Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Metal As Money shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Metal As Money offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Metal As Money at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Metal As Money? Wrong! If the Metal As Money is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Metal As Money then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Metal As Money? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Metal As Money and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Metal As Money wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Metal As Money then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Metal As Money site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Metal As Money, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Metal As Money, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

Throughout history, various metals, some of which are considered precious metal today, appear to have been used as a form of currency. The Bretton Woods system, under which all major currencies were theoretically exchangeable for gold, was abolished in 1971.

Other metals to have been used as money include silver, copper, and platinum.

Commodity money and coins Gold has been considered valuable since prehistoric times, and may have been the first metal used by humans. While it might originally have been used in barter for its value in ornamentation and rituals, gold and silver became established as a form of commodity money and were first minted by the Lydian king Croesus around 560 BC.

Around 500 BC, the touchstone became available, allowing relatively easy detection of forgeries, and in the third century BC, Archimedes invented a method of determining an object's density. Since gold was the densest substance then known, this could be used to verify an object was made of pure gold without destroying it..

Representative money Drafts for metal held on account were first issued in the first century BC in Egypt.

In modern times, it was Stockholms Banco that in 1661 first issued banknotes that were intended to be fully redeemable for copper coins; while initially popular, the bank eventually could not redeem all the notes it had printed, and ceased operations in 1664 after a bank run.

National banks later guaranteed the redeemability of representative banknotes put into circulation, though rarely to the extent of having the promised amount of metal on hand for all currency in circulation.

By 1865, however, the system appeared sufficiently stable to create the Latin Monetary Union, establishing a common system for gold and silver coins used in several European countries.

Gold standard Main article: gold standard

The newly unified German Empire introduced a common currency, the German gold mark, beginning in 1873; this currency was based on a strict gold standard, with banknotes redeemable for gold coins. Other countries rapidly followed suit, and by 1900 was accepted by all major economies.

Throughout history, various metals, some of which are considered precious metal today, appear to have been used as a form of currency. The Bretton Woods system, under which all major currencies were theoretically exchangeable for gold, was abolished in 1971.

Other metals to have been used as money include silver, copper, and platinum.

Commodity money and coins Gold has been considered valuable since prehistoric times, and may have been the first metal used by humans. While it might originally have been used in barter for its value in ornamentation and rituals, gold and silver became established as a form of commodity money and were first minted by the Lydian king Croesus around 560 BC.

Around 500 BC, the touchstone became available, allowing relatively easy detection of forgeries, and in the third century BC, Archimedes invented a method of determining an object's density. Since gold was the densest substance then known, this could be used to verify an object was made of pure gold without destroying it..

Representative money Drafts for metal held on account were first issued in the first century BC in Egypt.

In modern times, it was Stockholms Banco that in 1661 first issued banknotes that were intended to be fully redeemable for copper coins; while initially popular, the bank eventually could not redeem all the notes it had printed, and ceased operations in 1664 after a bank run.

National banks later guaranteed the redeemability of representative banknotes put into circulation, though rarely to the extent of having the promised amount of metal on hand for all currency in circulation.

By 1865, however, the system appeared sufficiently stable to create the Latin Monetary Union, establishing a common system for gold and silver coins used in several European countries.

Gold standard Main article: gold standard

The newly unified German Empire introduced a common currency, the German gold mark, beginning in 1873; this currency was based on a strict gold standard, with banknotes redeemable for gold coins. Other countries rapidly followed suit, and by 1900 was accepted by all major economies.