Park Slope is one of New York City’s better neighborhoods for the downsized.  While the median one bedroom rent of $1800 it is still expensive for the average 405er, the multiplex on 15^th Street features matinee prices before 4pm, there’s a well regarded food coop to reduce grocery costs, a wide variety of coffee houses to substitute for offices and many freelancers and stay-at-home moms to keep you company during the day.  There are also lots of opportunities to score free things from neighbors who leave boxes of books and clothing outside for others to take, and a popular way to make a little money from items you no longer want.  Nice weather brings stoop sales on brownstone steps or in front of apartment buildings, and particular blocks and buildings will often team up to host multi-family sales to generate more business.

Last month, on one of the warmest April days on record, I joined a neighbor in hosting a stoop sale.  We live just off of Prospect Park, and hoped to attract foot traffic from people making their way there for the sunny afternoon. He was selling furniture, many pieces of which he’d cleverly rehabilitated after other tenants tossed them out, and I was selling a motley mix of CDs, knick knacks, and black bags I’d accumulated from many years of attending conferences and career fairs. Even though I was only charging $1 to $3 for most items, I wouldn’t be parting with anything I was attached to or had spent much on. I’d loaded all the CDs onto my computer and iPod already,  the knick knacks were mostly corporate gifts I’d received from appreciative vendors in a better market, and I have enough black book, computer, and conference-logoed bags to bury me alive if I don’t stand back when opening one particular closet.  After a stint of nearly three hours I made $20 and got my first sunburn of the year.  I also received a newly painted dresser my neighbor and co-host couldn’t unload, and discovered what seemed like a huge demand for costume jewelry when several folks who perused my offerings asked if I had any to sell.

The following week I decided to host a sale by myself, and the weather and my timing were both off.  I brought out jewelry in addition to other items, but there were few people strolling by in the chilly late afternoon and nobody was buying.  I also felt somewhat pathetic out there alone with my ironing table heaped with merchandise. My neighbors, who had been impressed by my initiative the previous week and looked with interest at my collection, now looked somewhat concerned by whatever financial calamity had driven me to run a second consecutive weekend sale. I thought briefly about creating a sign that read “Laid Off HR Executive Will Sell Costume Jewelry for Food,” but decided to pack up early.  There had to be a better way to make quick cash from unwanted possessions.  My items seemed too small and numerous to list on Ebay, and I didn’t want to risk attracting any serial robbers or killers from Craigslist, no matter how good looking they might be.

The answer soon presented itself in my email box as a note from “Cash4Gold.” The Florida-based company, which purchases gold for “melt” rather than resale value, offered an envelope I could stuff my gold jewelry into without the chance of embarrassment from human interaction. The company also had to be legitimate, I thought, if they could afford a spokespeople like Ed McMahon and MC Hammer and a commercial during the Super Bowl. I filled out the online form, and within 4 days had received the “refiner’s pack” and details about the company and the transaction.

Cash4Gold’s literature describes it as “America’s #1 Gold Buyer,” and guaranteed my “total satisfaction.” They would take “broken and outdated items like old chains, school rings, wedding bands, earrings, dental gold or any item that may contain gold or platinum,” and promised that a shipment would be “processed and payment mailed the next business day, based upon the current price of gold, weight and purity of the material.” A $4.99 option was also available if I wanted my “FAST CASH” wired into my bank account.  Best of all, there was a 10 day return policy if I didn’t like the price offered and the return envelope required no postage. I gathered up 4 bracelets, eight mismatched earrings, and seven mostly broken necklaces and chains, many of which I’d inherited from various sources and none of which I’d worn in years.   If I was worried that my bulging envelope would be swiped by a gold-seeking and cash poor mailman, the offer also came with insurance for up to $100 for my shipment.

Two weeks later I still hadn’t received a check, and I started to get worried.  I hadn’t retained the number on the package I shipped, and when I called I asked whether my shipment status could be tracked by name.  After asking for just my first name the operator offered up my address and said I would be receiving something within three to five days.  I know that they can bring up your name and details by seeing your phone number, but was nevertheless impressed by the wizardry of their quick identification.  Had my former employer somehow notified them that I would be broke enough to be selling jewelry shortly?  Were they already waiting for my shipment or desperate call regarding the payout? Sixteen days after dropping the envelope in the mail I received a check for $32.56.  The detail categorized my goods as “scrap” and “6 chains,” and under karat grade described payouts for items that were “12K” and “gold-filled.” A third line explained that “items containing no value” were not included in the calculation.

