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In the past 2 weeks, I have spent around 700,000 in gold. During the same period, my worth has increased about 400,000. So what caused this big increase in a two week period. Let me explain:

I have always been the junk king. It's pretty easy for me because a lot of people don't want to fool with the stuff they get in towns and they like to immediately get rid of the stuff they get in daily chances. I have about 20-25 regular customers that I buy from each week. Making gold is a grind in this fashion. Contrary to what some might think, my margin is only about 15-20% on these purchases. I try to make it on volume. But still, it is hard to accumulate large amounts of gold in this regard. I have occasionally made big pushes in this effort by going into the forums and hard advertising my position. There have been weekend nights where I actually did close to 100 trades in one night. But still... it is a grind.

When I reached an excess of 2 million pure gold, I decided to try a different approach. Move to a higher level... So I invested heavily in letters and the evolving items. Letters are always the soundest investment in Gaia. If you don't want to buy them with real cash, just wait until the end of the month when they will usually hit their bottom and start buying. Buy 4-5 and put them up. If the price goes down, like the November 2007 letters, keep buying them... but only 1-2 at a time to see where the bottom hits. I have purchased almost 30 November letters on the market and continue to do so. The thing is, even though the November letters are really weak right now, they will absolutely not stay that way.

The last letter to act similarly was the July 2007 letter which hovered around 9,000 for several months. When it broke out, it went to 15,000 pretty quickly. I had bought over 20 of those and I sold them all in the 15-16,000 range turning a big profit. The November 2007 letter will eventually do the same. If you look at all the letters, even the weaker ones from years gone by, they will eventually setle in the 21-25,000 range. No letter will stay at below 10,000 forever and when it starts moving, it will get to a good profit for you quickly. So when you see really depressed prices on letters, snatch them up and wait a few months to turn big profits.

The other thing I have really been looking at are the evolving items. Faustos bottle and Hermes Moon are doing great, especially the moon. when they first hit the marketplace, you could buy them for 20,000-25,000 pretty easily. Now they will bring you 5-10 times that. There is nothing in Gaia that will turn profit quicker, or bigger. You don't have to buy them with cash, buy them in the market when they first hit. Obviously the first generations are the best but even some of the laters are doing ok. Me personally, I am planning on concetrating on the first generations.

I am not a genius by any means but if I were going to recommend anything, I suggest buying the Orindae, first generation, right now! The price is still under 30,000. If it follows the bottle or the moon, then it could be 3-6 times that in a short period of time. I think it's the best buy out there and as soon as I finish this column, I am going to buy 2-3 more.

Hope this helps you guys... have a great day!

Wel first, girl... thank you for taking time to read my little column. I try to do these occasionally but I don't think anyone ever comes to this part of the guild.

Second, you have made the call! I owned the first gen Agate but per your hunch, I have just went and purchased another first generation, a second generation and a fourth. These evolving items really have the potential to make huge amounts of profit. My first generation agate had gone up 13,900 in just 2 days so I think you have offered a great suggestion.

My problem now is that I am going to have to start turning over some inventory. I have spent over 1 million in pure gold in the past 2 weeks! LOL

question question question eek

Help. I have no head for investments and finance. I'm not stupid, but strategy (like chess) eludes me. I find myself (my elter-ego) in posession of a Spartan Shield. Do I list it at 500K going price, do i list it higher? Do I wait? There are only 5 including mine on market right now. I am so confused. Any tips or help would be appreciated.