From Chai Stall Dreams to Crores: How My Uncle’s Money Lessons Shaped My Wealth Journey

Introduction

There was a small chai stall near our college exit gate. After attending the full day lectures and practicals, that aroma of masala tea in the air, and our uncle, in his a bit dirty kurta, giving us his pearls of wisdom between sips. At that time, I was in my late teens, and was more interested in our college cricket matches than money. But those conversations, which looked unrelated then, changed the way I see and handle wealth today.

This uncle wasn’t rich. What he ran was a tiny stall where we used to take tea with some snacks. I remember, in those days (1997s) we used to pay Rs.2 for tea and Rs.5 for Pohas. The college was away from any big city so things were relatively cheap. Hence, the business income in that area was limited, mostly dependent on the students of the engineering college.

Our uncle always looked content, never stressed about money. How he used to do it?

This is what I want to share with you today. The lessons I learned by observing and talking to him was invaluable. At that age, being a young prospective engineer, we only used to daydream about having crores one day. From that day till today, more than 25 years have passed, let’s see how those lessons have actually contributed to my wealth building.

Ready to hear the story? Let’s begin.

A Humble Mentor

Our uncle, wasn’t the kind of person you’d expect financial advice from.

He didn’t read business newspapers or watch stock market shows. His world was his shop, his family, and that chai stall where he’d sit and do business the whole day. After our college time, we used to visit the stall for tea and samosas.

Uncle had own ways of turning casual chats into life lessons.

One evening, as we watched his helper stir the tea, he said, “Beta, money isn’t about how much you earn. It’s about what you keep.” I didn’t get it then. I mean, who thinks about saving in teens?

But that line stuck with me. Uncle’s life was his lesson.

He earned modestly, maybe Rs.15,000 a month back in the late 90s. Yet, he owned a small house, sent his kids to decent schools, and never borrowed money. How? He lived simply but smartly. He’d save a little every day, even if it was just Rs.10.

He’d buy only what he needed, not what the neighbors had. I still remember, his stall (which was an extension to his house) was beside the house of a local politicial of that area. That house was relatively lavish with all types of cars and people coming and going. But, our uncle used to do his business in his own independent ways.

Looking back, I realize he was teaching us financial discipline without using the big words.

Ever had someone like that in your life? Someone whose actions spoke louder than their bank balance? He was that kind of person.

Lesson 1: Save Like It’s a Daily Ritual

Uncle treated saving like brushing his teeth, non-negotiable.

Every evening, he’d put a few rupees into an old tin box under his shop counter. “This is my future,” he’d say, half-joking.

I thought it was silly. How could Rs.10 a day make you rich? But let’s do the math. Saving Rs.10 daily becomes Rs.3,650 in a year. Over 20 years, that’s Rs.73,000, without interest.

Now, imagine if he put that in a fixed deposit at 6% interest. It could grow to over Rs.1.5 lakh, thanks to compounding. That’s the power of small, consistent saving.

When I started earning, I tried to copy Uncle’s habit.

My first proper job paid me something close Rs.20,000 a month. I decided to save at least Rs.2,000 every month, no matter what. It wasn’t easy.

Friends were spending on phones and outings. But I’d think of the uncle’s tin box and transfer the money to a savings account.

Today, I automate this, Rs.5,000 goes into a SIP the moment my salary (income) hits my account. my SIP is my like the uncle’s, the only difference is that its all online now.

What’s your version of the tin box? If you have not started, maybe it’s time to start one today. Quick tip, start a recurring depost (RD). Open you online banking app and in next 10 minutes your RD will be ready.

Lesson 2: Invest in What You Understand

Uncle wasn’t a fan of fancy schemes.

Once, a neighbor tried to sell him a “double your money” plan. Chacha listened politely, then said, “If I don’t understand it, I don’t trust it.”

He used to stick to what he knew or could understand. For him, a fixed deposits, post office savings, and a bit of gold for his daughter’s wedding was all. He wasn’t chasing quick riches. He wanted safety and clarity.

That lesson hit me hard when I lost R.10,000 in a shady stock tip during my early days of stock investing (I think it was 2010, post financial crisis recovery and then consolidation phase of the market).

I wished I’d listened to uncle sooner.

Now, I invest only in things I can explain to my mom.

For me, that’s fundamentally strong stocks, mutual funds and index funds.

