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LoansJagat Team

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7 Min

27 Mar 2025

How to Make Money from Gold in 2025 Without Buying Physical Gold – Best Strategies

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Ramesh, a Delhi-based shopkeeper, believed gold jewellery was his best investment. By 2024, he'd stored ₹5,00,000 worth of gold in his locker. When gold prices surged, Ramesh thought, "Paisa ban gaya!"

 

But selling it wasn't easy:


  • ₹10,000 locker charge
  • ₹15,000 in making charges

 

Net profit? ₹25,000 gone in expenses!

 

Frustrated, Ramesh explored Gold ETFs. He invested ₹5,00,000 in ETFs. After one year:


  • Gold value appreciated by ₹50,000 (10% rise)
  • Paid only ₹5,000 as an expense ratio
  • No locker fees, no making charges

 

Ramesh's new plan saved him ₹25,000 in unnecessary expenses and earned him ₹20,000 more in profit— without any hassle. As Ramesh now puts it, "Ab sona locker mein nahi, stock market mein chamkega!"

 

“Why Buy Gold When You Can ‘Netflix and Chill’ With Digital Options?”

 

People today no longer need to handle physical gold because digital gold investment in 2025 provides innovative advantages to investors.

 

Suppose you plan to invest ₹1,00,000 in gold for your future security. Now, you must choose between traditional physical gold and the modern digital gold option.

 

This clear comparison will guide your decision-making process:

 

Aspect

Physical Gold

Digital Gold

Investment Amount

₹1,00,000

₹1,00,000

Locker Fees

₹10,000

₹0

Making Charges

₹5,000

₹0

Gold Price Increase

10% (₹10,000)

10% (₹10,000)

Final Value

₹1,05,000

₹1,10,000

Total Profit

₹0 (Expenses cancelled gains)

₹10,000

 

Digital gold enables you to avoid ₹15,000 in extra expenses while gaining an extra profit of ₹10,000 without the hassles of locker fees or making charges. 

 

As they say, "Sona bhi apka, sukoon bhi apka!"

 

Gold ETFs: “Dalal Street Ka Sona” For Smart Investors

 

By investing in Gold ETFs, investors gain a better alternative to financing gold ownership that avoids locker rental expenses and making costs. 

 

The following chart shows the top-ranking gold exchange-traded funds performance in India for 2025.

 

Expense Ratio: The annual charge imposed by the fund. The lower the ratio, the more savings there are.

 

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate): Five-year average annual return.

 

ETF Name

Expense Ratio

5-Year CAGR

₹1 Lakh Becomes

Profit After 5 Years

IDBI Gold ETF

0.41% 

(Lowest cost)

14.45%

(Best growth)

₹1,96,000

₹96,000

Aditya BSL Gold ETF

0.54% 

(Moderate cost)

14.09%

(Strong growth)

₹1,93,000

₹93,000

SBI Gold ETF

0.65% 

(Slightly higher)

13.97%

(Steady gains)

₹1,92,000

₹92,000

ICICI Prudential Gold ETF

0.50% 

(Balanced option)

13.96%

(Consistent)

₹1,92,000

₹92,000

Axis Gold ETF

0.55% 

(Moderate cost)

13.99% 

(Stable growth)

₹1,92,500

₹92,500

 

Gold Mutual Funds: ‘SIP’ Your Way To Wealth

 

People who want easy wealth expansion and want to skip locker fees or storage worries can rely on Gold mutual funds, which provide SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) investment opportunities.

 

How Can You Invest?

 

For example, starting a ₹5,000 monthly SIP today in Nippon India Gold Savings Fund could result in the following investment growth:


  • Monthly SIP Amount: ₹5,000
  • Investment Period: 5 years (60 months)
  • Total Amount Invested: ₹3,00,000
  • Annual CAGR (13.76%) Growth: ₹4,12,000
  • Total Profit: ₹1,12,000

 

Your consistent monthly investment of ₹5,000 during 5 years can transform ₹3 lakh into ₹4.12 lakh through the Nippon India Gold Savings Fund while eliminating the costs of managing physical gold.

