Buyers of Gold Jewelry

The Following blog post is sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

I found getting started with beaded jewelry to be exciting. Not only did I end up crafting various necklaces, bracelets and anklets for myself, I was also able to make many beautiful gifts for a variety of friends and families. This is a craft that I've had lots of experience with and enjoyed greatly through the years. Knowing how to choose beads for beaded jewelry can be a bit tricky.

Choosing the right beads is essential in crafting a well made attractive piece of beaded jewelry. Finding the most attractive and unusual beads can be a fierce competition for professional jewelry makers each striving to make the most unique creative piece. Looking for beads and making sure you choose ones of high quality for your beaded projects need not be difficult.

Of course most people just beginning in beaded jewelry visit their local bead shop first. While this is not a bad way to go for beginners, many beading and craft shops have ridiculous prices, and they deliberately cater to beginners by offering to help you finish your necklace for free if you buy their beads.

Often, a beginner in beaded jewelry would be well to visit flea markets, yard sales and antique auctions, where sellers often sell old jewelry is sold in box lots, quite cheaply. While it may no longer be fashionable older jewelry can be taken apart and the beads re-used to make an eclectic piece of beaded jewelry. Ebay is another good place to buy beads in bulk, just be careful to buy from a seller with a good ranking and watch the shipment prices.

Often the most difficult thing for a beginner is understanding the various types of beads available to them. Some of the most popular ones are:

Silver and Silver Plated Beads

Silver plated beads while cheaper, do tend to tarnish faster and spoil the look of any structured beaded jewelry piece. Generally a package of 20 sterling silver beads in the melon look, or slightly oblong design can be purchased for about $6 a package.

Gold and Gold plated beads

Again gold plated beads are not recommended due to how quickly they tarnish. You can purchase gold twisted tube beads in a package of 40 for about only $2. These tiny beads, while sometimes difficult to use due to their size can give any beaded necklace a rich gold look.

Alphabet Beads

A popular trend in beaded jewelry is alphabet beads usually made out of various forms of plastic. Some people prefer to just use an initial while others spell out names and attach other beads to anchor the jewelry piece.

Squaredelles and Rondelles

These beads are exactly what they say they are either square or round beads usually about 4mm in diameter, in either silver, gold or plated, often with crystals edged in the sides. Being quite expensive, often $6 for only four beads, these are generally used near the end of the necklace before the crimp and clasp.

Crystal beads

One of the most popular forms of beading is the use of crystal beads. These clear beads are often multi-faceted and designed to work with the light. You can usually purchase either round or flat crystal beads.

When you are ready to begin assembling your beaded jewelry put a white or grey pillow case underneath the beads to reflect the accurate colors of the beads. Begin experimenting with different shapes, sizes and textures of beads by laying them side by side before assembling any beaded jewelry.

More info on Selling Gold Jewelry can be found on our main site!

This Blog Post is from Associated Content and sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

So, what else is new? As if you didn't know, the price of gold is going up. What that means for jewelry lovers is this: Get those gorgeous gold earrings now, or forever hold your piece of old gold jewelry.

Before the ink on this piece dries, the price of a troy ounce of gold is sure to top a thousand dollars. Historically, the price has never been higher. When I started paying attention to gold for my jewelry designs, the price was around $300. That's how long ago that was. Five years ago, the price entered the $400 range and slowly edged upward until the spring of 2006, when it spiked above $700. A slow but steady rise continued, peaking above $950 just after bells rang in the new year in 2008. What happened later that year was the crash in September. Remember? I do. You do. We all watched our investments and savings slide steeply down the tubes. And so too, gold bottomed at about the same spot it topped out in 2006, at a little over $700 an ounce. And now that the bottoming is over, gold is resuming its continual climb.

It's heading for new heights. The price of gold is expected to break through the thousand dollar barrier this Fall, if that isn't already old news by the time you read this. What this means for investments, I don't know. But I do know that the gold in jewelry currently in the jewelry stores is undoubtedly worth more than they're charging for it. Because designers put that gold in their pieces months ago, perhaps years, when the price of that gold was much lower.

And let me let you in on a little secret: The retailers of things made with gold are no faster at revising their price tags than are the retailers of anything else. Suffice it to say that there's a lag in the re-pricing of non-commodity items like jewelry. When the price of commodities—like gold—goes up, consumers pay the higher price in the marketplace right away. The price of non-commodity items—like gold jewelry—rises later. Time needs to pass for the raw materials that commodities are to be incorporated into the value-added items that non-commodities are. So, if you want gold today, you'll pay today's high price. If you want gold jewelry today, today would be a good day to get it because the gold in it cost less when it was made than it is worth now. And the price tag was probably not changed yet.

Jewelry makers are well aware of this disparity in times of upward price movement in raw materials. Price adjustments are made at the bench and at points all along the value chain. But they take time.

And now you are aware of the disparity too. Today, not tomorrow, don't walk but run for those valued-added, non-commodity gold pieces. Perhaps the time has passed for bargains on gold bars, but for good buys on gold jewelry, no time is better than now.

More info on Selling Gold Jewelry can be found on our main site!

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How about having a Selling Gold for Cash party? Yep, invite your friends to come over and make hundreds on their old jewelry, and just watch how fast they RSVP. Tell them to bring old mismatched, miscolored bent ugly pieces of gold. Even fillings from Crazy Auntie's teeth.Then ask the we-pay-cash-for-gold-folks to come over and bring their handy dandy Gold Detector Light. Provide some munchies and a couple of bottles of wine, and sit back and watch the fun.

Now, if you think your friends have a good time when there is wine, music and laughter, wait till you see what happens when you throw hundreds of dollars at them. They really have fun then. They walk in with a bag of broken stuff that's been lurking in the corners of a jewelry box, and they walk out with a handful of crisp hundred dollar bills. It doesn't matter what condition the jewelry is in, or even if it's in the world's worst taste — the Gold Guys are just going to melt it down. They don't even want your diamonds and precious gems, they pop 'em out and give them back to you. It's just a Gold Grab. Cash for Gold. Moldy gold. Any old gold.

Everything that glitters isn't gold, but some of it is, and it's going for close to a thousand dollars an ounce. (It may go higher or lower any given day. You can find out at GoldPrice.org.) So make a little pile of anything that might be gold, and the Gold Detector Light will tell you if it's real. The Gold Folks will weigh it, and even if you only have a quarter of an ounce, you'll take home a couple of hundred dollars. Or if you just happened to hang onto Great-Great-Grampa's gold pocket watch for a few generations, you could be looking at cash for a couple of car payments or mortgage payments, or even enough to go on a cruise. Still have that collection of gold coins? Woohooo! Just make sure whatever it is isn't worth more than its weight in gold as a collector's item.

