I've been wanting to write this post for quite some time. About a year ago, I began diversifying my investments and as part of that, began buying precious metals. Silver, to be exact. In the past 5 years, silver prices have gone up over 400%, from around $7 an ounce to almost $24.When you consider the cost of other metals, this is a relatively inexpensive investment for anyone new to the precious metals market while still providing the same stability as gold and platinum. There are several ways to get started buying silver, depending on how much money you have to put into it. one method is to buy coins or bullion from a dealer. This is recommended if you have several hundred dollars or more to start with, as you will be paying a smaller markup over market value and these purchases will be insured by the seller. However, many dealers have a minimum purchase amount that can make it difficult for those with less capital to get into the metals market. Also, even those that don't have a minimum purchase will charge just as much, if not more, to insure your order than the cost of the order itself. Another, less expensive way, to purchase metals (and the one i use) is to buy bullion on Ebay. There are many reputable dealers to be found and you can usually get 1 oz. .999 pure silver bars for less than 20% over market value. I have made many purchases this way, and have never had a bad experience. Another advantage or this is that after you've made a few purchases with a specific dealer, many of them will offer discounts if you buy from them directly. In these rough economic times, I feel that it is important for everyone to put at least some of their capital into precious metals. I hope this brief guide is helpful. If you're looking for more info, there is a plethora of information available on the subject available on the internet.
