INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue XI, November 2025
locations in Pune, including F.C. Road, J.M. Road, Law College Road, Swargate and Vadgaon. The respondents
represented a broad demographic, ranging from students and salaried employees to self-employed professionals,
thus providing a comprehensive picture of prevailing financial habits across age groups and income levels.
The data collected reveals that traditional saving instruments like bank savings accounts and fixed deposits
remain the preferred choices for a majority of the participants, reflecting a strong inclination toward low-risk
options. However, a growing interest is also observed in higher-return avenues such as stocks, mutual funds and
real estate—especially among the younger population. Encouragingly, over 80% of respondents acknowledged
the importance of starting investments at an early age and around 72.5% believed that true financial security is
best achieved through a combination of saving and investing. These findings reflect a positive shift in mindset,
but also underline existing challenges.
One of the major issues identified during the study is the lack of financial knowledge (20.8%) and the fear of
risk (25%), which continue to deter individuals from making informed investment decisions. In many cases,
financial decisions are guided by hearsay, family advice, or self-learning, with limited engagement with
professional financial advisors. Moreover, while savings are often regular and disciplined, investments are
sporadic and underutilized due to uncertainty and limited awareness.
This project aims not just to document these trends, but also to offer constructive suggestions to bridge the
knowledge gap and encourage balanced financial behaviour. Some of the recommended solutions include
enhancing financial literacy through formal education and community workshops, introducing youth-friendly
investment products, utilizing technology for simplified investing and offering low-cost, accessible investment
options for those with limited income.
Ultimately, this study hopes to shed light on the evolving financial behaviour of individuals and to serve as a
foundation for future research on financial planning and wealth management. By encouraging a more informed,
balanced approach between saving and investing, this project aspires to contribute to the financial empowerment
of individuals and promote a culture of sound financial decision-making in society.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Financial behaviour related to saving and investing has been widely examined in prior research, particularly in
relation to financial literacy, income, risk perception and demographic characteristics. Gupta examined the
investment behaviour of IT professionals and found that individuals with higher income and stronger financial
knowledge showed a greater preference for market-linked instruments such as mutual funds and equities, while
respondents with limited financial awareness relied mainly on traditional saving avenues like savings accounts
and fixed deposits [1]. This highlights the central role of financial literacy in shaping investment decisions.
Jaiswal analysed the investment patterns of salaried individuals in Western India and observed that safety-
oriented instruments such as fixed deposits and insurance policies were the most preferred options [2]. The study
also reported a low level of financial literacy among respondents and emphasized the need for government-led
financial awareness initiatives to improve informed decision-making. Similar conclusions were drawn by
Kamboj, who reported that only one-third of respondents in Haryana possessed adequate financial knowledge,
resulting in avoidance of higher-return but riskier investment options [11].
A systematic literature review conducted by Jumena et al. identified major determinants of saving behaviour by
analysing 124 studies published between 2012 and 2021 [3]. The review classified influencing factors into
economic, psychological and demographic categories. The findings suggested that younger individuals, due to
a longer investment horizon, are more inclined towards financial market investments, whereas older individuals
generally prefer safer saving instruments. This age-based distinction is frequently cited in financial behaviour
literature.
Ganapathi reviewed existing literature on investment behaviour and emphasized the importance of psychological
factors such as risk aversion and trust in financial institutions [4]. The study noted that individuals with higher
risk aversion tend to avoid market-linked instruments, while trust in financial institutions positively influences
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