{"id":2555,"date":"2026-01-03T09:53:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T09:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=2555"},"modified":"2026-01-03T09:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T09:53:12","slug":"i-could-pay-my-bills-off-the-gold-local-residents-keep-finding-remaining-gold-from-the-california-gold-rush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=2555","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I could pay my bills off the gold\u2019: Local residents keep finding remaining gold from the California Gold Rush"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been more than 170 years since California\u2019s Gold Rush \u2014 but locals are once again finding gold dust, flakes and even nuggets glittering in the state\u2019s rivers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGold\u2019s all around,\u201d said Manny Goza, a prospector sifting through the Bear River, speaking FOX40 News (1). The fall season has brought lower water levels, which make it easier to reach stretches of the river that are usually inaccessible.<\/p>\n<p>For Goza, a builder by trade, panning for gold has paid off.<\/p>\n<h2>Must Read<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"caas-list caas-list-bullet\">\n<li>Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now\u00a0become a landlord for as little as $100\u00a0\u2014 and no, you don&#8217;t have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here&#8217;s how<\/li>\n<li>Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake \u2014\u00a0here\u2019s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP<\/li>\n<li>Approaching retirement with no savings? Don\u2019t panic, you&#8217;re not alone. Here are\u00a06 easy ways you can catch up (and fast)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"caas-da \">\n<div id=\"sda-LREC1-685cc2ba-5cde-3478-b5a8-6f3137e337951767432743009\" class=\"caas-sda-benji-ad caas-sda-gam-container-mid-center caas-sda-gam-container-mid-center-small wafer-destroyed\" data-wf-benji-page-context=\"{&quot;pageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/could-pay-bills-off-gold-133500737.html&quot;,&quot;spaceid&quot;:&quot;1197618800&quot;,&quot;site&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;hashtag&quot;:&quot;marketsexchanges;commoditymarkets;investments;goldinvesting;finance;personalinvesting&quot;,&quot;lmsid&quot;:&quot;a0aa600000ICgpBAAT&quot;,&quot;lpstaid&quot;:&quot;685cc2ba-5cde-3478-b5a8-6f3137e33795&quot;,&quot;pt&quot;:&quot;content&quot;,&quot;pd&quot;:&quot;modal&quot;,&quot;pct&quot;:&quot;story&quot;}\" data-wf-benji-wafer-config=\"{}\" data-wf-benji-config=\"{&quot;positions&quot;:{&quot;LREC1-685cc2ba-5cde-3478-b5a8-6f3137e337951767432743009&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;LREC1-685cc2ba-5cde-3478-b5a8-6f3137e337951767432743009&quot;,&quot;path&quot;:&quot;\/22888152279\/us\/ynews\/ros\/dt\/us_ynews_ros_dt_mid_center&quot;,&quot;region&quot;:&quot;viewer&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:[[300,250]],&quot;kvs&quot;:{&quot;loc&quot;:&quot;mid_center&quot;}}}}\" data-wf-trigger=\"onLoad\" data-wf-margin=\"100 0\" data-hide-ad-string=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI did it every day. I&#8217;ve been here since 2005, bought a house in 2010 because I could pay my bills off the gold,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I\u2019m not contracting, I\u2019m here digging gold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With gold prices up more than 70% over the past 12 months, the precious metal is drawing renewed attention from locals looking for opportunity in their own backyard (2).<\/p>\n<p>Goza said an \u201camateur\u201d prospector can expect to make around $50 a day, while a more serious one might bring in \u201canywhere from $100 to $15,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just like the original Gold Rush nearly two centuries ago, striking it big often comes down to luck. One prospector recalled a moment when a golden nugget \u201cjust rolled out \u2014 it was completely round like a baseball and it was half gold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, the work can be grueling. As another prospector put it, gold \u201cdoesn\u2019t jump into the pan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And payday is never a sure thing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s emotional, some days you find $15,000, some days you don\u2019t find anything,\u201d Goza said.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, not everyone has the time \u2014 or the back muscles \u2014 to dig for gold in a riverbed. But you don\u2019t need a pan to get in on the action. Gold has long been prized as a store of value \u2014 and some of the biggest names in finance are urging investors to make room for it in their portfolios.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune.\u00a0Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Wall Street titans are buzzing about gold<\/h2>\n<p>Ray Dalio, founder of the world\u2019s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has been pounding the table on gold\u2019s importance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople don&#8217;t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,\u201d Dalio\u00a0told CNBC (3). \u201cWhen bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gold has long been viewed as the ultimate safe haven. Unlike fiat currency, it can\u2019t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks \u2014 making it a natural hedge against inflation. It\u2019s also not tied to any one country, currency or economy. When markets wobble or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock to gold, pushing prices higher.