Savings is now becoming more and more important, primarily because of inflationary pressures. The article attempts to answer the question of which financial assets can be placed in order to preserve, at least, purchasing power. In the current economic climate, the role of gold as a universal financial instrument is beginning to grow, not only for central banks but also for individuals. Certain characteristics of gold give it advantages over other types of investments and assets. Gold has been used as money for over five thousand years. Even after the abolition of gold and foreign exchange standard, gold retains important qualities, such as immunity to sustained inflation, initial intrinsic value and high money intensity. The article examines the role of gold as one of the main ways to preserve the purchasing power of savings. The article explores gold mining both in the world and in Russia. The study concluded that gold has advantages as an asset base on its physical properties and reputation it has developed over millennia.