Should you take your gold to a reputable jeweler first? Yes, but recognize that he has to pay for his lease, his lights, his help, his inventory, and his advertising, and he just might be wanting to take a healthy commission on your shiny little assortment. As compared to the Gold Guys who only have to buy some gas, lug a light and a jeweler's loupe over, eat your yummies, and provide instant gratification in the form of cash. If you're curious, get an estimate from a jeweler before the party.

The first time I went to a “Gold Rush” party, the food was fabulous, and so was the four hundred dollars I took home. In fact, over two thousand dollars left with the guests that night, over and above which the hostess received 10%. The second Jewelry-into-Cash party was at my house for a small group of five, but the total amount paid out was close to a thousand dollars. I even made a bit of money on another old bent gold earring I found hiding under some fake bling in my jewelry box. How fun is that?

If you google for gold, you'll find websites like jewelry-into-cash, Cash4Gold, CashforGold, MyGoldParty, GoldPartyus, GoldKit.com and more. Some sell “gold party kits” you can order for several hundred dollars if you want to learn to assay gold yourself and send it off to a refinery. (Too tricky for me.) Some will send you a gold pack in which you can mail your gold to them, and wait for them to send you some money. (Don't think so.) Others just get you in touch with local Gold Folks who will do a party for you, or even just come over and look at your gold. Read more in USA Today's May 2008 story (see link below) about people making thousands of dollars at parties.

Want to have your own Gold Party? Do some research and make sure you use a recommended source. Ask what commission you'll get for hosting, and for any gold parties your friends might host after attending yours. Hey, this isn't your Gramma's tupperware party. Thar's gold in them thar jewelry boxes.

usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-05-11-gold-parties_N.htm

http://www.goldprice.org/gold-price.html

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The Following Blog Post is from Associated Content and sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

Ladies hang up last year's outfits! Summer is here and its time to step out in style. Cocktail dresses were meant to carry accessories. Bring out the artist and let your dress send a clear message, “I am hot and ready to party!” Let's see what this summer's hottest trends are no matter your budget. Check out this list of styles, pricing, matching accessories and more. Be sure to click on the links to explore.

Be Flirtatious

Looking to be fun yet flirtatious? Check out this one of a kind BCBG outfit. It's a hot little number with a price tag of about $280.00. Pastel colors are what this summer is all about. Add on a Clover Club Cocktail and this dress is perfect for a night out with the girls.

Are you looking to spend under $50 and still look fabulous? Who doesn't love a halter dress? An A-line cut helps to accent your waist and move the eyes upward. Add on some black heels, silver earrings and you are out the door. Check out similar summer dresses at JCPenny for more ideas.

Go Green This Summer

This year is more about going green than ever. There are eco-friendly designers who inspire with their one of a kind colors and material.
Check out this one of a kind sea green dress. Priced at $167, it features a round neckline and A-line cut. Perfect for bringing out your upper body and accenting your beautiful back. Spice it up with gold toned accessories. Finish this look with an apple martini.

Not interested in being environmentally friendly? No problem. This Baby Phat strapless dress with a removable belt is priced at $84.00.

Be Spontaneous

Looking to do something new and exciting. For under $60 you can get this Victoria's Secret jersey made dress. This piece is sure to make heads turn with it's sexy one shoulder style and flirty ruffles. Don't forget the funky gold jewelry. You can choose a variety of shoes to go with this dress. These BCBG's are a one of a kind style that might appeal to you. Add on a Million Dollar Cocktail and a designated driver. You're ready to go

Are you looking to spend under $70 and still strike a pose? Check out this Newport number, with a stunning vintage look. Read other positive reviews online and see if this dress is for you.

Need Some Cover-up?

Want to be more modest? Check out this Laundry designed smock dress. It has an alluring square neckline in front and back and is available in many different colors and sizes. Prices start at $79.99.

Do you need cover-up with out the cost? Check this Old Navy black dress with cute cap sleeves and a wide waist. Prices start at $29.99. Stand out with gold toned accessories and black heels to match.

Color Me Beautiful

What's summer without all the fun colors? Try out this beautiful pleated green outfit for only $19. It has a V neckline and the wrapped style will make you a show stopper for a sweet deal. Why not dazzle yourself with green accents. Go with gold or green heels to complete this look.

The flavor of the Caribbean will soon call to your need for color. Try this beautiful array of colors that will accent any body type. Catch the island fever with colorful accessories to match. Complete this outfit with a pina colada.

These websites offer more choices on what's hot this summer. Overstock,Amazon, Macy's, JCPenny, Bloomingdales, HSN, Zappos, and more. You can find awesome accessories for a fraction of the cost at Claires, Gadzooks, Target, or The Icing. Looking for some heels to match. Payless, 6pm.com and Zappos have a great selection of shoes at moderate prices.

Love Your Body
Every woman will have a knack for knowing how she wants to look. Whether you're blessed on the top or bottom, MyShape is ready to help. They launched a website ready to build an outfit to your specifications. Enjoy the benefits of having free shipping and free returns.

Have fun this summer and make it memorable. Make your dress come alive with the appropriate make-up and accessories. The cocktails won't stop coming your way with these hot outfits.

Be sure to visitSelling Gold Jewelry at the main site!

The Following Story is from Associated Content and sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

We live in tough economic times. Jobless rates are sky rocketing, pay is down, and people are looking for the next dollar anywhere they can find it. There have been a flood of TV commercials of late begging you to send them your gold and jewlery. According to goldworld.com China and India have been buying this precious metal in increasing amounts. So the question you find yourself asking is “Should I sell my gold jewelry?” There are pros and cons of selling your gold. Here are 2 reasons you should, and 2 reasons you should not.

Reasons you should sell your gold:

1. To pay off debt. Be careful with how you read this statement. When asking should i sell my gold jewelry, the answer should come from the benefit you will receive from it. I would advise a person to sell their gold if it pays off a debt completely. If you have a high interest credit card that you can pay off by selling gold then you should sell your gold. If you have a car payment that you can pay off then by all means sell your gold. However, if you are selling your gold to pay rent, or make a house payment that is still years from being paid off you would do well to hold onto your gold. Make sure you can pay off your debt completely by selling your gold, or else you will have lost that gold completely when your house is foreclosed on or you are kicked out next month.

2. If it is a life or death situation. This is not meant to be an exaggerated answer. When you ask the question of should I sell my gold jewelry, some answers could bring you to an answer of living or dying. Perhaps you are facing a life threatening illness and you need money to have surgery. By all means sell your gold. If you need to purchase a life or death commodity such as water or food and selling your gold is the only way you can buy food it would be wise to sell your gold. Make sure before you sell your gold you have exhausted every other avenue of income before you sell your gold. Gold is a commodity and it has value, make sure and look at the long term value of selling your gold before you decide to do so.

