Question: I see a lot of ads in newspapers, on TV and the Internet, offering cash for gold jewelry. I am tempted to join the "gold rush" and unload pieces I never wear. What will bring the best price⢠And how do I know these people won't take my jewelry and disappear?
Answer: Turning gold into greenbacks can be risky business if you don't do your homework. Most of the buying is done by established jewelry-store owners, gold brokers and dealers in gold coins, who hopefully are reputable. You also can deal directly with refiners, who actually melt down the gold.
Before parting with your gold jewelry, be sure to get the buyer's license number with the Better Business Bureau and the state or local department of consumer affairs. No license number⢠Don't deal.
A fair price would be about 90 percent of the gold's value based on that day's price on the open market, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. But keep in mind gold prices are quoted based on pure gold, or 24 karats. Jewelry is mostly 14-karat. Better pieces may be 18-karat; cheap items could be as low as 10-karat. So your jewelry will be worth only a proportionate fraction of the 24-karat price.
Before making a sale, shop around and compare prices to get the best bang for your bling.
Q: I was in a denim store recently and on impulse bought two pairs of jeans. One is bright yellow, the other bright turquoise. Bad idea. Now I don't know what to wear with these bright (really bright) pants. I usually wear dark jeans with bright tops.
A: Argh! The curse of impulse buying. Rarely a good idea.
Bright jeans are a fun item for summer, but they do rather grab the spotlight. To tone things down, simply reverse your usual strategy and pair your bright jeans with tops in dark or neutral shades such as gray, ivory or white.
And if you are tempted to purchase more gaudy pants, keep this in mind: skinny jeans and trim, ankle-cropped pants are the best choice. Full-leg styles in vibrant hues can be too much of a good thing, making you look larger than your actual size.
And by the way, to keep your colorful jeans and other summer brights looking vibrant, here are some tips from Cotton Inc.:
• Read the label for recommended care before laundering.
• Turn jeans inside-out before washing to minimize fading.
• Wash in cold water, using a cold-water detergent formulated for dark-colored clothing.
• Never use bleach.
• Before using a stain-removal product, pre-test on a hidden area of the garment.
• Line-drying helps preserve color. Follow with an air tumble to restore softness to the fabric.
Pantyhose and Florida summers are not a comfortable combination. But neither are bare feet in pumps. Without hosiery, feet tend to get hot, sweaty and develop blisters. The solution⢠Foot liners. Our favorite is the Cool Contours collection from Hue (three pair/$15). The seamless, antibacterial liners come in left- and right-foot shapes and silicone stay-put heels. Liner styles include classic, sling-back, toe-cover, low-cut and peep-toe.
Lost: Joanie is looking for Boost Up Color Drops and Healthy Hair Daily conditioner, both from Ken Paves.
An Orlando, Fla., reader is looking for Levi's white, polyester-blend slacks. Or if not Levi's, any brand of comfortable, white, easily laundered slacks she can wear when volunteering at a hospital.
Jane wonders whether anyone can recommend a bra for small-busted women that has adjustable straps and closure, no padding or underwires, and a band under the cups that stays in place and does not creep up.
Found: Good news for Poppy: She can purchase skirts and pants by XCVI at zappos.com . And here's another tip for the reader looking for men's pants with a short rise: Try the Talos brand at Walmart.
Janey, who is looking for Organic Wear Eye Makeup Remover Pads can find them at drug stores. They're by Physicians Formula.
Lily-Margaret is also in luck: She can find lavender-scented DRY Antiperspirant & Deodorant with mineral sea salt at skinbymonica.com .
A reader offers this suggestion for the man wanting polo shirts with pockets: Try the Wyndham Point brand at Bealls stores.
