Sumeet has been impressed by the features of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Sumeet who is a graphic designer by profession is a technology enthusiast and does not want to miss an opportunity of having hands on the latest gadgets. The versatile phone could be very useful for Sumeet in streamlining his work.
Did you ever find yourself in a similar situation? You can hope of buying the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or an iPhone, but the thought of spending a significant amount stops you from owning such devices. Here is where EMIs (equated monthly instalments) come into the picture. EMIs allow you to convert a single purchase into smaller, manageable instalments spread across a fixed tenure. Monthly instalments help you avoid straining your finances while making it easy to manage your monthly budget.
What is an EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment)?
A popular financial term in the realm of loans and financing is EMI. EMI full form stands for equated monthly instalments and it refers to the fixed sum of money paid by borrowers to lenders each month, encompassing both the principal loan amount and the interest accrued on it.
The EMI meaning lies in its structure: it's a structured repayment method that facilitates affordability for borrowers by breaking down a larger loan amount into manageable monthly payments over a predetermined period, typically ranging from a few months to several years.
What is EMI payment, precisely? It represents the borrower's commitment to repay the loan, ensuring consistent and structured payments over the loan tenure. Each EMI consists of two components: the principal amount (the actual loan amount) and the interest charged by the lender for borrowing that sum.
Calculating an EMI involves complex mathematical formulas that consider the loan amount, interest rate, and loan tenure. Lenders employ various tools and online calculators to determine the EMI amount, aiding borrowers in understanding their repayment obligations before committing to a loan.
In essence, EMI payments provide borrowers with a structured approach to manage their financial obligations, making high-value purchases or investments more accessible without imposing an immediate and overwhelming financial burden.
Understand your EMIs with amortisation schedule
To understand EMI meaning, you must first know about the loan amortisation schedule. An amortisation schedule is a table showing the details of each payment you make against the loan and displays how EMI works. It is provided to you after you purchase anything on EMI, as it helps borrowers understand the repayment structure.
Part of your EMI payment covers the interest charges, and the rest goes towards reducing the principal amount. Over time, the percentage of EMI that goes towards interest decreases, and the portion that goes towards the principal rises. The amortisation schedule informs you about the changes in principal and interest amounts and helps you see what your EMI payment for each instalments is.
Let us assume you want to buy a smartphone for Rs. 1,00,000. Instead of making a lump-sum payment, you opt for a more manageable route and purchase the device in equated monthly instalments. The EMI comes to around Rs. 17,254.84 per month (over six months).
In the first month, you pay Rs. 1,000 as interest, and the rest – Rs. 16,254.84 – goes towards the principal amount. This reduces your outstanding loan balance to Rs. 83,745.16. This process continues smoothly over the next five months. In the sixth month, you pay your last EMI of Rs. 17,254.84. You have finally paid off your loan in full, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is entirely yours, with no outstanding EMIs.
N |
Principal Outstanding (Beginning Balance) |
Interest |
Principal Repayment |
EMI |
Principal Outstanding (Ending Balance) |
1 |
1,00,000 |
1,000 |
16,254 |
17,254 |
83,745 |
2 |
83,745.16 |
837 |
16,417 |
17,254 |
66,491 |
3 |
66,491 |
664 |
16,590 |
17,254 |
49,901 |
4 |
49,901 |
499 |
16,755 |
17,254 |
33,146 |
5 |
33,146 |
331 |
17,221 |
17,254 |
17,082 |
6 |
17,082 |
170 |
17,084 |
17,254 |
(0) |
While EMI undoubtedly eases your financial burden, there is a better alternative. An option that lets you purchase your favourite products without worrying about exorbitant interest costs. The Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card is the answer. It enables you to buy your dream smartphone – or any other product – on Easy EMIs. You pay the product’s price, divided into easy EMIs, with minimal interest. You can repay the cost of the product in EMIs, with flexible repayment tenures of up to 60 months.
Check Insta EMI Card fees and charges
How EMI is calculated?