Reasons you should not sell your gold:

1. It protects you from inflation. Gold has been a standard of currency for thousands of years. Gold has had value longer than any piece of paper money on the planet. For this reason gold is a hedge against inflation. The dollar you have in your pocket will be worth less tomorrow than it is today. Ask yourself this: Can I buy a weeks worth of groceries for one dollar? Unless you are a coupon king, the answer to that question is no. 75 years ago, the answer to that question may very well have been yes. Inflation eats away at the value of paper money. Another way to look at it is this. An ounce of gold today will probably buy you the same thing an ounce of gold would have bought you 75 years ago. Owning gold is a great way to protect your wealth and is a reason you should not sell your gold.

2. It helps you build wealth. Owning gold gives you a currency that will most likely be around when you are old and gray. There are no guarantees in life, and there is no guarantee to the future value of gold. According to Goldprice.org when you look at the history of gold you will see that gold has maintained much of its value. Unlike the stock market which fluctuates in value, and paper money which decreases in value, gold has readily risen in value over the past 5 years. Building wealth requires investment in something that will grow in value. Gold is one option in building wealth.

The next time you ask should I sell my gold jewelry think about these things and make an informed decision. .

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The Following Story is sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

There was an old expression my teacher used to use when I was in grade school. That was immigrants came to the U.S. because they thought ‘the streets were lined with gold'. Actually they are! I have found 50 to 100 pounds of gold and almost a ton on silver In thrift shops, consignment shops, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets over the last 22 years.

It all started over two decades ago when I was at a flea market looking for the scarce American coins which sometimes turn up at those venues. However, you can't expect to find a scarce or rare coin that is not priced very high. But coin collecting was my hobby so I looked anyway. One of the vendors had a basket with some old pennies, rings and other small items for 25 cents each. Well the pennies were not worth 25 cents but I noticed that four rings had a little stamp inside them which read ‘14K'. I bought them and not thinking much about these finds, eventually showed them to the owner of a coin shop that I frequented. He offered to pay me $125 dollars for them. Wow! $125 for a $1 investment. This was obviously a very good thing. That was enough money for me to buy several scarce coins I wanted. It also started my new and much more profitable hobby of gold and silver finding. I soon found out that my grade school teacher was correct. Indeed ‘the streets are lined with gold'.

On a regular basis I find gold bracelets, rings, watches, and other jewelry for $2 or $3 each and sell them for $20 to my record of $615 for a single item. I soon found out that silver was as easy to find as gold. The hard part was learning to tell gold from ‘gold tone' and sterling silver from silver plate. Gold plate is worth little unless it is a very heavy plate called ‘gold filled', which I will address in another article. Silver plate is also worth little unless it is an unusually nice antique and you can find someone to buy it. Usually the silver plate is on copper or brass which is worth less than $1 a pound. Another hard question was: when you do find gold or silver, how it can be legally sold for cash and at a fair price? I will make you a competent gold finder by the end of this article. Read my next article ‘Find Almost Free Gold - Advanced Guide to improve your success and profit. I will write a similar article for Silver as well. Then your next vacation in Hawaii is on me.

‘All that glitters is not gold' is a very true expression. As a beginner, you should invest in a good magnifying glass or better yet splurge and buy a jeweler's loop. You will get your money back very quickly. As you become more advanced you may want to buy a gold testing kit for unmarked gold and silver. However, gold and silver are usually marked so the first order of business is to learn how to tell gold from ‘not gold' and determine if you will make money on it.

Pure gold is 24 karat gold. Usually you will not find 24 karat gold since it is too soft to make jewelry out of. It is so soft that you can actually bite it and leave an impression with your teeth. In fact this is how prospectors used to tell if the shiny stone they found was a gold nugget or a piece of iron pyrite (fool's gold). If you did find pure gold today, it would either be as coin or ingot marked ‘999' which really means that 999/1000 parts of the metal is pure gold. There are always some impurities in gold due to limitations in the refining process but 999 pure is very pure. Some coins are even 999.9/1000 pure such as the Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin. Both 999 and 999.9 gold are very heavy metals, much heavier than lead. The only other metal this heavy you are likely to run across is platinum which is heavier that gold and twice as expensive. Usually gold bullion coins are 1 troy ounce or 31.1 grams and slightly smaller that the old U.S. silver dollars. These 1 troy ounce coins contains about $640 worth of gold. Some ingots can weigh up to 10 kilograms or 22.2 pounds. An ingot of this size will cost you about $43,000.

The purity markings on jewelry items usually are from 8K or 333/1000 alloy of gold and copper which is considered a very low gold content alloy to 22K or 917/1000 gold which is a very pure alloy used only in the Orient and in India. There is 3 times as much pure gold in 24K than there is in 8K. I guess I don't have to tell you that the purer the gold the more you can get for items of the same weight.

The most common markings are either the karat purity marking or the fineness marking. You should see one or the other on a piece of real gold jewelry. This marking is often very small and therefore you are way ahead of the game with a good high power magnifier. Below is a list of the most common karat markings and the equivalent fineness, some call this the European markings of gold:

Karat Mark Fineness Mark Percentage Of Gold In The Alloy

8K 333 33.3%
9K 375 37.5%
10K 417 41.7%
14K 585 58.5%
18K 750 75%
21K 875 87.5%
22K 917 91.7%
24K 999 99.9%

This is very valuable information since you can 1) determine if an item is gold, 2) determine the purity of the gold and 3) determine the value of the gold. Keep this chart around with you when you are looking for gold.

Armed with this knowledge go to thrift and consignment shops, garage sales, yard sales and flea markets with your magnifying glass or loop (a very powerful double or triple lens magnifying device) and start looking for marks in rings, bracelets, money clips, tie clips, cuff links, cigarette cases, pins, broaches, high school pins, college pins, work anniversary pins, and even the nibs of some fountain pens. You will most likely find the vast majority of U.S. gold jewelry is 14K or 585 fine, but there are also plenty of 10K or 417 and 18K or 750 gold items around. The next step is to determine if the item is worth buying based on its weight, purity and price.

Weight

The weights of gold are measured in grams, penny weights (dwt) or troy ounces. When you see the daily spot price of gold in the financial section of the newspaper, it is the price of 1 troy ounce of pure, 999 fine gold. Today that price is $640 per troy ounce which means if you went to buy gold you would be paying that price plus a modest markup which is the dealer's profit. If you went to sell gold to the same dealer you might get spot price exactly or even a little below that price, which again represent the dealer's profit. Be aware that some States also charge sales tax. My state, Maryland charges sales tax of 5% unless your purchase is over $1,000, in which case there is no sales tax collected. Make sure you know the laws in your State relating to gold bullion sales. You do not have to pay sales tax when you sell gold to a professional gold dealer.

