The idea is to keep your ASSETS in something that is stable and convert little bits at a time into cash for your day-to-day living expenses. Every birthday, anniversary and new year I give my wife a small gift of gold. Not handbags or other temporary trivia, but real gold from the local gold shop. I have taught her to appreciate the long term goal of having assets that will be there in an uncertain future. She now sees the value in her small hoard.