Personal finance hygiene refers to fundamental habits that keep your financial life healthy: expense tracking, disciplined budgeting, emergency reserves, avoiding toxic debt, and regular financial check-ups. The 60-20-20 rule for Indians suggests 60% for essentials, 20% for lifestyle, and 20% for future savings.

Goal-based investing focuses on achieving specific life objectives rather than maximizing returns. It involves: 1) Defining specific goals with timelines 2) Calculating inflation-adjusted future costs 3) Determining required monthly investments 4) Selecting appropriate assets based on timeline 5) Regular review and rebalancing.

A mutual fund pools money from many investors to purchase diversified portfolios of stocks, bonds, or securities, managed by professionals. Benefits include: small investment (₹500 minimum), professional management, diversification, liquidity, SEBI regulation, and tax efficiency. Types include equity funds (high risk, 12-15% returns), debt funds (low risk, 6-8%), and hybrid funds (moderate risk, 8-12%).

Insurance forms the foundation of financial planning through three pillars: 1) Term Life Insurance - 10-15x annual income coverage 2) Health Insurance - ₹15-50 lakh coverage with super top-up 3) Critical Illness Cover - 2-3x annual income as lump sum. Without protection, investments crumble during crisis. Insurance costs less than 5% of income but protects 100% of family's future.