The Story of a Dressed Chicken Seller Investing in Gold, Consistently Buying Without Watching Price Fluctuations...

Amid the bustling activity of Surabaya’s Mangga Dua Market in East Java, Fatimah leads a simple life as a chicken seller. However, behind this busyness, she harbours a life principle that she has consistently followed for decades: using gold as a foundation for her future. For her, gold is not merely a luxury item but a safe way to store value, as well as something that can be enjoyed in daily life. “There’s no downside to investing in gold; it can be worn and also generates returns for investment. I buy jewellery a maximum of twice a month,” said the 48-year-old woman to Kompas.com. In her daily routine, she never waits for the “perfect” time to buy gold. For her, the decision is straightforward: if there’s money available, that’s the best time. “I don’t think about whether the gold price is low or high; if there’s money, I buy. Better to buy jewellery than spend on other things; once I’ve bought it, I don’t think about purchasing other items,” she added. She follows this habit consistently, now preferring to buy in larger quantities rather than small amounts. Her reason is practical: it’s easier to store and more efficient for managing documents. From this habit, her gold collection continues to grow. She has even become a “top spender” at one of Surabaya’s Wahyu Redjo gold shops. With total purchases reaching around Rp600 million, including various jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Interestingly, she has never been fixated on models or trends. Her focus is solely on the weight of the gold. “I don’t care about the design; it just depends on how many grams I can afford with the money,” she said again. All the jewellery she owns is not just stored but also worn on various occasions. From daily activities and outings to attending events. “That earring, I passed it down to my child, and it’s still there now,” said Fatimah. For this mother of six children, gold is not just about memories but also a proven financial strategy. In addition to jewellery, she has also started investing in precious metals. One of them is buying 50 grams of Antam gold at Rp2.7 million per gram, stored as a long-term asset. “I once bought gold for Rp850,000 per gram, then sold it in 2023 for a profit of Rp85 million, which I used to buy a car instead of taking a loan with high interest,” she continued.