 

Top Gold Mutual Funds In 2025

 

Fund Name

1-Year Return

3-Year CAGR 

5-Year CAGR

₹5,000 SIP for 5 Years Becomes

Nippon India Gold Savings Fund

15.32%

12.85%

13.76%

₹4,12,000

HDFC Gold Fund

14.89%

12.64%

13.45%

₹4,05,000

ICICI Prudential Gold Savings Fund

14.62%

12.48%

13.38%

₹4,03,000

SBI Gold Fund

14.75%

12.52%

13.41%

₹4,04,000

Aditya BSL Gold Fund

15.10%

12.70%

13.60%

₹4,08,000

 

Digital Gold: “UPI Wala Gold” For Instant Investments

 

Those days of complicated gold investments are long gone. Now, with digital gold platforms like Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay, you can begin investing in digital gold starting from just ₹1 — without needing a Demat account.

 

Why Digital Gold?

 

  • Low-Cost Entry: Begin with only ₹1.
  • Simple Access: Purchase or sell at any time through UPI apps.
  • Pure Gold Guarantee: Secured by 99.9% pure gold in safe, insured vaults.
  • No Storage Hassle: No locker rental or threat of theft.

Numerical Example

 

Suppose you choose to invest ₹500 every month in gold in digital form for 3 years.


  • Total Investment: ₹500 x 36 months = ₹18,000
  • Supposing gold prices increase by 10% annually, your investment amount would rise to about ₹23,920 in 3 years.
  • That's a net profit of ₹5,920 — all without locker charges, making charges, or security concerns.

 

For Gen Z and millennials, digital gold is the 'UPI Wala' Gold, which is instant, secure, and ideal for accumulating wealth while on the move. "Ab sona kharidna utna hi aasan jitna chai peene ka UPI scan!"

 

Gold Derivatives: ‘Dhoom’ Returns, But Handle With Care!

 

Gold derivatives, such as gold futures and options, are investment vehicles that allow you to benefit from gold prices without holding physical gold. They are "betting on gold prices"—if  "prices rise or fall as you forecast, you can reap big rewards.

 

How Do They Work?

 

Gold Futures: With Gold Futures, you enter into an agreement that requires purchasing or selling gold at predetermined prices during a specified future time. The outcome of profits or losses depends on the movement of gold prices.

 

Gold Options: Through Gold Options, you pay a small fee (premium) to obtain a right to purchase or sell gold at designated prices with minimal spending requirements. This prevents significant financial losses from occurring.

 

Quick Comparison Table

 

Aspect

Gold Futures

Gold Options

Investment Needed

₹1,00,000 (Margin Money)

₹2,000 (Premium)

Profit if Gold Rises by ₹200

₹20,000

₹18,000 (After ₹2,000 premium)

Loss if Gold Falls by ₹200

₹20,000 (High Risk)

₹2,000 (Limited Risk)

Risk Level

High 

Lower (Limited to Premium)

 

Investing in futures and options products quickly generates financial gains, although price movements against you may cause severe losses for your investment.

 

Gold Mining Stocks: “Be The ‘Shark Tank’ Investor In Gold!

 

Instead of buying gold directly, you can invest in gold mining stocks — companies that extract and sell gold. These stocks often rise faster than gold prices during bullish markets, offering higher returns.

 

Why Invest in Gold Mining Stocks?

 

  1. Greater Growth Potential: Mining shares may surpass physical gold if firms increase output or find new deposits.
  2. Dividend Income: Many mining firms offer dividends, adding passive income to your gains.
  3. Global Giants for Stability: Global giants such as Newmont Corporation, Barrick Gold, and Hindustan Zinc offer exposure to worldwide gold markets.

 

For example, if you invest ₹1,00,000 in gold versus gold mining stocks:

 

Investment Option

Initial Investment

Gold Price Increase

Stock Growth

Final Value

Profit

Physical Gold

₹1,00,000

+10% 

(₹10,000 gain)

N/A

₹1,10,000

₹10,000

Gold Mining Stocks

₹1,00,000

+10% 

(Gold Price Rise)

+20% 

(Stock Rise)

₹1,20,000

₹20,000

 

Debt Consolidation: “Gold Ke Dum Pe, Loan-Free Future!

 

A debt consolidation loan is the act of taking out a single loan to pay off multiple debts and liabilities. If you have more than one loan, your gold can assist you in paying off debt effectively.

 

Suppose you have ₹4,00,000 of outstanding credit card and personal loan debt, both at a high interest rate of 18%. While you have gold worth ₹5,00,000. 

