The Pawn.

Strange how fast, and how easy it is to lose.

Nothing demonstrates that better than needing money fast at your local pawn shop. When life gives you lemons, and you are getting tired of swimming in an Olympic pool of lemonade you may need cash, and need it fast to stay afloat. I know the rules of pawn shop buy-sell-trade, they are just as simple to do as they are to forget about, which is exactly what I did today...

I walked in with a complete set of cordless tools, and a drywall cut out device, and walked out with $75.00.

What I did wrong:

1. I didn't check for the exact value before I went in. I was in a bit of a panic.

2. You are better off at times selling each tool individually, unless it is a set. But, whatever you do, don't do what I did and dump a bunch of stuff on the table, they will offer what they were probably going to offer you for the most valuable item, and basically get the rest for free.

3. Haggle. Argue. Talk up the value, but don't look as desperate as I did today. That is a terrible idea.

4. Don't sell at a pawn shop. Maybe I should have led with this piece of advice, but, unless you need cash now, don't go to a pawn shop unless you are incredibly savvy and buy crazy low, or you really want to get ripped off because you are a masochist whose addiction to pain and suffering knows absolutely no bounds.

5. If you can, stay single. And you probably will never have to worry about any of this. Not only should you never sell anything to a pawn shop, don't become a pawn.

So as it turns out I was at a little place called "inception pawn" which is a pawn within a pawn.

I walked in sad, and walked out a loser, which seems to be habit forming.

But, at least I wasn't surprised.