In a bathroom, save on what you can see, not on what you cannot:
- Tiles: Standard vitrified or ceramic tiles cost far less than natural stone and are simpler to maintain. Choose anti-skid tiles for the floor.
- Fittings: A mid-range wall-hung WC and mixer perform as well as premium brands for everyday use.
- Reuse: A sound door frame, mirror or cabinet can stay, which also cuts the debris to clear.
- Layout: Keeping the WC and shower where the drains already are avoids costly plumbing changes.
- Lighting and ventilation: LED fittings and a good exhaust fan cost little, cut damp in a bathroom and use less power for years.
Do not save on waterproofing, pipes or the contractor's skill. A leak behind new tiles means breaking them again, at a cost far above the original saving.
Mansi's bathroom
Mansi is 37, a salaried port customs documentation officer in Bhavnagar, with a salary of Rs. 66,000 and a 752 CIBIL score. The quote above is for her 20-year-old bathroom, which had leaking pipes and loose tiles. She paid Rs. 25,000 herself and borrowed Rs. 1.45 lakh at an illustrative 15.5% per annum. The equated monthly instalment (EMI) for each tenure she weighed is below.
EMI = P × R × (1 + R)^N ÷ [(1 + R)^N − 1]. Here P = Rs. 1,45,000, R = 15.5 ÷ 1,200 and N = months.
| Tenure | Monthly EMI (Rs.) | Total interest (Rs.) | EMI as share of salary (%) |
|---|
| 18 months (1.5 years) | 9,080 | 18,439 | 13.8 |
| 24 months (2 years) | 7,065 | 24,561 | 10.7 |
Last updated: 26th October, 2026
Two years instead of 18 months leaves Rs. 2,015 more in her account each month, for Rs. 6,122 extra interest. Rs. 5,989 is the most she would pay for processing. Mansi chose 24 months, so the bathroom work did not squeeze other household costs.
What can delay approval: a CIBIL score below 650 or existing EMIs that take up a large share of your income. Names or addresses that do not match across documents, and more than one loan application in the same month, can also slow it down.
Remodelling your bathroom? With a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan, you can borrow Rs. Rs. 40,000 to Rs. Rs. 75 lakh, subject to eligibility. Check your loan offer with your phone number and a one-time password (OTP) → apply online → receive funds within 24 hours* of approval.
