Hmmmm,
Could be a thread or even a category.
I have absolutely no idea how pawn shops work.
A pawn broker will loan you a small loan equivalent to a fraction of whatever personal collateral you are using to secure the loan.
They are short-term loans, to which you’d pay interest on them, and if you pay back the money before the term is up, you get your collateral back. If you fail to pay it back in time, the pawn broker is then free to sell his collateral to whomever is willing to buy it for whatever price he can get for it.
You can also bring in items to sell outright. You don't get nearly what you would in a private sale, or anything close to the "new" price, because it's used.
Let's take a watch. You paid $5K new. Used, it's worth about $2,500. They might give you $1,700 for it, because they need to cover their overhead and make a profit, too.
So, that beautiful ring at the mall that costs $400 will run about $150 at the pawn shop, just because it isn't "new." The good news is that it will appraise for it's full value for insurance purposes, so if it gets lost or stolen you get the FULL value, $400.
When my favorite pair of gold earrings got damaged (don't ask, still angry at hubby over it!), I wanted to replace them. The mall was offering fragile junk in my price range; the private gold stores had much better quality but I couldn't justify the cost. Found a weighty pair of stunning gold earrings for only $110. Good quality at a great price - winner!
Consignment clothing runs the same way. You spend $4,000 on a fur coat and wear it for a year. You offer it to the consignment shop for $800. After a month, the price drops to $600. After two months, the price drops to $400.
Handbags that sell for $1,500 are close to $300 at consignment. Silk suits for $1,000 are $200 at consignment.
You get the best deals when you buy post-season. Seasonal clearance is about 10% of what you would pay new, so that $1K suit is now $100. Works great if you buy classic looks that stay in style, don't fluctuate in weight very much, and are open to what's available instead of getting caught in the "must have this type/color" trap.
I've made no secret on FR that my family got hit with staggering medical debt (yes, even with insurance). Thankfully, that crisis has passed. I learned from it how to still look like a champagne lady (even on a beer pocketbook). Even though we now have money to spare, my thought is - why? Getting a great deal is just as important as the item, itself.
It was very helpful with the kids. I have 3, and they grow out of clothes in just a few months. I can hit a children's consignment shop and pick up an entire seasonal wardrobe for only $150, versus the $500 per kid I used to spend.
Frees up money for other things, and was VERY helpful when times were dreadfully tight.