The old couple mentioned above can recognize the sparkle of a diamond amidst pieces of glass, from a hundred feet away! Parking lots are where most diamonds pop out of there settings, due to the temperature changes when people get out of their cars. Wandering mall parking lots has become their second retirement income. Treasure hunting obviously goes beyond the common conception.

A man in California took the shag carpet from a large theater New885.com being remodeled, saving the owners the cost of disposal. During the thirties the theater was a place where the wealthy went, and the wealthy, like all of us, lose things, but more valuable things perhaps. When the man cut up and carefully shook out the old carpet, it was found to contain over $2,000 worth of precious stones, rings, and rare coins.

Selling Things

At a campfire near a desert hot spring one winter, my wife and I met a man who sells stuffed animals on the side of the highway. When we saw him again, in his van full of stuffed animals, I pressed him for details. He buys used stuffed animals at thrift stores in bulk and then sells them alongside the highway. Early on, he even got the stores to give him the animals, with the agreement that he would return with the money or the animals the next week.

In some small towns he can get a vendor’s permit cheaply ($18/year, for example). Otherwise he just sells until they chase him out of the county. He says he hasn’t been fined yet, and he claims he sold $4,000 worth his first month. I think he was exagerating, but because of him we include used stuffed animals in our flea market stands with some success.