There are two ways to determine the weight of the item you are thinking about getting. First you can buy a mechanical or electric scale. They generally cost $50 to $100 depending on features and accuracy. Larger capacity scales generally cost more as well. Electric postal scales, often for sale in the Post Office are quite good for this purpose, but more precise scales can be purchased in any jeweler's supply store.

The second way to tell weight is my own invention and cost nothing although it takes practice and is not quite as accurate. I use the coins in my pocket each of a known weight to determine a satisfactory estimate of gold weight. The table below is the weight of common U.S. coins in grams and dwt (the abbreviation for penny weights). These coins can be used singly or in combination to determine almost any weight. Also note that that these are common coins used today and not the heavier silver coins produced before 1965. The cents were heavier before 1972 as well since they were made of a different alloy, so just use cents from 1973 or later. Remember there are 31.1 grams per troy ounce and 20 dwt per troy ounce.

U.S. Coin Grams dwt

Dime 2.3 1.5
Cent 2.5 1.6
Nickel 4.9 3.1
Quarter 5.7 3.6
Half Dollar 11.2 7.2

Purity

The purity of gold combined with the weight of your find determines the price you can get for your gold at a gold buyer's store. One troy ounce of the different karats is based on a gold price of $640 for a troy ounce of pure gold (the price gold is at the time of this writing).

1 Troy Ounce Of Gold Alloy Value Of Gold Content AT $640 Base Price

24 K $640
22K $587
21K $560
18K $480
14K $375 10K $267 9K $240 8K $213

It is easy to see the affect on the money you will receive based on the purity of the gold.

Price

There are two things relating to price, which you need to take into account when buying gold. 1) How much will the item cost you? 2) How much can you sell it for? I have already given you the basic tools to determine if you have found gold, and how much what you have found is worth. Now all you need to know is will you make a profit on it if you buy it.

Find the purity of the gold with your magnifying glass or loop. Say it is 14K, the most common purity of U. S. gold. Determine the gold price by looking in the newspaper or by using an online facility such as Kitco Live Gold Charts Online at:

http://www.kitco.com/charts/livegold.html

Then use the following formula:

Number of grams of your item divided by 31.1 - this will give you the percentage of your item weight of 1 troy ounce. Next multiply this by the fineness of the gold by the number you have just calculated. Don't worry I will give you an example if you are getting mixed up. The number you came up with is the price of the gold content of your item. There is just one more step and then one decision. Since the gold buyer has to make a profit you have to subtract that profit from your current price of gold. That often means subtracting 30% from your price. Then you can see if you will actually make a profit on that item. Here is an example from soup to nuts.

I find a bracelet marked 14K at a thrift shop that they are selling for $15. By using my coins I estimate the weight to be 14 grams. Will I make money and if so how much? I divide 14 grams by 31.1 grams to find out the percent of a troy ounce I have found. 14/31.1 = .45 or 45 % of one troy ounce of 14 Karat gold. Then I multiply this by 58.5% the fineness of 14K gold to get the pure gold content. .45 X .585 = .263. The next step is to multiply this by the spot price of gold. So .263 X $640 = $168. Finally we subtract the dealers profit of 30% (it is just simpler to use 70% which is what you keep). $168 X 70% = $118. That's what you can get at most coin dealers or precious metal buyers. Let's make our decision - to buy or not to buy that is the question. Is it worth spending $15 plus sales tax to buy the bracelet which you can sell easily for $118. You bet it is!

Pat yourself on the back, you have made a $100+ profit and this is just your first buy. You are also ready to go onto my next article ‘Find ‘Almost' Free Gold - Advanced Guide'. This will increase your profit margin by as much as 50%.

Happy hunting!

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A quick shout out to Selling Gold Jewelry for sponsoring this Associated Content Post!

Visit our sponsor Selling Gold Jewelry today!

Thanks to Selling Gold Jewelry for sponsoring the following blog post

In the midst of the current economic crisis, a lot of people are selling off old gold and gold jewelry as a way to receive some extra cash in their pocket. But with the gold market reaching all time highs, is it better to sell now or wait until the price goes even higher? In the midst of this wild market, how much should your timing depend on the current price?

These can be challenging questions. The gold market is a lot like the stock market in that it fluctuates from minute to minute, so trying to time a sale can be a real exercise in frustration. As an example, on October 8, 2008, the price for an ounce of gold was $913 per ounce, but by mid-November the price had dropped below $710 per ounce. Now it's back up again, well over $1000 per ounce. To get a visual picture, a website that I often use to check the current price can be found at Kitco.com. They also have a wealth of other information as well as historical charts.

But there are two factors that really need to be taken into consideration when we look at the question of timing as it relates to selling gold.

First, the value of gold tends to fluctuate in the opposite direction of the value of the U.S. dollar. What that means is that, generally speaking, when an ounce of gold has more value, the dollar is worth less. So, while waiting for the price of gold to go up means more dollars in your pocket, each dollar you receive is going to buy less. All we have to do is look at our bills to see that our money doesn't go as far as it used to. So, much of the gains we receive by waiting for gold to go up are offset by our loss in buying power.

Second, most of us don't have enough old, scrap gold for a few dollars one way or another to make much of a difference in the price we are going to receive. Since most of us don't have pure gold laying around in large quantities, a few cents or even dollars either way doesn't really make much difference to our bottom line.

To illustrate: Let's say we are going to sell a few pieces of old gold jewelry - a couple of mis-matched earrings, some rings received from old boyfriends and a bracelet or chain or two. For simplicity's sake, we'll also figure that it is equally split (weight-wise) between 10 karat and 14 karat pieces. So our little pile roughly equals 12 karats, which translates to 50% gold and 50% other metals. And since we have a nice little pile, we'll say that altogether it weighs an ounce, which means we have about half an ounce of actual gold tied up in our little stash of jewelry.

In order to sell our gold, we need to find someone to buy it. It would be nice if we could receive the full value of the gold in our pile, but we can't. With refinery costs, commissions and other costs (all a necessary part of the business of reclaiming gold) many people are lucky to receive 50% of the value. With some buyers the price offered can be substantially less than that! So now we are down to 1/2 the value (our 50% offer) of 1/2 of an ounce (because we don't have pure gold), or 25% of the price of an ounce of gold for our ounce of jewelry.

