Don't keep your gold in your cupboard, put it to work! Earn money from home, here are smart ways to turn your gold into profit...

The euphoria of Dhanteras and Diwali has passed. Traditionally, many of us may have purchased gold on this auspicious occasion. Some commissioned new jewelry, while others invested in coins or biscuits. But often, this gold ends up locked in a home cupboard or a bank locker, lying there for years. This gold is our wealth, but is it “working”?

Indeed, in India, gold is more than just a metal or jewelry; it is an emotional investment and a symbol of financial security. But if it's just locked in a locker, it's like a “dead asset,” appreciating in value but not providing you with any regular income. Times have changed, and now there are ways to make this gold an active part of your financial strength, rather than just a decorative item. Let's explore some smart ways you can generate regular income from your gold without selling it.

Profit and Security
If you don't want to sell your gold but want it to generate income, there are two excellent ways to do so.

Gold Leasing: This is a new and interesting method. You can think of it as "renting" gold. Many digital platforms (like SafeGold) offer this facility. In this process, you lease your digital or physical gold to organized jewelers for a fixed period as their working capital. In return, the jewelers offer you a return of 2% to 5% annually. The most important thing is that this return is not in rupees, but in grams of gold. This means that if the price of gold increases, the value of your return automatically increases.

Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS): This is a government-backed scheme that turns your gold stored in bank lockers into a source of income. You can deposit your gold jewelry, coins, or bars with the bank. The bank offers an annual interest rate of 2.25% to 2.5% on this gold. This interest can be received in the form of gold or in cash. However, the medium and long-term deposit options under this scheme have been discontinued since March 2025, but the short-term deposit scheme of 1 to 3 years remains operational. This is much better than keeping gold in a locker, where you have to pay upfront for its security.

Don't sell your gold even in a financial crisis.
Sometimes in life, there's a sudden need for money, such as a medical emergency, children's education, or business losses. In such a situation, the first thought is to sell the gold stored at home. But this is an emotional and often loss-making decision, especially if the gold is ancestral. A wise and quick option is a gold loan.

You can pledge your gold with any bank or NBFC and receive instant cash in exchange. Typically, institutions offer loans up to 85% of the current market value of your gold. (If the loan amount exceeds ₹5 lakh, this limit can be reduced to 75%).

The biggest advantage is that your gold remains completely safe with the bank, and you get the money you need. You can repay the loan in easy EMIs and get your gold back. This is a much better decision than selling the gold and losing it forever.

If you must sell, learn the math of the 'right time'.

You may want to avoid these options and sell your gold directly. There's no harm in this, but it's important to exercise prudence. When you buy gold (especially jewelry), you pay making charges, GST, and a premium on top of the price, which can range from 10% to 25%.

But when you go to sell it, you don't get this making charge back. Therefore, to make a profit, it's crucial to sell your gold when its price exceeds both your purchase price and the making charges. Keeping an eye on market movements is crucial for this. Selling gold immediately after a festival or in a hurry is often not profitable.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.