I make extra money buying and selling second-hand jewelry (gold, silver, collectible costume). I find stuff at flea markets and yard sales for a fraction of their value.

I didn’t realize precisely why I was doing so well until I wandered through a department store one day and saw the prices of truly ordinary silver jewelry. Even on sale, the jewelry was overpriced, it absolutely wasn’t worth the cost. And it was more than double what I was charging.

Designer costume jewelry is even more outrageous. I get numerous fashion magazines and see stuff (that I could make at home) being priced at hundreds of dollars. I have no idea who has the extra money to buy a slice of agate on a macrame cord for $200 other than a movie star. (The actual cost of the agate is $3.)

When the majority of people have to choose between food, medicine, housing, and electricity, it’s no wonder jewelry stores aren’t selling.