New to stacking - where should I start?

5 January 2026

Hi everyone! Just discovered this community and love what I see. I want to start investing in precious metals but feeling a bit overwhelmed. Should I start with gold or silver? Coins or bars? Any advice for a complete beginner would be appreciated. Budget is around £500 to start.

Discussion

Welcome! With £500, I'd suggest starting with silver - you can get around 10oz which feels substantial. Britannias are perfect for UK buyers because they're CGT exempt. Build a foundation, then move to gold later.
Coins over bars for a beginner - easier to sell in smaller amounts if needed. Stick to sovereign coins from major mints (Royal Mint, Perth, Canadian). Avoid generic rounds until you know the market.
Don't buy all at once! Spread your purchases over a few months to average out the price. This is called dollar-cost averaging and it reduces your risk.
Best advice I got: buy what you won't need to sell. Only invest money you can afford to hold for years. Metals are a long-term store of value, not a get-rich-quick scheme.
Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'll start with Britannias then. Do you recommend the 1oz or would fractional be better?
Stick with 1oz - lower premiums per oz and more liquid when selling. Fractional makes more sense for gold where the individual coin value is higher.
Welcome aboard! My advice would be to start with silver Britannias. They're pure 999 silver, carry a low premium, and are CGT free in the UK. You can pick them up from around 30 quid each and build from there. Don't overthink it - just start.
Great to see new stackers joining! One tip I'd give is to set a monthly budget you're comfortable with and stick to it. Don't try to buy everything at once. Consistency beats timing in the long run.
Also worth having a look at the marketplace here on The Bullion Safe. You can often find better deals from fellow collectors than from the big dealers, and every seller is verified so you know who you're dealing with.