If you are a budding investor, the stock market definitely has a call to it that can’t be ignored. However, it is a fickle creature, and could betray you at the drop of a coin. To invest in the stock market, you need to have the stomach for failure. It could devastate you and even lead to depression. When the market collapsed in the early 2000s, some people actually committed suicide due to the massive losses they suffered. Alternative investments might be your answer.

Instead of risking your life and your mental stability on the stocks and bonds, you could go for a whole range of alternative investments that are safer in terms of your invested money. There is no rule that says you have to stick to investing in shares and penny stocks. In fact, there is a world of investment options out there waiting for you to pick from. Here are a couple of the favorites among expert investors.

Gold and silver

When the Recession hit, gold and silver investment spiked. Precious metals have a history of retaining their prices through thick and thin. While you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, investing in mining opportunities, gold and silver as well as other precious metals is definitely one alternative way in which you can invest your funds.

P2P lending

This is a great way to invest. Take Jim and Harry. Jim gets a low interest loan from Harry. Using this loan, Jim pays off his credit card debt, which has a high interest rate. Meanwhile, Harry enjoys the payback which has a higher interest than the money in a savings account at the bank. Jim and Harry both win out in this case. (Ed. Note. Check out my experiences with Lending Club P2P Lending)

Buy a company

This doesn’t mean you should drop all your life savings in trying to buy Google. Instead, you could buy or start your own small business. It is risky, but not even close to being as risky as stock market investments. The return from an established business would actually be pretty high. It doesn’t have to be a physical business. For example, take YouTube. YouTube stars like Pewdiepie make millions of dollars off their 8 minute videos. Just like that, an online blog or a video personality would actually have a better chance of making you richer than a stock market investment.

Property

This is a little harder than your standard investment options. There is a rather steep learning curve. However, buying and renting out properties that you have bought after careful research gives you a pretty amazing return. There is a steady cash flow, and a lot of governments and state councils defer taxes for property owners because it serves to bring more people and businesses into the area. You could have a pretty positive experience with real estate investment if you do it right.

There are many other types of investment options out there for you to choose from. Stay creative and be your own boss. Don’t let the wrong decisions others make (hint: stock market) affect your savings, your investment and your future.