24 lakh today.

Therefore after consulting your financial adviser or a mutual fund distributor, you can park your gold sale proceeds in equity-based actively traded mutual funds wherein a qualified fund manager will analyze a basket of stocks to invest OR you can consider passively managed equity funds which invest in a basket of stocks and keep invested in it always.

To know more about how you can deploy your gold proceeds into mutual funds, reach out to us at rachna@thegreatgruhini.com or call us at 8591634901.

Rachna Monga Koppikar AKA The Great Gruhini is a Financial Coach.

Follow her blog: http://thegreatgruhini.com/