So if the price of gold is a round $1000 per ounce, we will receive $250. If the price of gold goes up to $1020, we will be offered $255, and if it goes down to $980 we will be offered $245. Even if gold moves $100 in either direction, it only affects the value of our gold by $25 (which is still asignificant bit of money to many of us, but you get the point).

As we can see, waiting for higher prices is not always the best move. Waiting reduces the value of each dollar we receive, and since we aren't selling huge quantities of pure gold, even relatively large fluctuations have only a fractional effect on the price we will receive.

The bottom line is this: The best time to sell old gold is any time you need the money for another purpose. If you have old, broken, unwanted or unused gold sitting around collecting dust, you can sell it and put the money to work for you. If you don't particularly need the money right now, wait if you want and see what happens.

Rather than finding the right time to sell, the real key to getting the most out of your old gold is finding the right buyer.

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A quick shout out to Selling Gold Jewelry for sponsoring this Associated Content Post!

So, who doesn't need a little bit of extra money? I know I do. One of the things that has given me some extra money as well as piece of mind is the discovery of cleaning and selling. Just about everyone I know would confirm that I am a clutter bug. I keep everything regardless of if I use it or not. I finally decided to go through it and sell everything I don't need and/or never will. I am going to give you a few examples of things that I have sold and how you can do so yourself. I hope this will encourage you to get rid of a bunch of your clutter and turn it in to cash!

The first thing that I did was go through my closet. This is the obvious thing to clean but I found a few interesting ways to get rid of the stuff you might find. First off there is eBay. I have found that it is so simple to sell clothing online. I ended up getting rid of 4 pairs of jeans and made over $100 for them. I was amazed! I also posted up a few “lots,” which is a group of items for those of you who haven't used it before. This definitely brought in less money on average per item but was great for getting rid of stuff that I would never wear again. If eBay is not something you want to deal with than there are always places such as Plato's Closet. For those of you who don't know this is a place where you can take your lightly used clothes and sell them upfront. It is harder to make a bunch of money but it is a great place for quick money and you don't have to worry about shipping and such as you would with online auctions. I have made quite a bit of money with both of these methods.

Have you ever seen those cheesy scrap gold commercials? Well selling your unused jewelry is really a way to make money. I had a yellow gold setting that sold on eBay for $56.00! I was so amazed because this was something that my mom was going to donate and I told her I would take it and a year later made a good sale out of it. eBay is definitely the way to go over pawn shops or jewelry consolidators. I have also sold a Dooney and Bourke bracelet, a lab created sapphire ring, and some other little things here and there. I would very much recommend this way as far as selling your unused jewelry.

By far and away the items I have gotten the most money for have been purses…Coach to be specific. The only way I would go when it comes to handbags is eBay as well. The story I tell just about everyone goes a little something like this…I bought a Coach purse at the outlet mall that was on sale with an additional coupon for $55.00. I then sold the purse about a year later for $90.00. I was so surprised to see my $35.00 profit! I then decided to get rid of all of my designer purses that I had stored away and brought in over $300.00 in just a few weeks.

The last but not least items people went crazy for fall in the category of exercise equipment. I sold a tennis racquet online for $60.00. I also consigned a leg exercise machine at Play it Again Sports and received about $50.00 for it. Another place I tried that sparked a lot of interest was craigslist.com. If you can get past the scammers it is really a great place to get rid of just about anything.

So, all in all I have made a bunch of money by simply getting rid of things that were just taking up space. It has been fun and resourceful and I am sure my selling won't stop here! Good luck!

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The Following Story is sponsored by Selling Gold Jewelry

Leap Text 'n Learn
Easily my first choice this year, the Text 'n Learn has been nicknamed the “baby Blackberry.” This toddler tech toy provides an alternative to handing over your $400 smart phone to entertain a restless child. After one week of occasional use, our two-year-old tester learned to recognize five letters, and in two months of occasional use, he has learned all but two letters of the alphabet. But this is, after all, a child's toy, so his favorite application is making the mascot puppy “Scout” dance around! Text 'n Learn has three learning modes and six activities, including letters, games, and pretend browser mode. “Following Directions” is a game that teaches directions while helping Scout to find his way home. “Pretend Play” lets your child explore Scout's calendar and play music in the browser. “The Alphabet” helps identify the names, sounds, and lower and uppercase forms of the ABC's. Recommended for ages 3 and up, the Leap Text 'n Learn is a steal at Target, Walmart and similar stores for under $20. Jam-packed with learning and fun for your little one, this is truly the value of the season!

Play 'N Go Table
Mega Bloks has created another favorite with this convenient block table. The set includes decorative stickers and 22 blocks for hundreds of combinations. Unfold legs to set up for play. The four building base plates unlock for removal to access storage or to use for stacking and building. The plates also feature a track for using the included car. After hours of fun, the table easily folds up to go with your little one or stores nearly flat. For ages 1 and up, the Play 'N Go Table from Mega Brands sells for about $40 at Amazon.com and Target.

Lifestyle Gourmet Cafe Kitchen
Step 2 offers a wide variety of kitchens for ages 2 and up. We assemble and test the LifeStyle Gourmet Cafe Kitchen, with a French Country decor and stainless steel-look appliances. Requiring two AA and two AAA batteries, not included, the one-person set-up takes a little time but is not overly complicated for the average parent. A few screws create a sturdy construction. We love the finished look of the window area with hooks for hanging cups and utensils. We suggest setting the unit perpendicular to the wall, so children can use this pass-through serving window as intended. The sill prevents the unit from sitting flush with the wall, but placing it nearly against the wall does not take up a lot of extra space. We enjoy the copper and brick-look stickers and the neutral tones that look great in both boy and girl rooms. The play kitchen features an extra deep sink and a swivel faucet. A prep sink and coffee pot warmer are nice touches. The burners work with the pans to create the sounds of a bubbling pot and a sizzling skillet. Coordinating blue silverware and dishes create a nice two-person place setting. A cordless phone, play food, and spice jars round out the feel of a “real” kitchen. At over 3 feet tall and almost 3 feet long, the kitchen has almost everything a little one would want, except maybe a microwave, the only complaint we have from tests. A great value when compared to other play kitchens, the LifeStyle Gourmet Cafe Kitchen rings up just under $100 at Step2.com or BJ's Wholesale.

