In fact, many investors who tried to switch some of their stocks to gold during the beginning of the latest recession actually got a pretty bad deal because gold was more difficult to find. The higher demand pushed the prices up, and even common gold bullion coins were more difficult to find.

When you invest in gold, you’re investing in something that is secure. Unlike a stock or bond, gold has inherent value in and of itself, and that value is usually rising at a pace that is greater than that of inflation. This makes gold one of the safest investments that you can make, although it won’t always have quick returns like a stock investment could.

In order to really invest in gold well, you should do it through a dealer who can sell you gold bullion or gold coins. You can choose to keep these coins in your own home, which will require that you have extra insurance, most likely, or you can store them in a special facility, which will charge you a fee for storage, maintenance, and security.