Silver and Gold Buying Gift Giving Tips

Even though the season to be jolly has officially come and gone, there are still plenty of other gift giving occasions during the year. For those who believe that is better to give than receive, buying gold and silver for gift giving purposes will provide further muscle behind that message. Fortunately buying gold and silver is not a right reserved for royalty or monarchs, the average Jane or Joe can also get in on the action as long as they know the best way to buy gold with the intention of gifting a love one.

The process of safely buying gold and silver begins with locating a great and trustworthy gold dealer to work with. While there are countless websites that tempt consumers with the words buy gold or buy silver they are not all created equally. Prior to setting any budget for a gold investment individuals need to conduct their own due diligence to find a decent gold dealer. Then, after that the silver and gold buying for gift process can begin.

Budget for Gold Bullion, Silver Coins but Not Jewelry

Most everyone has a piece of jewelry that they treasure, for me it is a gold necklace I inherited and the golden band I have received from my husband. While these pieces of jewelry do hold some monetary worthy  (I personally value them more because of the memories directly linked to each item) the reality is if I were try to sell them I would get the value for the weight of the precious metals, not the ornamentation featured in the work. That is why when it comes to giving precious metals as a gift, bulk is king!

Bulk is not just a popular trend in grocery stores, it is also the smartest way to buy gold or buy silver with intent of gift giving. Gold bullion, gold coins, Silver Eagles and bulk silver coins are the smartest precious metal gift options as when these items are produced and sold by reputable mints (like the United States Mint or the Royal Canadian Mint) the products are stamped for purity, weight and content so consumers know exactly what they are getting for their money. This specific type of gold bullion or silver coins is the way the precious metals are sold in bulk and without any additionally ornamentation the true gold market value will always shine through. 

Buy Small, Dream Big

 No matter if you are buying a wedding, birthday or graduation gift, make sure that they amount you spend is comfortable for your budget. Gold coins and silver bullion are sold in a variety of weights and even though you may want to give someone a 1 oz gold bar as a gift, your generosity needs to stay in synch with your personal budget. Remember while a Gold American Eagle that weighs 1/10 of an ounce may cost as much as a table place setting or two from a registry, gold coins will not only stand out among gifts, but also stand a chance of delivering future returns on the gold investment.

Why Purchase Gold in 2013?

A new year is upon us; we’ve survived the holidays and associated festivities and now we’re starting to look at the year ahead and making our resolutions. One of my resolutions is to be more serious about my retirement planning. One of the things I’ve seriously been considering is whether or not to purchase gold as part of my overall retirement investment plan. But I’m not certain that now is the best time to purchase gold. Therefore, I’ve been doing some research and reading – a lot of both.

Did you know that Barclays, in London, says that they believe that financial factors that affect world markets will not affect gold? In fact, on 1/10/13, Barclays – as quoted in an article on Commodity Online – says that these other factors “…we do not expect to hinder gold in 2013.” (http://www.commodityonline.com/news/gold-price-to-average-$1778oz-in-2013-barclays-52173-3-52174.html) Which means that gold is going remain strong, so that’s one reason I should purchase gold this year.

Another reason I’m thinking that I should purchase gold? According to another article on Commodity Online says that gold will be bullish later in the year (http://www.commodityonline.com/news/why-gold-will-be-bullish-in-later-2013-52133-3-52134.html), which means I should purchase gold now, earlier in the year, if I want the best prices.

As part of my research, I’ve been looking beyond the United States, to understand the world demands for gold. After all, we’re now a global economy and what happens overseas affects gold prices here at home. On The Daily Reckoning, there’s an article that illustrates my point. It talks about how India is currently going through a “gold mania” and that the country is the largest consumer of gold, “…buying nearly a third of production in recent years.” (dailyreckoning.com/indias-gold-mania/) So if I purchase gold now, I pretty much have a ready market for it, should I want to sell it somewhere down the line.

But I’m thinking that I’ll purchase gold as part of a long-term investment strategy. I know that gold has been strong over the years, and that it’s a precious metal that holds its value. Further, I understand that with today’s economic chaos and political instability on a global level, owning a tangible precious metal – instead of paper stocks and bonds – gives me an investment that really is something, not just an idea.

Now I that I’ve decided I will purchase gold in 2013, I need to start the next phase of my research: what type of gold I will buy and where I will purchase gold from.

Secure Your Retirement with Gold bars

When purchasing gold bars, I'm always reminded of Indiana Jones or other wondrous adventurers. For me, purchasing gold bars always feels like a world-class adventure with a rich history. I feel honored to be in the company of the pharaohs and Kings who have come before me and helped create the mystique that surrounds purchasing gold bars.

Once you get beyond the idea of investing in gold with all of its romantic illusions, it's time to “get real” and consider where you should make your purchase. Personally, I would say that where or who you buy your gold from is the most critical aspect of gold buying. It's more than making sure that you are buying from someone who engages in ethical business practices, it's working with a dealer with whom you can form a strong relationship. Ideally, your gold dealer should be knowledgeable and personable enough to act as your advisor. So it needs to be someone you respect and know you can trust. But like a good marriage, if the fundamentals are strong, everything else will ultimately fall into place.

There's one thing every gold investor should make peace with and that is the fact that gold is not the best commodity if you want to make a fast buck. Although gold is notorious for attracting swindlers and hustlers, the fact is that gold is most valuable as a solid long-term investment. Whenever the economic conditions are grim or uncertain, as they have been for the last decade, gold grows in strength. Gold is the ultimate “back to basics” investment strategy. When all else fails, you can count on gold.

Gold can be purchased in a number of ways. Some love their stacks of gold bars while others traffic in coins, mixing the roles of being a collector and acting as an investor. Regardless of what kind of gold you choose to buy, the most important thing to remember is - buyer beware. So thoroughly the vet your gold store and over the long-term, you will be more than pleased with your investment.