Barbie 3-Story Dream Town House
At over 3 feet tall, this “cool pink house” takes about an hour for assembly by one of our preteen testers. The 55-piece set has a lighted hot tub, a working elevator, and a four-post bed. The toilet flushes with a “whoosh,” and the fireplace lights up for a cozy atmosphere. A ringing doorbell alerts Barbie that Skipper and Ken have arrived for her party, and the kitchen timer dings to remind her to take her included birthday cake from the oven. The flat-screen TV pops out of the fireplace, and the kitchen cabinets open to store the included play food and accessories. Mattel has even included a footbath to soak Barbie's feet after a long day in those oh-so-high plastic heels! This mega-mansion has it all, except for a third chandelier. Our testers love this giant pink dream home and all its amenities but are quick to point out that the second included chandelier may be moveable between the second and third floors, but they would just prefer an extra fixture. Is a pampered princess never satisfied? Barbie's Dream Townhouse is on the market for just under $150 at Walmart, Target, and Amazon.com.

Design A Heavenly Equestrian Wardrobe
Design A Heavenly Equestrian Wardrobe kits from Fashion Angels allow girls to create over 100 flashy fashions for their two paper dolls and two paper horses. The kit includes fabric, paints, sequins, stickers, buttons, ribbons, beads and more to design Western and English riding gear. Girls from 8 and up who love horses can create hats, boots, saddles, and blankets for their riders and animals. An even better reason to purchase is that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these design kits goes to the Wild Horse and Burro Program of the U. S. Department of the Interior. Just under $20 at Amazon, Growing Tree Toys, and other online sites, these kits pack a bunch of fun into every little box!

Mickey's Magic Choo Choo
This season's release of this magical train coincides with the premiere of the special episode Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Choo Choo Express. The “Choo Choo” song and Mickey's voice is heard as you push the Mickey ears to get this bright locomotive to spring into action. Just as it does in the show, Mickey's train travels around a track in “classic” mode or converts to the “magic” mode of running on just two pieces of track. In this alternative mode, the engine rolls over one piece, spits out another, then picks up the one in back again for an endless ride of fun. This train engine includes Mickey, one train car, two signs, and ten colorful pieces of track. Four AA batteries are required but not included. At $40, we see this toy to be an instant classic for ages 3 and up. To get on board, chug on over to stores like Kohl's, Disney Store, and Toys R Us.

Smart Fit Park
The Smart Fit Park from Fisher Price is the preschool-sized answer to the Wii Fit. This simple plug and play device is so easy to set up on your TV with standard A/V plugs. Perfect for a cold or rainy day, this game gets your child running, jumping and learning on the special mat to interact in obstacle courses and other fun games while learning shapes, colors, and numbers with his personalized on-screen character. The spelling game seems to go beyond the suggested range of ages 3 to 6 but still appeals to our testers and excites parents with all of the benefits it offers. This energizing mat gets kids off the couch and exercising without even realizing it! The four required AA batteries are not included but are easily installed, and the cost of the system is under $50, a small price to pay to get your child moving along with this healthy and educational game.

LIKEaBIKE Mini
The LIKEaBIKE is the perfect first bike for small children. Designed for ages 2 to 5, this wooden wonder has no pedals. The concept focuses on teaching balance and confidence in young riders. The LIKEaBIKE weighs less than 8 pounds, has a mostly wood construction, has no sharp edges, and features a felt in-fill between the frame and fork to prevent pinched fingers or the sharp, unpredictable turn of the handlebars that traditional bikes sometimes make. Assembly is fast as lightning. The handle bar attaches with two screws using the included Allen wrench. Voila! You are done! The seat is adjustable if needed, and the cotton seat cover may be removed for washing. Our littlest tester, age two, rides the LIKEaBIKE with ease and is not afraid of falling because there is no need to lift his feet off the ground unless he wishes to coast for a moment of carefree fun. We are amazed how fast he has learned to ride! As with all bikes, we recommend wearing a helmet and following other safe riding procedures, though you may use the LIKEaBIKE indoors for added safety and comfort. Go to LIKEaBIKE.org to order your Mini from $265 to $329.

SpongeBob SquarePants Memory
This version of the old classic preschool matching game features the irrepressible personality of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends. Recommended for ages 3 and up, this easy to play game proves to be perfect for short attentions spans and sharpens memory and recognition skills. SpongeBob SquarePants Memory is available from Milton Bradley and Hasbro wherever board games are sold for under $9.

American Girl Bitty Twins and PJ's
American Girl has always encouraged girls to find a friend just like them. The Bitty Baby and Bitty Twins versions are no different, available in skin, hair and eye colors to mirror your child's image. Just like the full-size dolls, these pint-sized versions are supported by a line of matching clothing and accessories for girl and doll. This season offers new holiday pajamas like the Snowflake Tunic and Snowflake Tee PJ's shown here. Each set also includes the “Bedtime Rhyme” book for reading to your Bitty Baby. Girls love these adorable outfits and enjoy dressing just like their little ones. Each set of pajamas and book costs just $24.

Iron Fairies Figurines and Books
Artist and author Ashley Sutton, a former iron miner in Australia, created the fairy tale behind the Iron Fairy figurines and the 3-volume Iron Fairy Diaries. The books contain hidden codes to use on www.TheIronFairies.com for adventures to set free a captured fairy. Each Iron Fairy figurine is made of iron, of course, and comes in 25 varieties, including good and naughty fairies and four different miners. Each comes with a dash of fairy dust and a poem. The books are $20 per volume, and the fairies and miners are $35 each on the website and in bookstores.

Handy Manny Construction & Mickey MouseKadoer Laptops
From VTech, these preschooler laptops look quite similar in format at first glance. We quickly see when we put them into the hands of our little users that there is a big difference in preference indeed. Both have a cute “mouse,” one with a Mickey shoe and one with Manny's tape measure named “Stretch.” Each mouse moves directionally and has a click button. Both also include an integrated carry handle. Both laptops offer a “repeat” button if a child misses hearing the question the first time. (Mickey's even offers a “correct answer” button.) The similarities seem to work well for both laptops, but the differences work in Manny's favor time and again.

The Mickey MouseKadoer Laptop features the voice of Mickey Mouse, familiar mouse ears and overall clubhouse theme. The laptop opens downward and has a slide latch at the top, which proved to be troublesome for the younger testers. High and low volume settings are available but both are still quite loud for small ears. The MouseKadoer offers 12 activities including music, letter, number, and other games. Mickey's laptop offers auto shut-off to save power but usually does not give children time to answer a question before deciding to say “so long.” Users have fun playing with the Mickey computer but do not seem ready for some of the activity levels.

