For Mr. Bajaj, this Diwali was going to be about one special surprise.
His son had been talking about the new iPhone 18 for some time, and Mr. Bajaj wanted to gift it to him. Living in HSR Layout, Bangalore, he had already started planning his Diwali expenses when he began thinking about the purchase.
He had around 60% of the money he needed for the phone saved. The rest, however, meant balancing the gift with his other festive expenses.
“I had already saved a good part of the amount. I just needed to figure out how to manage the remaining amount without disturbing my Diwali budget.”
Planning the Gift Around Diwali
Mr. Bajaj had been keeping an eye on the iPhone 18 release date and its expected availability in India. He was also checking the iPhone 18 price and looking at festive offers before deciding when to make the purchase.
With the Apple festive season sale and different Diwali sale offers around, he knew there could be opportunities to get the phone at a better price. But getting a good deal was only one part of the decision. He also wanted to be comfortable with how he would pay for it.
One option he considered was Buy Now, Pay Later. But he didn't want a festive gift to become another monthly commitment.
“I didn't want to buy the phone now and then keep thinking about the payments for the next few months. I wanted something that would fit into my existing plans.”
That's when he remembered something his cousin had told him about Viva Money.
A Different Way to Manage the Remaining Amount
His cousin had mentioned Viva Money when they were discussing ways to manage short-term expenses. So, instead of going ahead with BNPL, Mr. Bajaj decided to explore it.
What caught his attention was the grace period.
Since he was expecting his salary the following month, he felt the timing could work well for him. He could use the amount he needed for the remaining part of the purchase and repay it once his salary came in, within the 51-day grace period at 0% interest.
“The grace period was what made the most sense to me. I knew my salary was coming the 1st of next month, so I could plan the repayment around that.”
He went ahead with the purchase, while keeping the rest of his Diwali spending within his planned budget.
The Gift He Had Planned For
The plan worked out the way Mr. Bajaj had expected. His son got the iPhone he had been hoping for, while Mr. Bajaj was able to manage his festive expenses without taking on a longer BNPL commitment.
When his salary arrived the following month, he repaid the amount as planned within the applicable grace period.
“For me, it wasn't about borrowing a large amount. I already had most of the money. I just needed some flexibility with the timing, and Viva Money helped me manage that.”
For Mr. Bajaj, the experience was a reminder that a little planning can make a festive purchase easier to manage.
Whether someone is waiting for the iPhone 18 launch date in India, comparing an iPhone 18 Diwali offer, or simply planning a Diwali offer mobile purchase, the excitement of a new phone can come with several other festive expenses.
In his case, planning ahead meant he could give his son the surprise he had in mind without letting one purchase disrupt the rest of his Diwali plans.
And sometimes, that's what makes a gift feel even better, knowing you planned for it well.
