Do you have gold jewelry that you no longer wear or that’s broken? Now may be the time to sell it since the price of gold has hit a record high, over $1,200 an ounce! But don’t cash it in just anywhere or you could be getting less than it’s worth, warns Suzanne Martinez, co-owner of Lang Antiques in San Francisco. Here are her tips for getting the most money from your gold:
* Have just a few pieces to sell? Take it to a jeweler. But before you agree on a price, ask these questions: “How much does my gold weigh?”, “What’s the karat?” and “How much do you pay per gram or penny weight?” Expect to be offered anywhere from 80% to 85% of what the gold is worth. Then shop around for the best offer.
* Have a lot to sell? If you’ve got 10 or more pieces, take them to a jewelry refiner—that’s where jewelers go to melt down gold, so you’ll be getting a better price by cutting out the middleman. However, refiners charge a fee for processing the gold, so you have to have enough to make it worth your while. To find one in your area, simply look in the yellow pages for “jewelry refiner”.
* Have vintage gold jewelry? Take them to an estate jeweler. You’ll get even more than what the gold is worth because the workmanship makes the jewelry more valuable.

Tip: The higher the karat of gold—10K, 14K, 18K, 24K—the more your jewelry is worth. But, keep in mind that gold jewelry is made from a mix of gold and other metals, so the weight of your pieces won’t reflect the price you’re offered.

Tip: Check the current price of gold at kitco.com/market.

[photo: Mykl Roventine]

It could be a lot if you didn’t look carefully at your store receipts before chucking them. Many retailers and restaurants—such as J.C. Penney, Old Navy, Home Depot and Panda Express—print a website link and special access code on some receipts that leads you to a short online survey. Answer the questions—which are typically about your most recent shopping trip—and you’ll be rewarded with 10% to 25% off your next purchase or entered into a sweepstakes to win a cash prize. But act fast—most access codes expire within days of your purchase.

[photo: AMagill]

Many of us think of a temp job as a last resort, yet University of Florida researchers found they’re often just the opposite. Their recent study shows that temporary workers usually earn about 15% higher hourly wages than permanent workers since companies don’t have to pay for health, retirement and other costly benefits. And, if you’re seeking a permanent position, starting with a temp job can help you snag it. Like interning, temping helps you get your foot in the door of a company where you want to have a career. In fact, this study reveals that three out of four temporary employees they studied ended up in regular jobs. No wonder: When employers see how hard you work while you temp, they’re happy to hire you for a permanent position.

Tip: Temping agencies are looking for all kinds of skills—including secretarial, accounting and sales. Start by searching the job listings at national temporary employment agencies including kellyservices.com, manpower.com and officeteam.com.

[photo: radiantradon]

Been wanting to weed out your collection of DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, CDs or video games that you don’t use anymore? You can earn $10, $50, even $100 by selling them at buybackmadnesscom; free postage for shipping is offered with every trade-in of 16 items or more. Or try Amazon.com’s recently launched trade-in program that earns you Amazon.com online credits for every qualified DVD, CD or book. Have older releases or special editions? That’s even better! They often fetch higher prices than new products because fewer people are selling them, which creates a higher demand.

[photo: oskay]

Pump up the power of your “for sale” sign that folks see as they pass by your home or business by giving prospective buyers a text message number they can instantly dial to get all the information about what you’re selling, including price, description, contact information, even photos. To do it: Head to forsalebytxt.com where you can set up a text number and description for any item you’re selling—free of charge.

[photo: Robert Linder]

Virtually all of us have outdated or broken cell phones, video games, movies, MP3 players, computers and other electronic waste taking up space around the house. At gazelle.com, you can trade those unused gadgets for cash—ranging from $1 to $100 depending on the item and its condition. Once your items are received, all your personal data is wiped out, then the items are resold to folks who want the products or parts, keeping them out of landfills while helping you pad your pocketbook.

To start cashing in: Type in what kind of electronics you want to sell and you’ll instantly find out how much you can get for them. If a product you have isn’t listed among the thousands in their catalogue, website representatives will contact you directly to make you an offer. They’ll even send you a free box for shipping and pay for postage.

[photo: zavo]