Imagine a safe in your grandma’s attic that has a lot of shiny coins in it. That’s one way to invest in gold. Let’s imagine that thirty years ago, everyone desired stocks in tech companies. People are talking about 1oz gold britannia. What the heck is going on with that? Gold may shine a little brighter since everything else is so unstable.

Most people don’t tell you this, but gold isn’t there to make you rich right away. It’s not the showy sprinter; it’s the endurance runner of investments. Stock charts might go up and down quickly, making your heart race, whereas gold just moves at its own speed. It’s a strange comfort, like an antique record player in the age of digital downloads.

Is it useful? Yes. Is it exciting? Not all the time. When things go wrong, like the banking crisis, global fights, and inflation, everyone starts talking about gold. “Should I buy a bar of it? Will it fit in my safe? If things go wrong, may I wear it as a necklace? Let’s face it: gold has a strange way of seeming cool when things are going wrong. You can question if panic makes people invest more than what they learn in financial literature.

You could hear words like “bullion,” “ETFs,” and “numismatic coins” now. It sounds hard, but it’s really not. Bullion is basically a piece of valuable metal. You can invest in ETFs (exchange-traded funds) without having to touch the shiny stuff. Collectors might like fancy coins, but they don’t usually make you more money unless you’re incredibly lucky. Coins sparkle if you like looking for unique things. Otherwise, simple old ETFs and bars are frequently better for investors.

But don’t forget about storage space and expenses. Gold is not weightless. If you buy coins, you can find yourself stroking them at midnight just to feel better. If you keep them at home, you’ll need a great place to hide them. If you want someone else to keep them, you’ll have to pay. Don’t ever forget about taxes. The government doesn’t sleep on your profits.

Let’s talk about danger. Yes, gold is valuable, especially when everything else goes down. But don’t put all of your eggs—or nuggets—into one basket. Prices go up a lot, but gold typically just stays there and doesn’t go along with increasing markets. When markets collapse and thunder, diversification makes the impacts less painful.

Want to know when? Here’s a tip: even professionals make mistakes. The most certain predictions fall apart as soon as things in the real world go in a different direction. If your neighbor bought gold, you might be the dumbest person in the world to do the same. Listen, read, and ask questions. Then go at your own pace.

Start small if you’re thinking about what to do next. Coins that are clean and simple. A small piece of an ETF. Don’t try to save all of your money; just a fraction of it. In stories and in investments, that’s how the tortoise beats the hare.

The truth is that gold serves two purposes: nostalgia and usefulness. You will sleep better if things grow tense. If nothing changes, you’ll just have a nice piece of history tucked away. No matter what, the talk about gold never loses its shine.