Savvy investors may look to stocks and bonds if they’re looking for a quick buck, but one of the best long-term investments available for homes and businesses in 2016 is steel shipping containers. Used shipping containers can be used in hundreds of unique ways, and creative people are finding new uses for them every single day.

The benefits of steel shipping containers are truly infinite, from their enhanced durability to their endless customization options. Whether you wish to choose your steel storage containers for industrial, business, or personal use, you’ll find that there is no limit to the ways that they can enhance your life. Here are three of the most notable ways that millions of people around the world are taking advantage of steel shipping containers:

• Seaborne shipping. Despite the rapid advancement of general technology in the past decade, one thing remains constant in the world of shipping; seaborne trade reigns supreme. In fact, shipping is so big that it constitutes roughly 90% of the world’s trade. As you may have guessed, the vast majority of this shipping is done with durable steel shopping containers. As of this moment, there are roughly 20 million containers crossing the world. You can invest in multiple used containers at bargain bin prices and enter one of the most steady and lucrative markets on the planet.
• Portable office containers. While some may assume that steel containers are only meant for shipping, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Portable office containers are the hottest new trend in business logistics, and for good reason. In a recent study of more than 2,400 employees, researchers found that as the number of people working in a single room went up, the number of employees who took sick leave also increased. By spreading out employees in custom office containers, employers are benefiting from increased attendance and productivity from their workers.
• Shipping container villages. If creating a custom office space from shipping containers didn’t impress you, consider the fact that entire apartment complexes are now being built with steel shipping containers. These containers can come with climate control, outlets, and whatever else tenants may need to feel right at home in their shipping container apartment. The rent for these spaces is incredibly low, and shipping container villages are one of the most popular housing trends among millennials.

These are three of the most popular uses for steel shipping containers, but you can check out hundreds of other amazing uses for them by doing a little research of your own. If you’re looking for the perfect investment for home or work, look no further than steel shipping containers.