Paying a lump sum early on a loan saves significantly more interest than spreading the same amount across extra monthly EMIs. The maths behind this surprises most borrowers.
Standard formula used by professionals worldwide
Loan 500,000 | After 1 year: lump sum 100,000 saves ~45,000 in future interest vs zero prepayment
Early in the loan when outstanding balance is highest and most future interest accrues.
Some loans charge 1-3% of prepaid amount. Calculate if savings exceed penalty before paying.
If investment returns exceed loan interest rate, investing wins. If loan rate is higher, prepay.