There is a lot of money to be made in gold right now and there are tons of companies willing to pay you for yours. What you have to understand, however, is that you'll be paid for the gold value, not whatever it is worth as jewelry. The expensive ring your double crossing ex gave you might only weigh a few grams and that is what you'll be paid for.

There are a few different ways to sell your gold. You could try a pawn shop but let's face it, they aren't known for their generosity. You could try calling a few jewelry stores to see if they buy used jewelry, that might work. You could also try selling it on Craig's List, you might get a pretty good price there. If aren't interested in these options there are a few others to consider.

If I had gold to sell, the first place I would check out is Midwest Refineries. They don't have a fancy site but they pay very fair prices for gold and they don't have any minimums. They have very clear instructions about how to send them your precious metals but unlike other services, they don't provide pre-paid envelopes. They are also a little vague about the payment process but honestly, I think they are a very reputable company so I wouldn't worry about it. (Another refiner that is supposed to be good is Republic Metals. Their site was acting up when I visited them so I'll have to give them another try later.)

There are, of course, many more companies who would like to buy your gold. The first one to come to mind is Cash4Gold.com, A few more to look at include SellGold.com, GoldKit.com, and GoldFellow. These companies provide either a pre-paid envelope or a printable shipping label for you to use when sending your gold in. The downside is that while they make it easy for you to send in your gold, the prices they pay may be lower than Midwest or Republic.

Finally, and this might be the best option of all, you could attend a gold party. This is sort of like a Tupperware party except you aren't buying, you are selling. You bring your gold, a company rep will look at it, and you'll be quoted a price. If you accept the offer, you'll be paid on the spot. If not, there is no harm done and everyone leaves as friends. (You can also make money by hosting gold parties, see our Gold Party page for more information.)