Firstly, as many have said or have posted before, cryptocurrencies are looked at as a currency, when they are more so a commodity at this point. Many ask whether they should invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Lite Coin, and other cryptocurrencies. As an investor, you may want to do a lot of research on what each coins' purpose is and what they can achieve. Each block chain is different and serves a different purpose, therefore will be used for different processes. If you research enough you may learn of "mining".
Purchasing cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, ethereum, and others in order to hold and save them, would be one option for testing the growth and future of the currencies. Some investors say it is never too late to invest. You may decide to purchase some of the cryptocurrencies store them in hopes they will be your golden egg in a few years (depending on the political/economical outcomes surround cryptocurrency issues).
Another option is to mine cryptocurrencies. Mining can be done in practically two ways. You as an investor can go to different mining sites such as bit club network and genesis mining. These sites allow you to purchase a membership and mining option. Mining offers you as the investor the option to have the owners of the program use their software/hardware/resources to mine cryptocurrencies for you. You will get daily deposits, although fractions will add up of time. If prices surge for the cryptocurrency you are mining, in the end you would have made some sort of profit.
The other way to mine is to purchase personal computer components, to create your personal mining rig. Not difficult and with a little research anyone can do it. Main things you will need aside from a decent computer set up, would be fairly powerful graphics cards, preferably hard lined internet, and a constant power source. If an investor were to mine, a place where they would not have to pay for power would be obviously ideal. This way you would cut costs down, and create higher daily/monthly revenue.
Personal mining will create more cryptocurrency for you in the long run than purchasing mining/options from different sites. Don't get me wrong, mining sites are not pure scams. You get what you pay for and sometimes not much more.
In my honest opinion, purchase some cryptocurrency you would want to hold on to, and if the option arises to create your own mining rig, than this will maximize cryptocurrency gains over purchasing them out right.