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Updated September 2026: in 2022 I wrote about young earners getting caught in a cycle of EMIs for phones and gadgets, and suggested listing commitments and clearing high-interest loans first. I have rewritten it into a clearer step-by-step plan. This is general information, not personal financial advice; for large debts, speak to a qualified adviser.

Easy EMIs on phones, gadgets and appliances make it simple to commit a large part of each month's salary without noticing. Several small EMIs feel manageable individually and add up to a real burden together. The way out starts with seeing the whole picture.

What is the first step to getting out of EMI debt?

List every monthly commitment in one place: each EMI, credit card outstanding, personal loan and buy-now-pay-later plan. For each, note the monthly amount, the interest rate, the remaining months and any prepayment charge. Most people are surprised by the total. That total, compared with take-home pay, tells you how urgent the problem is.

Which debts should you pay off first?

The ones with the highest interest rate, while paying at least the minimum on everything else. Credit card balances and some instant personal loans usually carry far higher rates than home or car loans, so every extra rupee does more good there. "No cost" EMIs may still include processing fees; check the actual cost before treating them as free.

Should you take a new loan to repay old ones?

Only if the new loan has a clearly lower total cost, including fees, and you close the old debts and stop adding new ones. Debt consolidation helps when it reduces the rate. It hurts when it simply frees up credit lines that get used again. Read the prepayment terms on existing loans before refinancing.

How do you stop new EMIs piling up?

• Set a rule, such as no new EMI unless total EMIs stay below a fixed share of take-home pay.
• Wait a week before any purchase on EMI; many impulse buys do not survive the wait.
• Remove saved cards and pay-later options from shopping apps.

What should you build alongside repayment?

A small emergency fund, even a month of expenses, so that one unexpected cost does not push you back onto credit. Once high-interest debt is cleared, redirect those payments into savings automatically, so the money is not quietly absorbed into spending.

Does paying off debt affect your credit score?

Paying on time and reducing card balances generally helps your credit score over time. Missing payments hurts it quickly. If you are struggling to pay, contact the lender early; lenders are often more flexible before an account falls overdue than after.

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Updated September 2026: in 2022 I argued that buying last year's Apple model was the smarter choice, because yearly upgrades had become small and older models cost less. I have rewritten it with what has changed since, including features that now depend on newer chips.

My 2022 reasoning was simple. Hardware changes from one year to the next had become modest, and a year-old model offers nearly the same experience at a lower price, with a year of reviews to reveal any problems. That holds for most people. One thing has changed the calculation since: some headline software features now require recent chips.

Why is last year's model usually good value?

Apple typically keeps selling the previous iPhone generation at a reduced price when a new one launches, and retailers discount older stock further during festive sales in India. You also get a year of real-world reports on battery life, heating or bugs before you buy. Year-on-year performance gains are rarely noticeable in everyday use.

When is the latest model worth the extra money?

• When a feature you want needs the newest chip or more memory. Apple Intelligence, for example, only runs on relatively recent iPhones and on Macs and iPads with Apple silicon.
• When you keep devices for a long time. A newer model will usually receive software updates for longer.
• When the camera is the reason you upgrade, since that is often where the yearly changes are largest.

How long will an older model be supported?

Apple usually supports iPhones with major iOS updates for several years, and security updates beyond that, but it does not publish a guaranteed timeline. Buying a model that is one year old rather than three keeps most of that runway. Check which iOS version the model you are considering already runs.

What should you check before buying an older model?

• That it is new stock from an authorised seller, with a full manufacturer warranty.
• Storage size: older base models often have less, and it cannot be upgraded later.
• Whether features you care about, such as the latest AI tools, are supported on it.
• The real price difference after bank offers and exchange discounts on both models.

So which should you buy?

If value matters most and you do not need the newest features, last year's model remains the sensible choice, as I argued in 2022. If you want the newest software features or plan to keep the device for five or more years, the extra spent on the current model is easier to justify now than it was then.

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• Right Side AirPods Pro Ear tips had issues in seal: So, when I was trying out Apple’s in-built Ear Tips test, the outcome was often error and it had suggested that to change the ear tip size or align the AirPods pro properly in the ear. Initially, I had searched about this concern in internet and often found that the suggestions were to slightly re-align the AirPods pro or tryout the memory foam tips due to ear size differences among users. Since these were convincing reasons, I had ruled out possible manufacturing defects and continued to use the product with its flaw.
• Occasional crackling sound while hearing music: The other annoying issue that I had encountered while using my AirPods Pro was that I used to hear some annoying hustling sound while listening to music and during while I was at my work room. Since, my work room either had a slow-moving fan or air conditioner running, I assumed that the hustling sound may be due to its background noise.

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Updated September 2026: in 2022 I wrote about my worry using an eSIM as my main number on an iPhone 11: if the phone was damaged or its software failed, I would lose access to my number and to the bank OTPs tied to it. I have rewritten it with how eSIM recovery actually works in India and how to reduce the risk.

I used the iPhone 11's dual SIM with one line on eSIM and one on a physical card. What worried me was the eSIM line. If the phone broke or a software update failed, there was no card to move to another phone, and with two-factor authentication, much of my banking depends on receiving OTPs on that number.

What happens to your eSIM if your phone breaks?

The number is not lost. It belongs to your account with the operator, and the eSIM profile on the phone is just a way of connecting it. If the phone fails, the operator can issue a new eSIM profile, or a physical SIM, for the same number after verifying your identity. The practical problem is the gap between the phone failing and that reissue, when you cannot receive calls or OTPs.

How do you get your number back quickly?

• Visit the operator's store with your ID to get a replacement physical SIM or a new eSIM, which is usually the fastest route.
• Use the operator's app on another phone, where it offers an eSIM reissue option.
• Expect a short delay on SMS after a SIM change; operators temporarily restrict SMS on newly issued SIMs as a fraud safeguard.

How can you reduce the banking risk?

• Keep your bank's app set up with an authentication method that does not depend only on SMS, where the bank supports it.
• Register a second number with important accounts, where allowed.
• Keep your primary banking number on a physical SIM if the phone supports one, and use eSIM for the secondary line.

Is eSIM still worth using?

Yes, for most people. An eSIM cannot be removed by a thief the way a physical card can, and it makes dual SIM easy. Some newer phones, such as the iPhone Air, are eSIM only, so understanding recovery is becoming necessary rather than optional. The risk I worried about in 2022 is real but manageable, as long as you know how to reissue your number before you need to.

What should operators still improve?

A faster, fully online eSIM reissue with strong identity checks would remove most of the anxiety. The temporary SMS restriction after a SIM change protects against fraud, but it also delays OTPs exactly when you need them.

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