<prompt> Human: Im 24 and have just saved 7000 from working for a year in vietnam.. ive no mortage but i would like to invest most of this in something if it is worthwhile. I have 7000 in cold cash and a vietnamese bank account that wont let me deposit any money only withdraw. I dont know what will happen at customs if i try to leave with it all in one sum... whats the best option? Gold? Bitcoin? Special shout out to anyone in a similar situation working here.  <response>: Listen: Im no expert investor, but I am fairly well-read and Id advise you to consider or look into the following:Equities, etc. The power of compounding youre young, like me. Please look into this. Thank me in 40 years. Find a low-cost, index fund 90 of my retirement investments are in the Vanguard VFINX and Vanguard emerging markets. Unsure whats available in your country. Im in the US, but Im a Brit. You essentially want a fund that tracks the market SP 500 index. Forget individual stocks. Dont be like all of the other people and pull your money out of your investments during a downturn. It will pay off. Weather the storm. Gold should probably be about 5-10 of your asset allocation Bitcoin really intrigues me. Im trying to learn more, but its volatile and its unclear on the best way to go forward. Perhaps 2-5 asset allocation. Read more at Bogleheads.org People may laugh, but I actually found Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins to be a very accessible book for the layperson. Many other good books too though.Invest in yourself! You may get a 6-8 annual return on some of the investments above, but the returns you see from entrepreneurship if thats a good fit for you could be 1000. This is where risk allocation is important. Spread your risk. Also: Keep a rainy day fund. Learn from 20089 financial crisis and be prepared Think very carefully about ownership of anything car, house, etc. Dont tie your money up in cash-poor, illiquid investmentsGood luck! 