LEE COUNTY: "Gold parties" is the new trend is emerging in Southwest Florida. The host comes to you, you give them the gold and they give you the cash. NBC2 dug into this emerging gold economy and uncovered whether it's really worth it.
Friday night, a group of ladies spent the night cashing in on their old gold and Mickey Mahaffey says she could sure use it.
"Might go towards a house payment," she told NBC2.
To many, gold is the one bright spot in an otherwise bleak economy. On Friday it was priced at about $850 an ounce and those high prices are spawning that new trend.
"Basically it's like your updated Tupperware party," said gold party hostess Mary Martin.
The difference is, she says, you don't spend cash - you only make it.
Martin says she will come to your house, weigh your gold and hand you over a percentage of the gold's worth.
"The gold party environment is more of a safe place for women to come turn in their gold," said Martin. "You get the people who make $500, $600, $700 and it makes a huge difference to them."
NBC2 discovered you may be able to get more for your gold at a jewelry store. However, many people are now choosing gold parties for the social payoff and for the comfort.