EMI, or Equated Monthly Instalment, is a fixed payment amount paid by a borrower to a lender at a specified date each calendar month. Calculating EMI involves a relatively simple formula, yet understanding its components is crucial.
The EMI calculation formula is:
EMI=P×r×(1+r)n/((1+r)n−1)
Where:
- P represents the principal loan amount borrowed.
- r is the monthly interest rate. It's the annual interest rate divided by 12 (the number of months in a year).
- n stands for the number of monthly installments.
Breaking down the formula:
- Principal Loan Amount (P): This is the total amount borrowed from the lender. The EMI calculation starts with this value.
- Monthly Interest Rate (r): Derived from the annual interest rate. If the annual rate is 12%, the monthly rate would be 1%. This rate is crucial as it determines the interest payable on the outstanding loan amount each month.
- Number of Monthly Instalments (n): The total number of installments over which the loan is to be repaid. The longer the tenure, the lower the EMI, but it results in higher interest payments over time.
The formula involves the use of exponents and the basic mathematical principles of multiplication and division.
Once these values are plugged into the formula, the EMI amount is calculated. This fixed monthly payment remains constant throughout the loan tenure. However, in the initial stages of the loan, a larger portion of the EMI goes towards interest payments, with the remainder contributing to reducing the principal amount. Over time, the interest component decreases, and the principal repayment portion increases.
Factors that affect EMI
When you take out a loan or purchase anything on EMIs, you agree to pay back the money you borrowed with interest over a set period. The EMI comprises two parts: the principle and the interest. The principal is the money you borrowed, and the interest is the amount you pay to the lender for borrowing the money.
- Principal amount: If the cost of the product is high, the loan amount is high as well, which increases the EMI amount.
- Interest rate: This is the cost of borrowing or purchasing a product on EMIs and is determined by the lender. A higher interest rate would increase raise your total EMI amount. Thus, looking for a lender offering a lower interest rate, or no interest rate can help reduce the burden.
- Loan tenure: This refers to the period over which you choose to repay the loan. A longer loan tenure results in lower EMIs, as the total payable amount is spread over more months. But this means you will pay more interest during the loan period.
Check Insta EMI Card features and benefits
Advantages of EMIs
Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) offer numerous advantages, making significant purchases more accessible for individuals. Some of the most prominent advantages of EMI are:
- Spreading costs: EMI allows spreading substantial expenses over time, easing financial burdens and aiding in better budget planning.
- Enhanced affordability: It makes high-value assets like homes, cars, or gadgets more accessible without draining savings, offering a more manageable payment structure.
- Building credit history: Timely EMI payments contribute to a positive credit history, improving credit scores and opening doors to future financial opportunities.
- Access to favourable rates: A good credit score, built through EMI payments, can lead to access to loans and financial products at favourable interest rates.
- Structured approach: EMI offers a structured and predictable payment plan, fostering financial discipline and responsible spending.
- Financial inclusivity: It enables a broader population to afford significant purchases, promoting inclusivity in accessing assets and goods.
How can you simplify EMI payments?
Even when you buy a big-ticket item such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra on EMIs, you might pay a substantial monthly amount. To simplify your EMI payments, you must purchase such items on low-cost EMI, where the interest is minimal, and the EMI burden is reduced. You can buy items on low-cost Easy EMI using the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card and divide the cost into monthly payments over 1 month to 60 months.
This allows you to buy your favourite gadgets and devices without worrying about exceeding your monthly budget. The EMI you pay goes into repaying the principal component of the loan without attracting any interest.
EMIs serve as a comfortable bridge that allows you to purchase your favourite products, items, and much more without the pressure of paying the total amount upfront. They split the price tags of expensive items into manageable monthly instalments.
If you decide to take the EMI route, you can use the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card. It allows you to shop for shop for 1 million+ product on EMIs. You can also avail of a zero down payment facility, which is available on select models with the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card. The digital card is accepted across all leading platforms and retail outlets, such as Amazon, Bajaj Mall, Flipkart, Croma, Vijay Sales, and more, making your shopping experience extremely convenient.