The Handy Manny Construction Laptop features the voice of Manny and a tool theme, including a screwdriver and a hammer, Philippe and Pat, recognizable from the TV show. These tools have their own storage area and are useable on the play screws and nails built into the laptop for the “fix-it” activity mode. The laptop is in a familiar red toolbox shape and opens upward, requiring no latch for carrying and therefore gave our testers no trouble when opening. The volume controls offer five levels and a mute setting to keep little ears from overexposure to loud noise. The Construction laptop offers at least ten games, including letter, number, matching, repair, and safety. The safety “do and don't” game gets a thumbs-up from us! The addition of pictures on the keys also gets a gold star from parents of smaller kids. Manny's laptop also automatically shuts off, but the wait time is long enough that it allows plenty of time to respond to a question before shutting down on its own. Manny also offers a Spanish/English basic word and phrase button and gives more attention to teaching hand/eye coordination using the tools.

Both of these claim durability, and we find basic construction to hold up well under regular preschooler use, though the painted characters on the outsides of both units wears off rather quickly, starting during removal from the box. The LCD screens on both units are a similar size and quite small, giving a bit of trouble for some kids to interpret what is happening in the picture for some games. Overall, we are greatly pleased with the Handy Manny Construction Laptop and recommend it much more highly than the MouseKadoer. For about $30 to $35 each, these are available at retailers such as Kmart, Target and Toys R Us.

Scrabble Slam
Our kid testers rate this card game to be much faster, simpler, and “way more fun” to play than the traditional tile game. Cleanup is quicker and storage is a non-issue with this simple deck of cards. The bold, easy to read deck of cards makes for full-speed-ahead fun. Scrabble Slam has already earned several kids' and toy awards. Rated for ages 8 and up, this new twist on a classic is only $5 and available wherever Hasbro and Milton Bradley games are sold. The kid testers have the last word on this one: “awesome!”

Harumika fashion Design Kits
Made popular by Project Runway and America's Next Top Model, fashion and design is hotter than ever. Harumika from Bandai presents a new way for girls to design clothing, using a fashion doll-sized dress form and exclusive fabric swatches. A special “Style Lock System” holds fashions in place without the need for cutting or sewing, allowing the materials to be used again and again. Available at Toys R Us and Target, Harumika design kits run from $6 to $40.

Project Runway Silk Screen Fashion Design Set
Fashion Angels has produced a Project Runway Silk Screen Fashion Design Set for silk-screening clothing and accessories. The easy-to-use set includes silk screen machine, 50 patterns, 10 silk screens, six fabric paints, over 25 stencils, and more. Kids add their own custom art to shirts, purses, scarves, and more to personalize their wardrobe, just like a real fashion designer. Designs are as endless as a child's imagination, and refill kits are available to accomodate them. Recommended for ages 8 and up, Project Runway Silk Screen Fashion Design Sets are available at Target, Toys R Us, and similar stores for about $30.

Sing Scene Pop Singing Video Game
In the format of a microphone with simple plug and play A/V cables, this video game combines the enjoyment of performing karaoke with the privacy of your own home. Just plug it in; no other installation is required. Lyrics roll across the screen, and a vocal meter shows if you are off-pitch. One or two people can play. Requiring four AAA batteries, not included, this game seems to be aimed mostly at preteen girls and is recommended for ages 8 and up. The lyrics of the 20 included songs are rated “E for Everyone.” From Jakks Pacific, Sing Scene Pop runs about $30 at Target and Walmart and includes current hits from Fergie, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy and more.

Star Wars Motion Flight Game
This plug and play is another “out of the box” install, using only A/V cables and four AA batteries. Geared more toward boys this time, this Jakks Pacific video game has graphics that are much better than many plug and plays we have seen though still comparable to the Sega Genesis. This flight and battle simulator senses motion of the controller and offers an 8-foot range of cord. Somewhat sluggish in responding to controls, this Motion Flight Game still offers quite a value for an all-in-one system. Most video games require an expensive console plus the cost of individual game cartridges. For $30, we get the excitement of participating in five flight campaigns and multiple missions per level. Built-in training shows how to play and use the controls. Overall, testers were impressed with what you get for the money. Recommended for ages 5 and up, the Star Wars Motion Flight Game content is rated “E for Everyone ages 10 and up.”

UCreate Games & Artimation
UCreate brings your toys and imagination to life with a simple USB connection and your computer. Draw or trace objects on the drawing table to transfer them into the computer world. Add photos with the built-in camera and animate them with the UCreate system. Design your own games and personalize with the included sounds effects and templates. Visit the special website to get even more ideas and add-ons. Designing your own game and bringing it to life is one of the biggest hits of the season in our age 8 and up testing category. The unit comes with an installation CD, instructions, dry erase markers, interactive booklet. UCreate Games & Artimation is from Radica and Mattel and is available at Target under $70 and at Walmart under $60.

EA SimAnimals Africa
The new SimAnimals Africa from EA Games is available for Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. Users build a habitat with animals, plants, trees, and more. Storing away extra food in your backpack, you can feed a hungry lion to keep him away from your baby giraffe. Discover new animals and encourage them to breed. Shake a tree to release seeds for feeding the wildlife on the savannah or in the jungle areas. Plant new grass and trees, and water them by stirring up a raincloud. Just like other Sims games, SimsAnimals Africa can be personalized but must be maintained to protect your wild kingdom. Using the birds' eye view or the animal ground view, petting and playing with the animals is important to winning the game. Collecting bugs and other rare items and feeding them to animals unlocks some special surprises. The DS game features more species than the Wii game and allows players to talk to the animals. SimAnimals Africa is rated E for Everyone and is available from Walmart, Sears, Best Buy, and more for $40 for the Wii game and at a better price for a more developed level of play, just $30 for the DS game.

EyeClops Mini Projector
One of the most exciting products of the season, this little wonder offers the ability to project movies onto the side of the house or play video games on the ceiling. We love the excitement of finding new ways to jumbo-size our fun, and this does the trick, up to 60 inches, launching a big-screen showing of whatever we choose! We can hook this to our MP3 players, DVD players, and digital cameras. Possibilities keep coming to us and we love every one. Routing our multimedia through this little projector truly supersizes the fun for our teen testers, though this device is highly recommended by us for anyone on your list who wants major excitement! The projector runs for about 5 hours on 4 D batteries, or the included AC adapter may be used. Roughly the size of a digital camera, the EyeClops Mini fits right in your hand or mounts onto its stand. The EyeClops Mini Projector from Jakks Pacific is just under $100 at Walmart, Target, and Amazon.com.

Streetz City Pursuit
Streetz City Pursuit from Mega Brands contains 221 pieces to build a customized city to maneuver while performing 10 different stunts using the two included street rods. A helicopter with an LED search light and an ambulance are also a part of the set, for those “dangerous” high-speed chases. For ages 6 and up, this action building set requires two AA and one AAA battery. Find this and other Mega Brand toys at Toys R Us and Walmart. Streetz City Pursuit costs about $40.

