Many people assume gold is a great way to protect their wealth. However, this is not always the case. If you want to learn more about the market, read on.

Bullion bars are an excellent investment. Bullion bars come in a variety of weights. Bars may be a half ounce, 400 ounces or anything in between. If 400 ounce bars interest you, know it will be hard to find them.

You may be put off by the price of gold, making you go with gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry instead. However, you can still find a deal now and then, which you can turn around and sell for a profit. You can usually find more affordable gold jewelry online, or if you visit pawnshops.

If you decide to take any scrap gold or jewelry to local places that pay cash for gold, shop around. While many stores state they pay the standard price for gold, there are a number of them that do not. This is because they must take into consideration their overhead and commissions when purchasing gold.

The day that you plan on buying gold, check its spot price. You can find that on a lot of websites, and that can change every day. When you buy, don’t pay over 8% markup over the price. Be on the lookout for any unscrupulous dealers who try to get away with overcharging you.

If you think you’re going to mail off your jewelry, you should see what it’s going to cost to have things mailed back if you don’t like their offer. While businesses may claim free shipping, they may also charge you to send the pieces back. Be sure that you find out ahead of time how much it will cost to get back your jewelry.

Think about GoldMoney and other such services when you want to buy gold. It’s like a bank account for gold. You set up an account, deposit your funds, and you’re assigned some gold at a price that prevails to your account. Instead of keeping up with the gold in your own home, it is stored in a secure bank vault. You can cash it out, divide it, or redeem it.

While buying gold is extremely exciting, you need to keep it quiet. You may accidentally be overheard by a thief. Keep your investments safe and secured in a bank or home safe. These methods provide you with safety and security.

Figure out what you’re really in possession of. Even though the item looks like gold, it may not have much value. A lot of the time there will be something mixed with the gold so it holds up better. This may lower the price. Also, some items may only be gold plated. If you don’t know exactly what you have, consider an appraisal.

Understand the way the gold market works is crucial if you want to get a decent return on your investment. Having read these tips, you can now go forth and invest successfully in gold. Use what you have learned here to maximize your investment.