Acquiring cash for gold isn't just for people who are short on funds and in need of a quick infusion - thousands of highly intelligent people have sold their gold as part of a well-planned investment strategy. In fact, even small amounts of gold can be liquidated in an effort to raise capital for virtually anything. And because the value of cash for gold can be worth more in the hands of a savvy investor today than the cash or future value of a gold investment tomorrow, the benefits of selling gold can be exactly what are needed to fund a wide range of investments. The following are 3 specific investments you can make by selling your gold:

1.) Alleviate Debt

Few people realize that getting out of debt is actually a wise investment. To help put this in perspective, consider this: if you have $5,000 in debt revolving each month at a rate of 23.9% (a common credit card rate), but you also have $5,000 in a savings account earning 3% per year, does this make sense?

Of course not. The smart investment-style thinking in this case would be to use the savings to offset the debt, and then the path would be clear to more serious savings and investments.

Cash for gold can be looked at in the same way. If you have gold jewelry, silver items or other precious metals and stones, you can sell them and payoff your high-interest rate debt. While gold does make a good stand-alone investment, it doesn't make sense if the value it's theoretically building can't compete with the interest on your current debt.

2.) Seizing Short-Fuse Opportunities

Every once in a while, a short-fuse opportunity will appear that requires fast action and liquid capital. A gold buyer is one of the few sources you can turn to when these situations arise. Because they are not bound by all of the bureaucracy of a traditional bank, you can get cash for gold right now by bringing the items directly to a gold buyer, or by mailing your gold - in which case you can expect your funds in as little as 2 days.

Additionally, when you sell gold, you're not taking out a loan to fund the short fuse opportunity - you're receiving full market value in most cases and that capital is "free and clear" of any obligations.

Short fuse opportunities can range from funding small local start-ups to the purchase of equipment for a newly landed project or client.

3.) Property Improvements and Repairs

For many people, owning property is the most significant investment they'll ever make. Improving the value of your property by making repairs, funding construction, or even expanding the range of your property by purchasing additional acreage are all sound investment ideas for most people. Acquiring cash for gold that's doing nothing more than collecting dust somewhere in your home is an effective way of funding these types of investments, and in many cases the return will be immediate.

While it may be relatively easy to get cash for gold, you should always ensure that the gold buyer you choose to work with is reputable and able to provide you with the most value for your gold.