“Real Money in a Digital World: Talking to Your Kids (Grandkids) About Precious Metals”

David LeBlanc
Jun 7
5 min read

Updated: Jun 7

Hey again real money tribe,

Everything today for young people is digital — from banking and dating apps to playlists and paycheques.

Most young people haven’t held cash in months - some maybe never. We tap phones, we scroll balances, we send e-transfers. Everything’s behind a screen. So the idea of owning physical gold or silver — something you can hold in your hand — feels old-school, right?

Why So Many Young People Are Into Crypto — And Why Precious Metals Still Matter

It’s no secret that cryptocurrency and the latest altcoins are super popular with young people today. The idea of digital money, flashy apps, and “getting rich quick” stories can be really appealing. Crypto feels modern, fast, and tech-savvy — everything this generation loves.

But here’s the catch: crypto is still very new, highly volatile, and depends entirely on digital systems that can be hacked, regulated, or even disappear overnight. Physical precious metals might seem old-fashioned next to the flashy crypto world, but they have thousands of years of proven stability and real, lasting value.

In this article, I get into what precious metals actually are, why they’ve been trusted for 5,000+ years, and how young people — even with limited income — can start using them to build wealth, protect savings, establish good money habits all to set themselves up for a better future.

First, What Are Physical Precious Metals?

Gold and silver are precious metals that have been used as real money for thousands of years. They’re rare, durable, and universally recognized as valuable.

Physical means actual coins or bars — not a gold ETF, not a digital token.You own it directly. You can hold it. Store it. Trade it. Sell it. No passwords in cold crypot wallets. No middlemen. No counterparty risk.

In short: It’s offline money in an online world — and that matters more than ever.

Why That Matters for a Digital Generation

Here’s the thing: today’s money isn’t really yours.

Your bank account can be frozen.
Your apps can glitch or get hacked.
Your dollars are slowly losing value due to inflation.
Crypto? Volatile, risky, and easy to lose access to.

Physical gold and silver can’t be erased, shut off, or devalued overnight.They’re real assets in your hands, and that’s power — especially when the system fails or you need cash fast.

You Have Time — Use It to Your Advantage

One of the biggest advantages you have as a young person is time.You may not earn as much now, but you have years — even decades — to build up smart habits and real assets.

Gold and silver don’t just sit there doing nothing. Over time, they:

Protect against inflation
Hold or grow in value across economic cycles
Become more valuable when currencies lose purchasing power (which they do)

That’s why even small, steady purchases today can pay off massively over the long haul. The earlier you start, the more powerful that compound effect becomes.

Why Most People Never Learn This

Let’s face it — most schools don’t teach real-world money lessons.And chances are, your parents never bought gold or silver themselves.

So how would you know? You’re expected to trust the system:“Save in the bank. Invest in the market. Buy RRSPs or 401(k)s.” That’s it. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Precious metals are one of the few ways to store wealth that’s completely outside the system — and that’s exactly why so many smart investors, entrepreneurs, and even central banks own them.

You can do the same — starting right now, even on a part-time paycheque.

What Happens When Life Throws You a Curveball?

Let’s say you’ve been slowly stacking some silver or fractional gold over the past year. Then life happens:

💳 Your bank account gets flagged and frozen
📚 You’re short $500 for next semester’s tuition
🚗 Your car breaks down and needs urgent repairs
🏠 Your rent goes up suddenly and you need some extra $$$ fast

If you’ve got a few silver coins or a small gold bar tucked away, you can cash it in quickly to cover the gap. No waiting. No borrowing. No begging mom and dad. No stress.

Precious metals are liquid (easy to sell) and globally recognized — you’re never stuck.

It’s like having a financial emergency parachute that doesn’t lose value while you’re not using it.

“But I Don’t Make a Lot of Money Yet…”

That’s okay. You don’t need to. Here’s how to start building your stack — even on a tight budget:

Put aside 5%–10% of each paycheck from your part-time or full-time job
Use birthday or holiday gift money to buy a 1 oz silver coin or more
Buy small, fractional pieces — like 1/10 oz gold coin or 2.5g gold bars
Be consistent — even $30/month adds up over time

It’s not about getting rich overnight. It’s about building and starting good financial habits early, adding to your stack slowly and consistently, and letting time do the heavy lifting.

What You’re Really Building: Wealth + Habits

When you trade in useless fiat dollars for real money (precious metals), you’re not just saving or investing — you’re building a new money mindset.

It teaches you to:

Think long-term
Avoid wasting every dollar on stuff that disappears
Focus on real, lasting value
Stay independent from financial systems that don’t serve you

And those are the habits that lead to financial freedom — not someday, but starting now.

👪 For Parents and Grandparents: A Conversation Starter

If you’re reading this as a parent or grandparent wondering how to talk about money — or precious metals — with your kids or grandkids, this article could be a great way to start the conversation.

Many adults today didn’t grow up learning about physical precious metals, and that can make it tricky to explain or introduce.

The best way? Own some yourself first. When you experience the benefits firsthand, you’ll have real-life examples to share — stories about why it matters, how it helped you, and why it might help them too.

Showing is always better than telling. Your example could spark a lifelong habit that helps your family stay financially strong for generations.

Bottom Line: In a Digital World, Real Still Wins

Gold and silver might seem old-fashioned. But the truth? In a world full of fake, fast, and disappearing money…owning something real is the most future-proof move you can make. You're not doing this because you're rich — you're doing it because you're smart. And when everyone else is scrambling in the next economic storm, you'll be the one with something solid to fall back on.