If you have pieces that might have significant resale value in their current form Cash4Gold is probably not the best option for you, and the website itself suggests that taking items to a pawn shop or jewelry shop may yield a better return.  The economy and the high price of gold have created multiple avenues to sell unwanted jewelry and to compare offers; just yesterday on my way to jury duty in Brooklyn Heights I saw a gentleman wearing a sandwich board for a shop that would buy gold.  Still, as an easy way to make a few dollars without having to bargain with your neighbors over $2 items at a stoop sale, it’s not a bad option.

Cash4Gold can be reached at 1-877-GOLD-590 or at www.Cash4FGold.com

-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager

Read all of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals” here.

Some of my friends are surprised that after three years in my apartment I’ve just had my gas turned on.  Like “Sex in the City” heroine Carrie Bradshaw, whose oven served as storage space for sweaters, I didn’t have much need for cooking at home.   Before joining the ranks of the laid off I frequently ate three meals a day at the office, and my career as a recruiter and recruiting manager came with many evening receptions and dinners.  I used to joke that I doubled my compensation in the amount of free food I consumed at business events.  When I ate at home it was most often microwave fare or delivery from Szechuan Delight.  I’ve now re-discovered the joys of boiling pasta and Key Food specials where multiple boxes of spaghetti and ziti can be procured for $3 or less.

My newfound enthusiasm for cooking (or should I say boiling?) doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on dining out.  I have more time to travel to friend’s offices to visit them for lunch, and I try to focus on eating breakfast or lunch out rather than more expensive dinners.  And then there’s brunch, the obsession of many foodie New Yorkers, and one of the best opportunities for leisurely networking and catching up with employed friends and former colleagues. I’ll still be searching for new brunch spots when my unemployment insurance runs out and they come to foreclose on my apartment. One of my favorite bargain brunches is the all-you-can- eat buffet at Aunt Suzie, Southern Italian restaurant in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  As the recession wears on it keeps getting better and better too.

Aunt Suzie began offering an all-you-can-eat “champagne brunch” for $15.90 in 2008. The allure of the buffet enabled me to get lots of Manhattan-centric folks to venture out to Brooklyn, many of whom were amazed that buffets came in any other cuisine than Indian or were served outside of hotels. When I first started visiting I thought the buffet was a great deal for a spread that included four types of pasta, salad, chicken, bagels, waffles, crepes, eggs, bacon, desserts and unlimited coffee, juice, soda, bloody marys, bellinis, or mimosas.  Returning a few months later, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the restaurant had lowered prices.  The brunch was available for $9.90 with coffee, $12.90 with orange juice or soda, and only went up to $15.90 if one opted for unlimited alcoholic drinks.  I always tried to arrive at the beginning of the 12pm-3pm seating, but one Sunday discovered that arriving near the end was an even better deal.  My friend Amanda - whose job as an Admissions Officer at a top business school makes her one of the busiest and most securely employed people I know - was running late after a morning visit to church.  We sat down at around 2:30, and while stuffing ourselves full of tri-color tortellini with peas were greeted by a waitress wielding plastic containers.  “The buffet is closing soon, and there’s still plenty left,” she said.  “Please help yourselves to leftovers.” We happily joined a line of people who were finishing brunch while gathering their free dinners-to-go.

The Sunday buffet runs from 12pm-3pm, with prices starting at $9.90. The dinner menu can also be a bargain. It features an array of pastas for $7.90 and a special “really cheap” section with meatballs parmigiana at $9.90 and chicken parmigiana, cacciatore and marsala at $10.90.  Aunt Suzie’s newsletter, available at the restaurant, will also direct you to coupons for future dining and highlight the merits of its cuisine in a troubled economy.  “Southern Italian food IS recession food,” it declares.  “Italian cooks can teach some important lessons on waste and frugality to corporate jet setters.  We take our stale bread and put it in the meatballs. We cook with anchovies because their sharpness and saltiness mocks the taste of more expensive cheeses.  We know what to do with leftovers…”  I can’t guarantee that you’ll be urged to take a doggie bag if you arrive late, but I’ve been told that it happens periodically.  The restaurant’s owner, Irene, is also debating sending leftovers to a nearby soup kitchen.  Either way, the delicious remnants of this Sunday feast will be going to help someone impacted by our difficult economy.