 

You can lower your debt burden in two ways by using your gold intelligently:

 

Aspect

Option 1: Sell Gold

Option 2: Gold Loan

Gold Value Used

₹4,00,000 

(Gold sold to clear debt)

₹3,75,000

(Loan approved for 75% of gold’s value)

Interest Rate

0% (No EMI since debt is paid)

10% (Gold loan interest)

Interest Paid in 1 Year

₹0

₹37,500 

(10% of ₹3,75,000)

Savings on Interest

₹72,000 

(18% on ₹4,00,000 saved)

₹34,500 (₹72,000 - ₹37,500)

Gold Ownership

Lost 

(Gold sold)

Retained 

(Gold returned after full repayment)

Key Takeaway:


  • Sell Gold: Quick relief with maximum savings.
  • Gold Loan: An intelligent option if you don't wish to part with your gold and yet cut down interest expenses.

 

From ‘Kaccha Badaam’ To Solid Gold: Choose Finding Your Perfect Investment

As with the rise and fall of viral trends, various investments in gold are appropriate for various individuals. Choose the one that suits your risk appetite—be it digital gold or ETFs.

 

Aspect

Gold ETFs

Digital Gold

Best For

Short-term traders looking for quick entry/exit

Beginners investing in small amounts

Returns

Matches gold’s market price movements

Matches gold’s market price movements

Investment Horizon

Flexible (Buy/Sell anytime)

Flexible (Buy/Sell anytime)

Tax Benefits

No additional tax perks

No tax benefits

Minimum Investment

0.1 grams of gold is the smallest unit that a person can invest in an ETF.

As low as ₹1

Storage & Safety

Stored electronically in the Demat account

Stored digitally by trusted platforms

Liquidity

Highly liquid — Trade like stocks

Highly liquid — Instant buy/sell through UPI apps

 

Conclusion

 

Gold is no longer an attractive metal stored in a bank safe—it’s a vibrant investment instrument that can make your fortune without the overhead of charges on storage or undetectable expenses. From Gold ETFs to Mutual Funds, Digital Gold to Gold Mining Stocks, you can indulge in the advantages of gold without bothering to make charges or security issues.

 

As we can observe in Ramesh’s situation, a change from physical gold to ETFs saved him ₹25,000 in costs and brought him an additional ₹25,000 in profit. That’s the magic of intelligent investing!

 

Gold ETFs offer stock market flexibility; Digital Gold facilitates hassle-free UPI investments, and gold mutual funds enable you to grow your wealth systematically.

 

For higher risk, higher return, gold derivatives and gold mining stocks present thrilling possibilities. And if debt consolidation is your aim, investing in gold can reduce interest expenses.

 

The golden rule? Gold must sparkle in your portfolio, not merely in your locker. Select the investment that suits your purpose and allow your money to grow with ease.

 

As Ramesh quotes now, "Ab sona locker mein nahi, portfolio mein chamkega!"

 

FAQs


  • What are the best substitutes for physical gold investment?

You can invest in Gold ETFs, gold mutual funds, Digital Gold, gold derivatives, and Gold Mining Stocks, or opt for gold loans for monetary flexibility.


  • Why should I invest in Gold ETFs rather than physical gold?

Gold ETFs save you from locker rents and making charges and provide better liquidity and tax advantages than physical gold.


  • Which is more suitable: Gold ETFs or gold mutual funds?

Gold ETFs: Suitable for active investors, lower cost ratio, and intraday trading.

Gold Mutual Funds: Suitable for passive investors, provide SIP mode, and are handled by experts.


  • How are gold futures different from gold options?

Gold Futures: High-risk, involves substantial investment, and gains are based on price movement.

Gold Options: Less risk, involves only paying a premium, caps possible losses.


  • Can I borrow against my gold investments?

Yes, you can borrow a gold loan in place of selling gold, assisting you in settling debts while you continue to own your gold.


  • Are Gold Mining Stocks a good investment?

Gold mining shares give more return than physical gold since they increase as per the company's performance and can give dividends.


  • How much should I invest in gold?

Experts suggest between 5% and 15% of your investment portfolio be in gold for stability and diversification.

 

  • What is the safest investment in gold?

Gold ETFs and gold mutual funds are the safest online gold investments, being regulated and secured by physical gold reserves.

 

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LoansJagat Team

We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?

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