If your child is a pre-schooler, you know how action-packed life can be. One moment you’re negotiating over a bite of broccoli, the next you’re clapping for their first attempt at writing an A. These early years are beautifully chaotic. They’re learning to speak full sentences, asking endless ‘why’ questions, and testing your patience in ways you didn’t know were possible. It’s a rollercoaster of mealtimes, meltdowns and milestones.
But there’s something that most of us don’t pause to think about in the middle of all this chaos: isn’t this the perfect time to start building their financial future? Why so early? Because the sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow quietly in the background.
Why timing matters
When we think about securing our child’s financial future, we often jump straight to higher education or marriage expenses. While those may be distant realities, the immediate truth is that the cost of raising a child in urban India is also skyrocketing. Right now, time is your biggest ally.
The Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education 2025 points out that in Gurgaon, families spend about ₹37,000 per child annually on schooling, while in Delhi the figure is around ₹20,000, which covers fees, books, uniforms, transport, and coaching. Now compare that with the average Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) of ₹6,996, as stated in the same survey. It’s clear that many urban families are spending a disproportionate share of their income just on schooling and this is even before the child enters higher education. With private universities increasing tuition fees and other charges year after year, Indian parents are reeling from the high cost of college. Parents often don’t have a choice. They are forced to turn to private universities and fork out lakhs of rupees because the number of seats in government-funded universities with nominal fee structures is limited.
Beyond school and college, enrichment classes, skill development and extracurricular activities also add up. If you’re a single parent or part of a nuclear family in the city, the financial responsibility often falls squarely on your shoulders.
Starting early will reduce the stress later. It’s like sowing a seed today that grows alongside your child, quietly compounding while you handle the daily parenting hustle.
The insurance edge
So how does one make this seed grow? One effective way is to opt for a savings insurance plan like HDFC Life Click 2 Achieve. It helps you save regularly, grow your money, and ensures your child’s dreams don’t get compromised even if life takes unexpected turns.
Now, you might be wondering- why not just open an FD or invest in a mutual fund? The answer lies in the balance. While FDs and mutual funds are useful, a structured savings insurance plan offers something more holistic.
With HDFC Life Click 2 Achieve, you can pick from two plan options depending on your goals:
● Dream Achiever: A versatile option for parents who want flexibility in how payouts happen, whether as a lump sum, regular income, or a mix. The survival benefit amount can also be tailored by the policyholder. This makes it useful if you’d like to align your savings with different milestones, not just education.
● Smart Student: A more focused plan built specifically around education. It provides guaranteed income for 3–5 years, starting when your child turns 16 or 18. That means you have funds available right when college or higher studies begin- a major relief when costs tend to spike.
Myths vs. Reality
A lot of young parents hesitate to start financial planning this early, but it often comes down to a few common misconceptions. Many think they’ll save when their income grows, but the truth is that the earlier you start, the less you need to put aside each month. Delaying only makes the burden heavier later. Others might feel insurance is too complicated, but in reality, modern savings insurance plans are far more transparent, with clear benefits and digital tools to track progress.
As parents, we can’t predict the future. But we can prepare for it. And sometimes, that one smart decision you make today becomes the safety net that supports their biggest achievements tomorrow.
So, the next time you’re juggling tantrums and toys, remember, amidst the chaos, you hold the power to secure calm for the years ahead.