In recent years, digital gold has become an increasingly popular investment option, and PhonePe, one of India’s leading digital payment platforms, allows you to invest in digital gold directly through its app. Digital gold allows you to buy gold in smaller quantities, making it more accessible and easier to invest in, all while avoiding the hassle of storing physical gold.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up and use PhonePe for digital gold investments, so you can start building your wealth with the convenience and flexibility of gold.
What is Digital Gold?
Digital gold refers to gold that you can purchase online in small, fractional amounts, backed by real gold stored in secure vaults. When you invest in digital gold through platforms like PhonePe, you’re essentially buying ownership of real, physical gold, but you don’t have to worry about the logistics of storing it. The gold is kept in a vault and can be redeemed in the form of physical gold or as cash.
Benefits of digital gold include:
- Small Investment Sizes: You can start investing with as little as ₹1, making it ideal for small investors.
- No Storage Worries: The gold is safely stored in high-security vaults, so you don’t have to worry about theft or insurance.
- Liquidity: Digital gold is easily convertible into physical gold or cash at any time.
- Secure: The gold you buy is backed by actual physical gold in certified vaults.
Why Invest in Digital Gold?
Investing in gold is a great way to hedge against inflation and build long-term wealth. Traditional gold investments involve buying physical gold, which can be expensive and difficult to store. With digital gold, you can buy fractional amounts of gold online and avoid the associated issues of physical storage.
Some of the key benefits of digital gold include:
- Accessibility: Buy and sell gold at any time, directly from your smartphone.
- Flexibility: You can buy as little or as much gold as you want, based on your investment goals.
- No Maintenance: There’s no need to worry about the maintenance or security of physical gold.
- Transparency: Prices of digital gold are linked to the live market price, so you can track your investment in real-time.
How to Set Up PhonePe for Digital Gold Investments
Follow these simple steps to set up PhonePe and start investing in digital gold:
Step 1: Install and Open PhonePe
- Download the PhonePe app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store if you haven’t already done so.
- Open the app and sign in using your mobile number and OTP.
- Complete your KYC (Know Your Customer) process if you haven’t done so already. You’ll need your Aadhaar number and PAN card to complete the KYC process, which is required for investment transactions.
Step 2: Add Your Bank Account or Wallet
- To make transactions, you need to link your bank account or PhonePe Wallet to the app.
- Go to the ‘My Money’ section from the home screen and select ‘Bank Accounts’ or ‘Wallet’ to add your payment details. This is where your gold-related payments will be processed.
Step 3: Navigate to the ‘Gold’ Section
- On the PhonePe home screen, scroll down and find the ‘Gold’ option under the ‘Investments’ section.
- Tap on ‘Gold’, and you’ll be taken to the digital gold page, where you can view all the available options for buying and investing in digital gold.
Step 4: Select the Amount of Digital Gold You Want to Buy
- PhonePe offers gold in fractional amounts, so you can invest as little as ₹1.
- You can choose to buy gold in specific amounts, such as 1 gram, 10 grams, etc., or you can enter a custom amount based on the value of gold at the time of the transaction.
- Check the price: The price of digital gold is linked to real-time market prices, so the rate may vary depending on the day and time of your transaction.
Step 5: Complete the Payment for Your Investment
- Once you’ve chosen the amount of digital gold you want to buy, proceed to make the payment.
- You can pay using PhonePe Wallet, UPI, or your linked bank account. The payment will be processed instantly, and you will receive confirmation once your gold purchase is successful.
Step 6: Track Your Digital Gold Investment
- After your purchase is complete, the digital gold you bought will be credited to your PhonePe Wallet under the ‘Gold’ section.
- You can view the current value of your investment and track its performance over time, as the gold price fluctuates with market trends.
Step 7: Withdraw or Sell Your Digital Gold
You can choose to either sell your digital gold for cash or redeem it for physical gold (like coins or bars) through PhonePe. Here’s how:
- Selling Gold: If you want to convert your digital gold into money, you can sell it anytime by selecting the ‘Sell’ option. The money will be credited back to your PhonePe Wallet or bank account.
- Redeeming Gold: If you prefer to get the physical gold, you can redeem the gold in your account by choosing the ‘Redeem’ option. You’ll receive gold coins or bars, and you can choose the quantity based on your investment.
Benefits of Investing in Digital Gold via PhonePe
- Low Entry Point: You don’t need a large sum of money to get started. You can begin investing with as little as ₹1.
- Real-Time Tracking: Monitor your digital gold investment easily through the PhonePe app, which provides live market price updates.
- Flexibility: Invest in as much or as little gold as you want, based on your budget or investment goals.
- Secure Storage: Your gold is stored securely in certified vaults, ensuring the safety of your investment.
- Transparency: PhonePe shows the real-time gold price, ensuring transparency in your investments.
- Tax-Free Investment: Since it’s an electronic form of gold, there is no need to pay taxes like GST or TDS (on investments under certain limits) on digital gold.
- No Maintenance: Unlike physical gold, there are no additional charges for storage or insurance of your gold.
Things to Consider When Investing in Digital Gold
While digital gold offers numerous advantages, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Gold Price Fluctuations: The value of your investment is tied to the price of gold, which fluctuates based on market conditions.
- Redemption Fees: While most digital gold platforms (including PhonePe) don’t charge fees for buying or selling, there may be a small fee when redeeming physical gold.
- Long-Term Investment: Digital gold is generally considered a long-term investment. If you’re looking for short-term gains, it may not provide the same results as other financial instruments like stocks.
- Limited Redemption Options: Some platforms may offer limited options for redeeming gold in the form of physical coins or bars. Ensure that you understand the redemption process and the costs involved.
How to Make the Most of Digital Gold Investments
- Start Small, Stay Consistent: Given that you can start with as little as ₹1, begin with small investments and increase your purchases over time. Consistency can help you accumulate more gold and build a solid investment portfolio.
- Monitor Gold Prices: Keep track of the price of gold to make informed decisions about when to buy or sell. You can use the PhonePe app to check the live price and take advantage of favorable market conditions.
- Diversify Your Portfolio: While gold is considered a safe investment, it’s always a good idea to diversify your investments. Combine digital gold with other assets like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds to reduce risk.
- Use for Wealth Preservation: Gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations. It’s ideal for preserving wealth over time, especially during economic uncertainty.
Conclusion
Investing in digital gold via PhonePe is a simple and secure way to start building your wealth with one of the most trusted assets in the world. With its user-friendly interface, low investment amounts, and secure storage, PhonePe offers an easy way to access the benefits of gold investing without the hassle of managing physical gold.
By following the steps above, you can quickly set up your PhonePe account and begin investing in digital gold, whether you want to buy a little every month or make a lump sum investment.
Start investing in digital gold today and make it a part of your long-term wealth-building strategy with PhonePe!