Aunt Suzie Restaurant is located at 247 5^th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, between Carroll and Garfield Streets.  For more information please visit www.auntsuzie.com

-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager

Here are some other tips and tricks to save money that I’ve come across and been able to take advantage of.

• Free movie screenings - Many theaters run free movie screenings and usually advertise them during the day.  The AMC Loews at 68th Street is a particularly good source and I try to pass by often and see if someone is hawking passes.  The people doing this often get tired of soliciting folks so I go right up to them to inquire what they have.  Tonight I’m going to a free screening of “The Road” with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Thereon. I’ll bring in a soda and licorice to save money, but may splurge for popcorn.

• Mystery shopping - These advertisements can seem rather sketchy, and many of them advertised directly seem like scams.  I signed up directly through my bank to be a mystery shopper.  You get paid anywhere from $15-$25 for a visit, and they only take 30 minutes or so.  An added benefit is that in going through the “shops” you can learn a lot about additional benefits as you test the banker’s skills.  I got my interest rate increased substantially when I said I was unemployed and was looking for ways to increase my savings.

• Enjoying credit card points - I used to run up a lot of points on credit cards when I was working.  Many credit cards will let you take out an advance of points. I take out $5000 points advances for $50 gift cards, and have about a year to pay back the points.  I turn all my points into restaurant gift cards or Barnes & Noble cards.  The restaurant cards allow me to have a nice meal for only the price of the tip.  I use the Barnes & Noble cards for new books, and then sell them back to The Strand. The Strand only pays $2-$3 for books that are in demand and in good condition, but every little bit helps.

-By Janet Raiffa, Guest Blogger & Recruiting Manager

Garrett Dale and Jose Gonzalez. Photo by Antoine Doyen.

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See The 405 Club in the news + Press Information

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On January 14th, at about 4pm, one Tufts and two UPenn unemployed graduates got together to eat some BBQ, throw a few beers back over a Cash Cab marathon and here was born The 405 Club… New York’s Official (Un)Employment Network.  The Fastest Growing Club in New York; On $405/week, but rich in talent!

Why “The 405 Club?” For the uninitiated, $405 is the maximum unemployment benefit in New York State. If you’re reading this you’re probably amongst the newly unemployed, or soon to be. We hope this serves as a place for newbies and sages alike to commiserate; to find and share some new tips and tricks to navigate this tough environment.

A huge thanks to our contributors and members, all of which help build THE 405 CLUB into a community-based employment information and networking resource. The community is always growing - if you’re interested in contributing to the site’s content, please email us.

Founding Members

Garrett Dale, named by 405ers as the “Chief Unemployed Officer,” is the driving force behind all things digital at The 405 Club. His most recent position at Epic Records as a Regional Radio Promotion Manager came to a hault with a massive restructuring, becoming a recession casualty along with 8,000 others at Sony in December of 2008.  Prior writing experience comes by way of his college newspaper, The Tufts Daily, as a contributing writer for 2 years.  September of 2009 was a glorious month as Garrett found work at a digital media trading company in NYC.

Jose Gonzalez is the Head of Media Relations for The 405 Club. Prior to The 405 Club, Jose worked in Asset Management until early 2009 when he fell victim to the recession.  Fortunately Jose was able to find work in September at a major banking institute.

Ethan Paul is the head of Business Development here at The 405 Club.  Ethan’s work experience comes from the real estate investment business, working with clients such as Lehman Brothers, leading to an unfortunate downsizing of the company.

