The Dam Analogy

A river and a dam across it is a nice way of visualizing one’s finances.A source of income is like a river.To save a bit of it is like building a dam across the income stream.

In real life dams are used to impound water in times of plenty so that it can be used when water is scarce.Deducting money from a salary cheque to fund one’s pension or investing regularly in a mutual fund  via a SIP , is like holding back water in the time of plenty to use when water is scarce.If a person comes by a windfall,say, by selling a business/ winning a lottery/receiving an inheritance etc. and saves/invests the money safely,it is akin to storing rainwater from a freak shower for use later. Read more of this post