Most items found at garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, estate sales, and auctions have obvious uses. The used playpen will confine a baby, the used mower will cut the lawn, the lamp will sit on the table and illuminate a dark corner. I have wandered through many sales and antique stores and looked at the items on display, seeing only their obvious use. As the framework we all live in – the economy, the weather, our culture, and our place in the world – changes, I began to think about how the dated, used items I see could have hidden value. The economy is probably the framework that has changed the most over the past few years. We have all watched our retirement funds, house values, and savings drop through the floor. To invest in the stock market these days takes nerves of steel. One thing that has been reliable, however, are the precious metal markets. Gold, silver, and platinum have all been steadily increasing in value, maintaining an overall upward trend. You can see where I am going with this. Below are some items you may come across at a garage sales:

• Silverware. While most silverware is no longer made with silver, it is still possible to find the real thing. The older the better, and one way to tell if it actually is made out of silver is the tell tale dark corrosion marks. Uses include selling it for cash, keeping it as an alternate currency (barter), or to impress the in-laws at Thanksgiving dinner.
• Jewelry. Another source of valuable metal, if you know what to look for. I believe there is a higher probability of finding valuable metals or jewelry at estate sales or auctions, but the garage sales and yard sales are worth a try. Silver is pretty obvious. Gold can be tricky, so look for markings that will indicate what percentage of gold is in the item. The same goes for platinum jewelry.
• Other items made from precious metal. You never know what you might stumble across – someone might be selling solid silver candlesticks at a yard sale for a dollar. Coins, medals, and other decorative items are a possibility too.