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Unique ways to earn extra cash when times are hard
By JENNIFER SUMMER
With the words recession and depression bouncing around with every conversation, economy woes have affected retail and home sales but there are a few ways residents can combat money problems.
Between selling clothes, jewelry or exchanging a few pieces of furniture, there are several businesses booming, helping residents find unique ways to earn money.
Cash for Gold
As sentimental objects and family heirlooms, gold and old jewelry can have many different meanings and could be a way to earn some extra cash.
The Gold Exchange in Humble accepts old jewelry whether it is gold or silver, coins and a variety of other precious metals and scrap. After a thorough appraisal, the business will give the customer a percentage of what the item is worth.
“In our four years of business, we have seen an increase in customers coming into the Gold Exchange because of the holidays and the economy,” Brett Bogus, president of The Gold Exchange, said.
“We do anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 a month in buying from our customers and accept most of the items that are brought into the store.”
A unique way to earn some extra cash, The Gold Exchange allows customers to sell their old or unused jewelry, trade it for an item in the store or buy any item in the store they have accepted.
Each item brought into the store is weighed and checked for authenticity.
The Gold Exchange has experienced an upturn in customers searching for rare coins and an interest in selling their old or unwanted jewelry.
“We normally pay 10 to 50 percent more for items than pawn shops do and we are local so our customers can trust they will get their money’s worth,” Bogus said.
“Business has increased 60 to 80 percent because of the economy and with our market, customers can visit our store, sell their jewelry and not worry about sending it off to a company in another state.”
Resale renews
Another unique way to earn some pocket cash is to gather gently used clothes that do not fit anymore or unwanted clothing and take them to a resale or consignment shop.
Most consignment and resale shops will accept clothing and either buy it directly from the customer or will sell it in the store and give the customer a percentage of what the item sells for.
“We have had an influx of customers, especially after Hurricane Ike and economy woes, who are bringing in their items and also shopping at the store,” Serendipity Boutique owner Myra Hernandez said.
The Serendipity Boutique recently opened in Kingwood and offers consignment for women and girls, located inside the Utopia Salon.
“We have had so many customers bringing in their clothes for consignment that we have now had to start limiting how much people are bringing to us,” Hernandez said.
“All of the clothes brought in to us are in great shape and we have seen more customers bringing clothes in to earn extra money.”
Additionally, there are a variety of shops in the community which accept clothes, furniture and other items for resale or consignment.
Other options
There are many ways to earn some extra money, including selling unused or unwanted items on websites including Kingwood Yard Sales and eBay, but there are also ways to earn a couple of bucks that are new and unique.
Signing up through www.idealady.com, residents around the Houston area can sign up to be a mystery shopper who gets paid to shop and act as a customer to gather information about the store, customer service and other things for the business owner.
Though it is not designed as a “get-rich-quick” scheme, by signing up as a mystery shopper workers can earn some extra spending cash.
More info
The Gold Exchange: 113 W. First St., Humble, 281-548-2646
Serendipity Boutique: 2519 Chestnut Ridge Dr., Kingwood, 281-358-2836
Mystery Shoppers: www.idealady.com or www.mystery-shoppers.com
Between selling clothes, jewelry or exchanging a few pieces of furniture, there are several businesses booming, helping residents find unique ways to earn money.
Cash for Gold
As sentimental objects and family heirlooms, gold and old jewelry can have many different meanings and could be a way to earn some extra cash.
The Gold Exchange in Humble accepts old jewelry whether it is gold or silver, coins and a variety of other precious metals and scrap. After a thorough appraisal, the business will give the customer a percentage of what the item is worth.
“In our four years of business, we have seen an increase in customers coming into the Gold Exchange because of the holidays and the economy,” Brett Bogus, president of The Gold Exchange, said.
“We do anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 a month in buying from our customers and accept most of the items that are brought into the store.”
A unique way to earn some extra cash, The Gold Exchange allows customers to sell their old or unused jewelry, trade it for an item in the store or buy any item in the store they have accepted.
Each item brought into the store is weighed and checked for authenticity.
The Gold Exchange has experienced an upturn in customers searching for rare coins and an interest in selling their old or unwanted jewelry.
“We normally pay 10 to 50 percent more for items than pawn shops do and we are local so our customers can trust they will get their money’s worth,” Bogus said.
“Business has increased 60 to 80 percent because of the economy and with our market, customers can visit our store, sell their jewelry and not worry about sending it off to a company in another state.”
Resale renews
Another unique way to earn some pocket cash is to gather gently used clothes that do not fit anymore or unwanted clothing and take them to a resale or consignment shop.
Most consignment and resale shops will accept clothing and either buy it directly from the customer or will sell it in the store and give the customer a percentage of what the item sells for.
“We have had an influx of customers, especially after Hurricane Ike and economy woes, who are bringing in their items and also shopping at the store,” Serendipity Boutique owner Myra Hernandez said.
The Serendipity Boutique recently opened in Kingwood and offers consignment for women and girls, located inside the Utopia Salon.
“We have had so many customers bringing in their clothes for consignment that we have now had to start limiting how much people are bringing to us,” Hernandez said.
“All of the clothes brought in to us are in great shape and we have seen more customers bringing clothes in to earn extra money.”
Additionally, there are a variety of shops in the community which accept clothes, furniture and other items for resale or consignment.
Other options
There are many ways to earn some extra money, including selling unused or unwanted items on websites including Kingwood Yard Sales and eBay, but there are also ways to earn a couple of bucks that are new and unique.
Signing up through www.idealady.com, residents around the Houston area can sign up to be a mystery shopper who gets paid to shop and act as a customer to gather information about the store, customer service and other things for the business owner.
Though it is not designed as a “get-rich-quick” scheme, by signing up as a mystery shopper workers can earn some extra spending cash.
More info
The Gold Exchange: 113 W. First St., Humble, 281-548-2646
Serendipity Boutique: 2519 Chestnut Ridge Dr., Kingwood, 281-358-2836
Mystery Shoppers: www.idealady.com or www.mystery-shoppers.com
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