Posted on 12/23/2011 11:24:45 PM PST by thecodont
Do you know how to tell gold overlay vs solid 14k or 10K?
Paying full price for clothing nowadays makes no sense.
Have enjoyed your many posts on this thread.
Being frugal in a consumer society is a virtue.
I taught my kids growing up that you have to look at the price of something in terms of how many hours of your life you have to work, to pay for it, adding 30% for taxes,SS,etc.
Then you decide if that thing is really worth it.
We always lived below our means. We have a few things but they are nice things. Quality is always better than quantity. Semi-retired now since my early fifties, fueled by savings and part-time work from home. The wife and I decided time together was more important than things a long time ago.
Two of the three kids turned out to be excellent money managers. One is becoming one, after learning the hard way.
Hope you tell us more of your success stories. This economy is not about to get better, and your experiences may help a lot of Freepers reassess their lifestyles, and be better prepared for an uncertain future.
There are two or three shops in my small town. Two are clean and stand up establishments. I frequent one for most of my firearms purchases.
The third shop is rather seedy with an element you do not want to associate with always around it.
I remember looking for a diamond and the gal at the Zales or whatever, said “I can’t believe you would want a used diamond” because I was looking at antique jewelry places too. I said, “hey they’ve been around since the dinosaurs, right?” Bought from the antique jewelry place. Looked at a pawn shop too.
“Folks are having a hard time adjusting to the “new” normal.”
Many still think they don’t have to, that this is just temporary; if everyone knew how grave this was Obama would have been impeached. As the realization sets in (and will more so with every day, as the younger generation realize how much different thier lives will be than that of their 50 year-old parents), there will be a massive swelling of TEA Party-mentality in this country (and probably minefields laid along the southern border).
“When you go to a Pawn shop, you better know what you are taking there , and what you are buying.”
Excellent point! You can get skinned alive if you do not know what you are doing. Then again you can get some smoking hot deals. Always negotiate.
My town just opened its first official pawn shop; it is another symptom of the decay of northern NJ, joining check-cashing stores, unlicensed barbershops, nail salons, laundromats (an increasing number, as more illegal apartments are built in basements to house our southern “guest workers”), and tattoo parlors as our “new economy”.
They make their living by knowing better what has been put in front of them than the usually desperate people who put it there, and by knowing better than the bargain hunters who come to their shops looking for bargains.
It’s the soon-to-be-former pawn shop owner who knows less about a given item than a customer before them, whether that customer is pawning, selling or buying. If selling, you’ll certainly get less than it’s actually worth to accomodate their higher than normal retail markup, and if you seem too desperate or too clueless, you’ll get a whole lot less.
If it weren’t for desperation, these people would do a whole lot better for themselves by taking retail for a comparable item, knocking ten percent off of it and selling it themselves.
Was taught the value of hard work very early on (had 2 paper and 3 pennysaver routes at 12 years old, babysat, cut lawns with hand powered tools), and conserve, conserve, conserve.
As an adult, I expected to live a certain lifestyle. When nearly a decade of medical debt wiped out all but two of our nesteggs, any my health prevented me from returning to a full-time career, my priorities HAD to change.
Thankfully, I'm recovered and earning again. But I haven't changed my frugal ways.
Found out I know how to fix a roof. No more paying for patches; I get up there and do it myself. Save a few hundred a pop (and in wind-prone Texas, that adds up fast). I love to paint, so painting my own house inside and out is actually enjoyable to me.
I also figured out how to build my own furniture. Got tired of paying top dollar for cheap crap that fell apart with 3 rough and tumble kids. My grandmother's dining room set was over 200 years old and looked brand new. I have furniture that was passed down from my great-grandparents that is still rock solid.
Got a tablesaw for Christmas and started small. Nightstand, sailor's chest, sideboard, hutch. Now that I've made my mistakes and learned my lessons, I'm going to build my daughter an entirely new bedroom set by hand. She will have furniture that will hopefully last her lifetime, made by me, for 1/10 of what it would cost to buy in the store. Each new challenge brings a sense of accomplishment.
Bought professional grade scissors and trim my children's hair. Won't do a full cut, but in between is just fine to clean it up. The scissors paid for themselves rather quickly.
Recovered my dining room chairs with a stunning tapestry on sale; cost $40 to do 6 chairs, versus the $100 per chair.
Sunday afternoon is baking day. Bake cakes, muffins, biscuits, breads, cookies, all homemade. Cheaper, fresher, with no artificial anything. Spend time with my daughter in the kitchen; it's Mommy and Me time, our special thing to do together.
Had an amazing week-long trip for 5 people, including hotel and food, entertainment and travel, for under $1,000. Grabbed a great deal on an Embassy Hotel, including a massive free hot breakfast buffett, bought food at the local grocery store and had pizza, sandwiches, snacks and drinks all packed in the cooler for lunch, went out to dinner every night. Visited museums and parks, which were either free or very cheap, and picked out shirts and toys for the kids to bring home (they still use them).
Best trip EVER. Kids loved it! Learned a lot of local history, had something fun to do everyday, plus we had a ton of money left over in the budget to blow at an Entertainment Zone with rides, mini-golf, go-carts, etc.
Realized that my children didn't need expensive trinkets to be happy. They were happy just spending time with us, playing at a park, flying a kite.
My husband's father passed when he was just 3 years old, and his mom never remarried. Hubby also learned early on how to do a number of things; plumbing, electrical, mechanical, you name it. "Mr. Fix It", I call him, like my engineer father.
Found out I get just as much enjoyment in the doing, and the reward of a job well done, than in the buying. I think it's helpful for my kids to see Mom and Dad look at a situation, figure out how to tackle it, and make it happen - instead of sitting back waiting for someone else to make it right.
Stay conservative, buy conservative.
Great post, thank you!
24K is the purest.
18K, 14K, 10K, are all composit, but with less gold.
The color is different.
Overlay is different from gold plating. Overlay is a pure gold exterior with either a nickel or bronze inside.
Plating is usually an extremely thin coating of gold. It looks flat to me, not as rich in color.
When in doubt, hold the peice up to a peice you know is 10, 14, or 24K.
Stamping is regulated by Federal Law. Peices are usually tested to confirm they are stamped properly, and if a peice seems too good to be true, ask if it is an overlay or plated. If they don't tell you the truth, the Feds will crack down on them.
Very good to know, TheWriterTX. Thanks!
A diamond lasts forever (isn’t that the saying?) A “used” diamond is simply a diamond without a home yet. I have seen some of the antique settings (which are making a comeback by the way) and they are unique and beautiful!
It took a year of sounding like the Mad Hatter of Facebook for them to realize that I was right. I would post warnings that things were going to happen; sure enough, two to three weeks later, the headlines would echo my predictions.
If folks aren't ready for 2012 to be WORSE than 2011, they haven't been paying attention.
Your post 31 was just terrific—thanks so much for sharing it.
You are a true Proverbs 31 woman.
Your kids are among the wealthiest on earth, with the knowledge and example you are giving them.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year to you and yours!
“If folks aren’t ready for 2012 to be WORSE than 2011, they haven’t been paying attention.”
That thought is why I’m optimistic that IF Obama runs in 2012, he won’t even carry Illinois.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.