Is Fixed Deposit Still Worth It After Inflation?
(Kya Fixed Deposit ab bhi worthwhile hai inflation ke baad?)
Aaj ke time mein jab sab kuch mehenga hota ja raha hai – doodh, sabzi, petrol, school fees – to ek common sawaal har kisi ke dimaag mein hai: kya fixed deposit (FD) mein paisa rakhna ab bhi samajhdari hai?
Pehle ke zamane mein FD ko sabse safe aur reliable investment mana jaata tha. "Risk lena nahi hai, to FD best hai" – yeh dialogue har ghar mein sunne ko milta tha. Lekin ab inflation ne game change kar diya hai.
FD: Safe Hai, Lekin Kitna Smart?
Sabse pehle baat karein FD ke plus points ki – haan, FD safe hota hai. Bank guarantee deta hai, market gir raha ho ya badh raha ho, aapka paisa secure rehta hai. Interest rate fixed hota hai – aaj lock kiya to utna hi milega, chahe kuch bhi ho jaye.
Lekin ab dikkat yeh hai ki FD ke interest rates 6%–7% ke aaspaas hi ghoom rahe hain. Aur inflation? Woh bhi 6–7% ya usse zyada ho chuka hai. Iska matlab kya hua? Aapka paisa real value mein kuch khas badh nahi raha, bas ek jagah ruk gaya hai ya dheere dheere ghut raha hai.
Samjho Ek Simple Example:
Maan lo aapne ₹1,00,000 FD mein daala 7% interest par. Ek saal baad aapke paas hoga ₹1,07,000. Wah, ₹7,000 ka fayda! Lekin agar us saal mehengai 7% hi thi, to us ₹7,000 ka value bhi wahi ka wahi hai. Shayad us paise se aap wahi samaan na kharid pao jo ek saal pehle ₹1 lakh mein milta tha.
Upar se agar aap higher tax slab mein ho, to interest par tax bhi katega. Real return aur bhi kam ho jayega.
Toh Kya FD Ka Koi Faayda Nahi?
Aisa bhi nahi hai. FD ki apni ek jagah hai – har situation mein bekaar nahi hota:
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Senior citizens ke liye – Unhe extra interest milta hai aur risk lena unke liye mushkil hota hai.
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Short-term savings – 1–2 saal ke liye paisa rakhna ho to FD safe aur hassle-free option hai.
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Emergency fund – Kabhi bhi paisa chahiye, to FD break karke turant mil jata hai (thoda penalty lagta hai, but liquidity hai).
Agar FD Se Aage Sochna Hai Toh?
Agar aap inflation ko beat karna chahte ho aur paisa genuinely badhana chahte ho, to kuch aur options explore karne padenge:
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Mutual funds – Risk thoda hota hai, lekin returns inflation se zyada ho sakte hain.
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Stocks / Equity Mutual Funds – Long-term ke liye best, agar patience aur risk tolerance ho.
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RBI Bonds / Gold Bonds – Safe aur inflation-linked alternatives.
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Real estate ya SIPs – Thoda study karke invest karo, FD se zyada faayda milega.
Toh Kya Karna Chahiye?
Seedhi si baat hai: Agar aapko sirf safety chahiye, zero risk lena hai, to FD ab bhi theek hai. Lekin agar aapka goal hai wealth create karna, future secure banana ya retirement planning karna, to FD alone is not enough.