American Girl Activity Books
A variety of craft and activity books are available from the American Girl team. Find our favorites, described below, at AmericanGirl.com and in bookstores.

Our favorites include Spa Fun, which has tons of tips to help unwind, sections for skin, hair, nails, and yoga, right down to setting the mood and sensitivity skin testing. Party and sleepover ideas are included. For under $9, this is a wonderful choice for girls age 8 and up.

Funky Felt Crafts and Button Crafts are two titles worth checking out for those who like creating handmade items and are both available for under $10. Funky Felt Crafts has dozens of craft and gift ideas. Forms and patterns are included. Button Crafts shares new ways to dress up clothing and accessories, create jewelry, decorate a room, and personalize gifts, all by using buttons.

A Smart Girl's Guide to the Internet is a great way to let your child know how to navigate cyberspace without lecturing or nagging. Some of the topics covered are privacy, safety, a parent's role in computer use, emoticons, net lingo, how to handle instant messaging and chat rooms, cyber bullies, social networking, blogs, and sharing media. Using the net to keep in touch with family, help with homework, and help others is also addressed. A site log is included to keep track of favorite websites. For ages 10 and up, this book is priced under $10.

Our favorite title from American Girl is Earth Smart Crafts, recommended for ages 8 and up for under $10. All of the projects make good use of items that would otherwise be thrown away. Suggestions include making beads from paper, pouches from melted plastic shopping bags, and hair accessories, totes, and book covers from other rescued items. Patterns and instructions are included. Fun and educational, this book teaches social responsibility with a new perspective.

Klutz Activity Books
Chicken Socks' Super Simple Sewing and Clothespin Cars are the best activity books we have seen for kids ages 4 and up. Sewing offers instructions for four projects, including a purse and a bracelet, and everything needed is packaged with the book. No scissors are necessary, and a safety needle is provided. All supplies and instructions to make three cars, including decals and a paper city, come with Clothespin, as well. These titles are perfect for preschoolers and are priced at $12.95 each.

Boom, Splat, Kablooey - Explosive Science That's a Real Blast is full of messy, loud, and crazy hands-on experiments that actually teach lessons in science and dozens of cool facts. The experiments have full instructions and use common items or the parts provided in the package. For ages 8 and up, this educational and entertaining book is under $20.

Paper Fashions Fantasy is not a truly practical or educational book. But really, who cares? It is all about fashion! Even the adults love this one. Filled with inspiring quotes from famous people, this book includes stencils, patterns, colored paper, embellishments, and tiny hangers for creating a fabulous paper wardrobe. The book suggests styles and designs ranging from fairies, witches, and mermaids and contains all you need to be the greatest paper doll fashion designer ever for just about $20!

Find our favorites we have featured here and other Klutz titles at retailers such as Kmart, Target, Amazon, and Klutz.com.

Stocking Stuffers

Kooky Klicker Pens
In a variety of popular licensed characters such as Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, Star Wars, and SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as MLB and NHL team logos, these Kooky Klicker clip-on pens are as practical as they are whimsical. Collectors can get sets with stands, or individual pens may be purchased for $3.49 in stores everywhere.

Skelanimals Stuffed Toys and Collectible Figures
Usually dead animals would not be the most appealing item to put on a gift list, but as the subtitle of the book Skelanimals by Mitchell Bernal reads, “Dead animals need love, too.” In the case of these cute little critters, we will oblige. Described as “cute, dark, and cuddly,” the characters feature silly skeleton and heart designs on both the plush and vinyl figurines. Usually relegated to the Halloween season or found in alternative stores such as Hot Topic, the “Adorable Dead” go mainstream this season. Packed two in a tube, the vinyl creatures are perfect for stuffing a stocking, and the $8 price tag is perfect for not emptying your wallet. Recommended for ages 5 and up, Skelanimal characters range from Dax the Dog and ChungKee the Panda to Marcy the Monkey and Kit the Cat. The small collectible plush toys cost about $6 each and include a fifth option, Jack the Rabbit. Look for these toys and the book on www.Skelanimals.com and in mass retailers.

Hello Kitty Designer Collectible Figurines
Available in 2-packs, these adorable and trendy renderings of the cute and classic kitty run about $8. Packaged in mini tubes, these Hello Kitty Designer Collectibles fit right into a stocking and slide right out to surprise and delight those on your “nice” list. About four assortments are currently available. Find them at stores everywhere.

Smart Animals Eco-Systems
These miniature wild animal habitats from Discovery Kids are collectible and connectible. Each one contains an animal such as a lion or shark, info on the species, and appropriate accessories. For ages 3 and up, these tiny habitats cost about $5 each.

You might want to reconsider…

SuperWhy Touch and Learn Super Duper Computer
At first glance, this little laptop is as attractive as the bold colored characters in the PBS series SuperWhy. The box promises many educational activities, and with this much learning potential hidden inside, we want to love it. Unfortunately, the testers have trouble getting the attached pen to communicate with the touchscreen and understanding the games and activities. The games are cute and educational but seem to work better with our school-age child testers. The unit is easy to open and to power up but just doesn't appeal on an interactive level to the lower range of the recommended age group of 3 and up, even on the easiest setting. Super Duper Computer is selling at ShopPBS.org and Toys R Us for nearly $40, so make sure your little one is up to the challenge before investing, or we recommend holding off until they reach Kindergarten.

WowWee Alive Husky Pup
Activated by squeezing his ear or petting his back, he blinks, howls, whimpers, growls, and barks. This little pup is cuddly yet fierce. The age recommendation is 3 and up, due to the small batteries. Otherwise, this guy is appropriate for any age. WowWee Alive also offers three other species: Koala Joey, Seal Pup, and Leopard Cub. While we appreciate the realistic sounds, we are a bit disappointed that the only movements are facial. We also find that there is little interaction between “pet” and owner, so the $60 price tag is a little steep for us. If this pup still looks too cute to resist, find him at retailers everywhere, including Walmart and Toys R Us.

Daisy Greenway Interactive Camper
Learning Curve and Caring Corners present the new Daisy Greenway Interactive Camper as a way to teach children about living green and being a responsible part of the community. We love the presence of an onboard recycling bin and the songs and sounds of nature, but we think the construction is a bit flimsy for toddler use. The younger testers have trouble closing the camper without pinching little fingers or popping the door off the hinges. They struggle to open some of the cabinets and doors without help. Folding out the side of the bus results in a play surface that tips easily, interrupting playtime and requiring more set-up. The camper is certainly not on our list for the younger end of the ages 3 and up group that the manufacturer recommends but seems okay for school-age children who can be a bit more careful. For the suggested $35 retail price, we would expect a toy that teaches about the environment to be sturdier and not seemingly disposable!

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