Contributing Writers & Members

Laurie Dillon-Schalk is an e-marketing dynamo offering senior level marketing direction creating game changing marketing impact. With an illustrious brand marketing past from Kraft and a solid e-business management consulting past from IBM, Laurie joined the exciting housing industry in 2006. The market crashed and Laurie was terminated while on maternity leave in December 2008. Undeterred, Laurie is back on her feet winning clients instead jobs and so has started her own marketing consultancy called Social Wisdom.

Janet L. Falk is PR professional with a vast spectrum of clients and industries.

Yvonne Fitzner is a graphic design specialist, political activist and humanitarian.

Jeff Fryer has 12 years of experience in marketing, promotion, sales and project management, with a background in hands-on strategy for media and entertainment companies. Prior to joining the 405 Club, he was a Marketing Manager for concert promoter AEG Live, and also spent a number of years in the music business at stints with The Knitting Factory, EMI Music Publishing, and Sony Music.

Jeff has been very proactive since his unemployment, constantly networking and attending a wide range of events to keep his marketing skills up-to-date. As a tech-savvy person, he’s made the strategic move to further showcase his digital marketing skills with a few freelance jobs, including creating a comprehensive Social Marketing plan for a non-profit.

Actively on the job hunt (since December 2008), Jeff is looking for a long-term relationship with an inspiring company – to provide creative and innovative marketing solutions for its brand.

Catherine Fuentes is a freelance entertainment writer, with industry experience in marketing, new media and casting at Miramax Films, Nickelodeon, Us Weekly and MTV, among others. She’s hoping to combine her love for writing and creative thinking with her lifelong passion in the entertainment industry, and find a career that makes Monday mornings a little more exciting. When not writing or staying up to date with all things entertainment industry, Catherine is a huge college basketball fan and can be found cheering on the Duke Blue
Devils or attending any concert any night of the week. Clips and information can be found at www.catherinefuentes.com.

Lesley Pink is an editor and writer who has worked in marketing, financial journalism, and immigration law.  She wishes she could swim for a living.

Janet Raiffa is a campus recruiter, diversity recruiter, and recruiting manager with over fifteen years of experience hiring undergraduates and professional school students for careers in consulting, investment banking, and law. Prior to joining the 405 Club, where she tries to focus on the humorous side of unemployment, she was the Director of Legal Recruiting at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, and also spent nine years at Goldman, Sachs & Co in New York, New Jersey, London, and Bangalore, India. Janet holds a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in American Studies from Columbia University, and is using her tenure in unemployment to do many of the things she liked to do best in college — write, take odd jobs, and sleep late.

Vicki Salemi is an author, freelance writer, career expert, HR consultant (recruiting, outplacement services, international HR, compensation guru, training), public speaker and networking advocate.

Ryan Schramm is a 405 Club alumnus having landed a job as an IT professional in New York City.

Gloria Schramm is a go-getter and go-to person who loves to play matchmaker and connect people with jobs and lovers. She keeps a personal journal (an inside job) and teaches journal writing. Gloria has written for a variety of newspapers and magazines. Her favorite pastimes are traveling the globe with husband, Fred, and enjoying her happily re-employed son, Ryan.

Cara Weissman is a casting producer with experience planning and executing casting strategies both large and small around the world. Cara has been selecting participants for a variety of networks and programs for five years and hope to continue using my experience to find then interview contributors and ascertain what potential stories would work best for shows based on the desires of networks, target demographics and sponsors.

Howard K. Young spent his college years writing for the Metropolitan, Farleigh Dickinson University’s newspaper.  After a short stint in the heath care field, Howard has devoted his career to making US manufacturing more efficient. He has worked as a Production Planner, Buyer, Warehouse Manager, and most recently in Harman International’s Supply Chain department as a Demand Planner. Howard lost his job at Harman as a result of a major restructure, which closed Harman’s Woodbury facility; putting him and 149 of his colleagues out of work.

Howard is often quoted as saying, “One of my major strengths is the ability to be flexible and quickly adapt to changing situations.”  Howard has spent his time in between positions repairing computers, keeping his skills current, as well as writing for the 405 Club.

And we must recognize our other hard-working members in our Facebook and LinkedIn communities. Thank you all!

But enough about us, tell us about YOU.

For all inquiries regarding The 405 Club please email 405club@gmail.com. Thank you!