Migrant workers power India’s cities. From construction laborers in Delhi to factory workers in Surat, they earn modest incomes, often ₹10,000-₹15,000 monthly. In 2025, over 12 crore migrant workers face financial strain due to irregular pay and high living costs. This article shares practical budgeting tips for them.
Track every rupee. Write down daily expenses like food, rent, or bus fares in a diary. If you spend ₹500 daily, that’s ₹15,000 monthly. Apps like Paytm can track UPI spending. Identify cuts, like cooking at home to save ₹2,000 monthly on street food. Budget around your lowest earning month to avoid overspending.
Saving is possible even with tight budgets. Open a Jan Dhan Yojana account, which needs no minimum balance. Save ₹20 daily by skipping one bidi pack. Post office savings accounts give 4% interest, growing ₹7,000 yearly savings to ₹8,400 in three years. Send savings home via UPI to avoid carrying cash.
Government schemes help. The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana offers ₹2 lakh life insurance for ₹436 yearly. Visit a Common Service Centre (CSC) to enroll. The Atal Pension Yojana provides a pension after 60, starting at ₹210 monthly. CSCs explain these in local languages like Bhojpuri or Tamil.
Remittances are common. Sending ₹5,000 home monthly via UPI apps like Google Pay is instant and cheap. Check for zero-fee transfers to save ₹50 per transaction. Never share OTPs to avoid fraud. Banks like Bandhan offer low-cost accounts for migrants.
Taxes apply if earnings top ₹2.5 lakh annually. File ITRs to claim refunds on TDS. Free tax camps at labor chowks or CSCs help with this. Keep rent receipts for deductions if applicable.
Learn from free resources. NGOs like Disha Foundation run financial literacy camps in labor colonies. Online platforms like Skill India have ₹100 courses in regional languages. Community leaders often share budgeting tips too.
Start small. Track expenses for a week. Save ₹10 daily. Enroll in a pension scheme. Use UPI safely. Attend a local camp. Budgeting brings stability. Share ideas with co-workers for support.