If you ask ten people for advice on where to invest your money, you’ll likely get the same answer from all ten: stocks and shares. But the truth is that the stock market and company shares are not the only investment vehicles available. They’re just the most common.
In this article, we’ll look at four investments you can put your money in if you’re tired of the stock market mood swings.
Let’s begin.
Real Estate Investment
Real estate is one investment a lot of people are sleeping on. Maybe they think they need a huge amount of money to get into it. Others just aren’t sure it’s worth the stress.
But the truth is that properties are a good investment for your money. If you buy to rent, for example, you’re looking at a good rental yield as the cost of living increases. It’s also a good way to hedge against inflation, definitely better than your money just sitting in the bank, earning 4% APY.
So, how do you get into real estate investment? You could buy a house down the street and hope prices rise. Sometimes that works. But smart investors often follow new infrastructure, tourism growth, and expanding job markets. In other words, they look beyond their backyard.
The good news is that there are lots of international destinations for real estate investment with low entry, with places like Dubai, Portugal, and Thailand taking the lead.
Whichever place you choose, the most important thing is to learn about the place before putting your money there.
- Can foreigners own property there?
- What are the taxes?
- How easy is it to get tenants?
- What are maintenance costs?
A little homework today will save you a lot of regret tomorrow. If you choose Dubai, for example, a reliable UAE property investment guide can help you get started.
Dubai is actually an interesting choice that offers exceptional opportunities for investors with high returns, according to the team at RD Dubai.
There are likely similar resources for other destinations.
Real estate isn’t magic. But if you approach it with clear eyes and good research, it can become one of the most reliable ways to build income long-term.
Fixed Income Securities
Not everyone wants to be a landlord, and that’s totally fine. If you want safety and a steady check, a fixed income is your best friend in 2026.
Let’s look at two options:
Treasury Bills and Government Bonds
These are basically loans you give to the government. They’re considered very low-risk investments, and while future interest rates may vary, forecasts suggest the Federal Reserve may keep rates somewhere in the 3.0% to 3.5% range in 2026.
This basically means that Treasury yields could offer steady income with near-zero risk of losing your principal if you hold to maturity.
Corporate Bonds
Have a stomach for a bit more risk? Then look at investment-grade corporate bonds. They usually pay a higher rate than government bonds because, well, Amazon is slightly more likely to have a bad day than the U.S. government.
According to the Nasdaq, broad fixed income indexes returned between 4% and 7.25% in the first half of 2025. That’s good returns for a relatively hands-off investment.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending
P2P lending is another way to invest your money and let it work for you without you doing much work. P2P platforms basically connect investors directly with borrowers, cutting out the bank as the middleman. That can mean better returns than a savings account, but it also comes with real risk.
Here’s what to know before you put your money into P2P lending:
- There’s the risk of the borrower failing to repay the loan. In this case, you lose your principal and interest.
- If the P2P platform collapses, you may not be able to get your money back.
- Money is generally tied up until the loan term ends, making it hard to access cash quickly.
- Unlike with bank loans and deposits, there’s no government backing. No FDIC. No insurance. You can lose your entire investment.
But is it profitable? It can be, all other things being equal. The global P2P lending market is expected to reach about $21.4 billion by 2030, according to data from Grand View Research. That shows there’s real demand for this kind of lending.
Physical Commodities
Last but not least, physical commodities. This is where you should put your money if you want to hold your investment in your hands.
Let’s look at two categories that make sense for 2026:
Gold and Silver
Precious metals like gold and silver are the classic insurance policy against devaluation and inflation. No matter the direction the currency market takes, gold and silver will almost always come out on top.
Gold, for example, started 2025 at around $2,600 per ounce and rose to a record high above $4,300 before the year ended. J.P. Morgan is even forecasting that prices will hit $5,000 per ounce before the end of the year. That’s not small returns.
Agriculture
Agriculture is another underrated investment option. Whether you invest directly in farming land or through agribusiness partnerships, food demand globally is only going one direction.
Some farmland investors have reported returns of about 9.73% annually, according to Investopedia.
It’s not flashy, but food security is becoming a serious macroeconomic theme, and smart investors are paying attention.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are just so many investment opportunities for your money in 2026. But the most important part of investment is diversification. You don’t want all your eggs in one basket, whether that’s the U.S. government bonds or a duplex in Dubai.
That said, whatever investment route you choose, remember to do your homework. Talk to experts. Talk to people who’ve invested there. Make sure the numbers make sense before committing your money.
