Jewellery, clothes, fragrances, home decor – we think of all these categories when we want a wedding gift for a bride. We think of gifts that will make a bride happy, be useful to her, and which will contribute to her well-being. However, not one of these things will help her in times of crisis. What will help her, and truly secure her future happiness, is financial freedom. You may think that gifting something tangible to your daughter or daughter-in-law makes more sense. After all, financial freedom is not something you can show off to a crowd of guests. Big gold sets and designer clothes are much better for photographs and to document how much money you’ve spent on the bride. But what good is that huge lehenga or polki set going to do for her?

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There are many reasons for a woman to have financial freedom before getting married. When the charm of all that bling wears off, and when those expensive clothes are packed away for the next wedding, she needs to prepare for the future. Her own future and the future of her marriage. Of course, not everyone can give the kind of gift that will contribute to her individual finances. But if you’re planning on spending a huge amount of money for a gift, it might be worth swapping that for something more meaningful, like a fixed deposit.

Here’s why you need to consider financial independence when you’re planning a wedding gift for a bride.

1. Money plays a large role in equality in a marriage

When two people are living together, the one who makes money is the one who holds the decision-making power on how to spend that money. It’s only natural, and it takes years for a situation like that to change, if it ever does. From toxic power dynamics at home, to a permanent feeling of inferiority, stark financial inequality can impact a woman’s overall well-being in many ways. If you want your daughter, sister, niece or cousin to have a genuinely happy marriage, give her the gift of financial freedom, not an envelope full of money or a needlessly expensive bag.

2. An FD is far more valuable than jewellery

Many people think possessing jewellery is a form of financial security. No, it isn’t. The increasing prices of gold don’t apply too much to jewellery sets. Gold bars or biscuits are far more valuable than crafted jewellery for the sheer volume of pure gold in them. Diamonds have no resale value so those polkis are just for show and to pass on to the next generation. Give the bride a fixed deposit.

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3. If anything untoward ever happens, she has a backup

The worst things can happen to the best people. Tragedy could strike at any minute, relationships can sour over the smallest things, and people can leave their families in the lurch without any warning. If something like this happens, a woman should always have a financial backup plan. Setting up an account with a savings plan, with solid returns, is a way of securing her future so that she doesn’t need to ask anyone for money in an emergency. There’s also a permanent sense of comfort that you’re lending to a bride if she knows that she has something to fall back on. Everyone needs savings at the end of the day.

4. Set a good example for children in the future

When children see both parents being treated as equals, it leaves a lasting impression on them. Seeing their mother and father have equal stature in the house makes girls realise that they’re no less than anyone else and lets boys know that they need to treat women as equals, no matter what. To have two financially stable parents creates a strong foundation for kids to have healthy relationships in the future.

So, if someone close to you is getting married, stop wandering the markets looking for the perfect gift. Set up a fixed deposit or any other savings plan for her, and you’ll be a star for thinking of the best wedding gift for a bride.

If you want to figure out how to invest in gold, click here. And click here for a lowdown on the best way to save money even on a small income.