I started a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in an equity mutual fund with just Rs.1,000 a month. Over 10 years, it’s grown to Rs.2.5 lakh, even with market ups and downs. The trick? Research. I read about funds, checked their past performance, and picked ones with low fees. Now I do mostly direct plan, but during my starting there were no direct plans.

Like my uncle, I ahave also made it a point that for my investing should not sound like a rocket science. If it is not sounding simple enough to, I’ll rather not invest.

It might sound easy to implement, but it takes effort to reach this mental state. For sure, mistakes gives us better clarity.

Lesson 3: Patience Outshines Hustle

Unclue was never in a hurry.

Once, he told me about a plot of land he bought in the 80s for Rs.20,000. Everyone called it a bad deal, too far from town. But he held on. I think, I had a talk with him in 2010 and he told me that land was now worth Rs.50 lakh.

“Good things take time,” he’d say, stirring his chai.

That’s not sexy advice in today’s world of crypto and day trading. But it’s true. Wealth building cannot happen in a couple of years. It needs decades of patience.

I learned this the hard way. In my 30s, I used to check my stock portfolio daily, stressing over every dip. Then I started focusing on long-term goals.

For exmaple, one of my SIPs, are for my next home, maybe 10 years from now.

I don’t panic when the market drops. Data backs this up, the Sensex has grown at about 12.69% annually over the last 35 years (since 1990), despite crashes.

Patience pays. Are you giving your investments time to grow, or are you chasing the next big thing? Start a SIP and let it grow for next 10 years. Do not bother to much about daily fluctuations.

Lesson 4: Give to Grow

This one surprised me.

Chacha was generous, even with his modest income. He’d help a neighbor with a small loan or donate to the local temple trust.

“Giving doesn’t make you poor,” he’d say. “It makes you rich in trust.”

I didn’t believe him until I tried it. In my first job, I started donating Rs.500 a month to a local school. It felt good, but more than that, it changed how I saw money. I stopped hoarding and started sharing.

Studies show giving can boost your financial mindset. A study from the University of Zurich found being generous makes you feel happy about money. In this mindset, people will generally take wise financial decisions.

It’s like financial karma. Today, I set aside 5% of my income for charity, sometimes for a cause, sometimes to help a friend. It’s not about being a saint. It’s about believing there’s enough to go around.

Mistakes to Milestones

Let’s get real, I’m not a financial wizard but I’ve been blogging on this topic since last 15+ years. With this kind of perspective, allow me to share with you a snapshot of my journey.

My 20s were a mess. I blew my first bonus on a fancy phone and then I spent nearly everything to buy my first motor bike (Bajaj Pulsar it was).

I’ve also invested in a scam “chit fund” and lost Rs.3,000.

But uncle’s lessons were like my guiding tool.

When I got serious, I started small, Rs.2,000 in a mutual fund SIP, Rs.5,000 in a fixed deposit. I avoided debt, except for a home loan I could afford. Eventually in 2017, when I left my job to follow my passoin, I first cleared 100% of my home loan. I actually because completely debt free that day.

Slowly, things added up. Today, at 45+, I have a decent investment portfolio, a small flat, and a sufficiently big emergency fund.

I’m not saying I’m a crore-pati. But I’m not stressed about money either. That’s the real win. I think it will take me another decade to reach the stage of being financially independent.

Uncle’s lessons gave me clarity, not just cash. I still make mistakes, like overpaying for a stock last year. But I recover faster because I know the basics: save, invest simply, be patient, give back.

This will continue to me by guide always.

Your Turn: How You can Apply The Lessons

So, what can you do with uncle’s wisdom?

• Start small. Open a savings account and commit to Rs.100 a day. It’s less than your coffee.
• Next, explore simple investments. A mutual fund SIP is a good start, even Rs.500 a month is enough. Read up on it; don’t just follow a friend’s tip. And give yourself time.
• Finally, be ready to wait. Wealth doesn’t come in a year. Aim for 10 years, and you’ll be surprised.
• If you want, you can also try giving. Maybe Rs.100 a month to a cause you care about. It’s not about the amount; it’s about the habit.

I’d love to hear from you.

Who’s your uncle? What money lessons did you learn from family or friends?

Drop a comment or share on X. Let’s build a community of smart, simple wealth-builders. Oh, and one last thing: next time you are drinking your tea, think of the uncle. He’d say, “Save a little, dream a lot.” I’m trying to live by that. Will you?

Have a happy investing.