I Tracked Every SIP Contribution for 3 Years — Here's What I Learned

In January 2023, I started a monthly SIP of ₹15,000 into an index fund. I tracked every contribution, every market dip, and every NAV. Thirty-six months later, here's what the data actually says.

The numbers after 3 years

Finding 1: Timing didn't matter

I invested on the 5th of every month regardless of market conditions. After 36 months, the XIRR is almost identical to picking the "perfect" entry. Rupee cost averaging smoothed everything out.

Finding 2: The month I missed hurt

Skipped one month. That single ₹15,000 would be worth about ₹21,000 today — costing roughly ₹6,000 in opportunity gains. One skipped contribution.

Finding 3: Increasing by 10% each year changes everything

Starting year 2, I increased by 10% annually. Over 15 years, this step-up nearly doubles the final corpus versus a flat contribution.

Finding 4: Market crashes are discounts

When markets dropped 12% in mid-2024, my monthly ₹15,000 bought significantly more units. Those units are now up over 40%. Market dips are not emergencies for SIP investors — they're opportunities.

Our SIP calculator lets you model different amounts, returns, and time horizons. Try it with a step-up — the difference will surprise you.