<prompt> Human: I am 20F and have always been careful with my money. I am coming into a bit of money and in addition to my own savings I will have about 7000 excluding living expenses in which to invest. I am aiming to purchase a rental property in the next coming years however I am looking for a way to get my money to grow in between time. I currently have this money aside in a separate high interest savings account to collect interest however it is just so slow. Does anyone have experience investing in gold or silver? Or any other options available to me?  <response>: Do not get a rental property. You do not want to be a 20 yr old landlord. Way too much stress.Do not invest in gold or silver. Its wicked volatile and though youre young, there are safer ie. better investments.Do you have a job? Do you have a college degree? Hopefully you have at least one, preferably both. If so, go to Vanguard open an account, make it a ROTH IRA. This is tax advantaged retirement account you: what? Im only 20! Retirement?... you in 20 yrs: Damn! You shoulda listened to that dude on Reddit telling you to open that ROTH - youd have half a million dollars now. Put 5,500 of that 7,000 in the ROTH and invest in VTI. Do that every year from now on. Youll figure out how to balance it later.Take the other 1,500 and go have fun. If you really want to maximize your happiness, invest in an experience not a thing. Take a vacation. Take a friend. Go bungee-jumping, paragliding, surfing, snowboarding. Take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Whatever. Make a ridiculous memory.And scan the rpersonalfinance FAQ to see if you can find anyone suggesting rental properties, gold, or silver. hint: you wontOhEmGee1, youre one of the smart ones. You know how I know? Bc you asked what to do with the before you blew it. Man, I wish I was as smart as you when I was 20. 