<\/p>\n<p>On LinkedIn, Dalio shared, \u201cI think most people make the mistake of thinking of gold as a metal rather than as the most established form of money,\u201d adding, \u201cUnlike fiat currency debt, gold doesn&#8217;t have the same inherent credit and devaluation risks (4).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeffrey Gundlach, founder of DoubleLine Capital and widely known as the \u201cBond King,\u201d echoed that sentiment. He recently\u00a0said\u00a0that a 25% portfolio allocation to gold \u201cis not excessive,\u201d calling the metal \u201can insurance policy\u201d that\u2019s likely to remain \u201cin a winning mode\u201d amid ongoing dollar weakness (5).<\/p>\n<h3>Investing in gold with an IRA<\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon\u00a0said that in this environment, gold can \u201ceasily\u201d rise to $10,000 an ounce (6). In December, the gold spot price hit $4,484 \u2014 nearly half of Dimon\u2019s prediction.<\/p>\n<p>For those looking to capitalize on gold\u2019s potential while also securing tax advantages, one option is to open a gold IRA with the help of\u00a0Goldco.<\/p>\n<p>Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.<\/p>\n<p>With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can\u00a0download your free gold and silver information guide today.<\/p>\n<h2>Gold protects \u2014 real estate pays<\/h2>\n<p>At the end of the day, gold\u2019s rise in value is a reflection of the declining value of fiat currency \u2014 the U.S. dollar, in America\u2019s case. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 has the same buying power as just $12.05 did in 1970 (7).<\/p>\n<p>But gold isn\u2019t the only asset that has helped investors preserve wealth. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.<\/p>\n<p>When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.<\/p>\n<p>According to the U.S. Census Bureau, housing prices have skyrocketed by more than 225% over the past 30 years. And in more recent years, those price increases have been stark (8).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince the pandemic, home price appreciation has outpaced wage growth, making starter homes less attainable for many,\u201d according to Bill Merz, head of capital markets research for the U.S. Bank Asset Management Group (9).<\/p>\n<p>Many Americans require multiple income streams to buy a home. For instance, Goza, the gold prospector in California, eventually bought a house after years of striking gold alongside his contracting job.<\/p>\n<h3>Indirect residential real estate investing<\/h3>\n<p>High home prices and elevated mortgage rates make buying a home challenging. And if you\u2019re looking to buy a home to rent out, then be prepared for loads of hands-on work \u2014 managing tenants, handling paperwork, and maintenance and repairs, all of which can quickly eat into your time (and returns).<\/p>\n<p>The good news is, you don\u2019t need to buy a property outright \u2014 or deal with leaky faucets \u2014 to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like\u00a0Arrived\u00a0offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.<\/p>\n<p>Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, painting and plastering, or handling difficult tenants.<\/p>\n<p>The process is simple:\u00a0browse a curated selection of homes\u00a0that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you\u2019d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.<\/p>\n<h3>Tap into commercial real estate opportunities<\/h3>\n<p>Beyond residential real estate, you could also invest in inflation-resistant sectors of commercial real estate. For instance, with\u00a0First National Realty Partners (FNRP), accredited investors can diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties \u2014 again, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.<\/p>\n<p>With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.<\/p>\n<p>Simply answer a few questions \u2014 including how much you would like to invest \u2014 to start browsing their\u00a0full list of available properties.<\/p>\n<h2>You May Also Like<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"caas-list caas-list-bullet\">\n<li>Rising costs are eating into retirement savings, and 92% of surveyed retirees agree \u2014\u00a0here are 4 strategic ways to protect your money in 2026<\/li>\n<li>You could own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyonc\u00e9, without having to manage a single one (and for as little as $10) \u2014\u00a0here\u2019s how<\/li>\n<li>Dave Ramsey says\u00a0this 7-step plan \u2018works every single time\u2019 to kill debt, get rich\u00a0\u2014 and \u2018anyone\u2019 can do it<\/li>\n<li>Robert Kiyosaki says\u00a0this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year\u00a0\u2014 and he begs investors not to miss its \u2018explosion\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Article sources<\/h3>\n<p><em>We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our<\/em>\u00a0<em>editorial ethics and guidelines.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>@Fox40 (1); APMEX (2); @CNBCInternationalLive (3); @RayDalio (4); DoubleLine Capital (5); @CNBCtelevision (6); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (7); U.S. Census Bureau (8); U.S. Bank (9)<\/p>\n<p><em>This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. It\u2019s been<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-us"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2555"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2557,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555\/revisions\/2557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}