MONEY MATTER$
FEBRUARY 10, 2012
Gold from page 1B said Ross. “I just tell people to bring in their pieces and we can tell them if it’s gold-plated or what.” Experts recommend consumers do a little homework before offering up their family heirlooms, including getting their items appraised, checking out the dealer with the Better Business Bureau and above all, knowing what you have. While some vintage pieces aren’t worth much when melted down, an item stamped by a well-known artist or designer could be worth significantly more. But for those looking for a little fun while they sell their gold, in-home parties can be the way to go. Certified gold representatives attend these private parties – for which the host or hostess receives a percentage of the entire evening’s sales – weigh the pieces and pay cash on the spot. “It’s a nice way sell your pieces,” said Jilda Fairhurst, a certified gold representative. “People have leftover jewelry and they cash it in and get paid right on the spot. It’s the first
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party you’ll ever go to where you don’t have to buy anything; you’re receiving something.” And there are definitely deals to be had. Fairhurst recalls one woman who attended an in-home party and arrived with an armful of jewelry and unused pieces. “This one lady had $4,500 worth of gold,” said Fairhurst. “And she said she was going to use it to pay some doctor bills. So in many ways it’s very rewarding that we get to help others – people who can really use the money.” If you’re shipping pieces through the mail to an online dealer, you should insure your packages. Know what your jewelry is worth before sending it, and insure accordingly. You should also check the buyer’s reimbursement policy should the package get lost or stolen. While there’s no guarantee that your class ring or old gold necklace is worth a king’s ransom, selling off odd pieces of gold jewelry can render results if you’re educated, realistic and ready to part with them. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Thieves from page 4B Guard your trash. Identity thieves have been known to gather personal information from trash. Be sure to tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank statements and the credit card applications you get in the mail before throwing them away. Exercise caution online. Before making purchases online, look for the icon of a lock in the lower right-hand corner of your browser window. If it’s there, you’re dealing with a secure site. If not, you’ll be safer finding a different merchant. Remove personal information from
Tax time from page 6B for all tax situations. Tax professionals – experts who keep current on tax law changes – can save you time and offer insight on how to use the tax breaks available to you.
old computers. If you delete personal files using your keyboard or mouse, the files might remain on your computer’s hard drive, where they can be easily retrieved. To make sure your files are unrecoverable, use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive. In the event of a security breach, not all identity theft solutions provide complete restoration of your identity to pre-theft status. Ask questions and research the best solution for your family or business. – Contributed by Lisa Bass, courtesy of www.thewholeskinny.com. To reach Lisa, e-mail www.llbass.legalshield.com.
Cherry Comstock is an enrolled agent at Jet Tax, which has been providing tax expertise in Antioch since 1979. For more information, e-mail info@jettax.org, call 925-778-0281 or visit www.jettax.org.
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