This wasn't your mother's Tupperware party.

A few weeks ago I got invited to a party at a local mom's house. It was a "Jeans/sell your old gold" party. A woman with a truckload of out-of-season high-end denim jeans was coming to sell us $200 pairs of 7 For All Mankind and True Religion jeans for $50. Also: A man who would buy your old gold.

"Old gold?" I asked. Yes. Like old jewelry you've never worn old gold. "Dig through your drawers and you'll find something to sell," my friend told me. "Last time we had this party everyone bought jeans with the money they made selling their old gold." Apparently, as the economy tanks and the price of gold elevates, women all around the country are hosting these kinds of soirees.

During my lifetime video games have transformed from simple games mastered with a single joystick to a graphically intense activity for men and women of all ages, bordering national past-time status. It should come as no surprise that during this rise popularity and growth an organization would emerge to catalog competitions and showcase battles of epic proportion waged solely with controllers and trash talk. Major League Gaming (MLG) started in 2003 and has grown into the main purveyor of video game exhibitions, offering fame and fortune to those with enough hand-eye coordination and swagger to brave an arena filled with competitors named, "FaTaLitY" and "godsmurfrmc".

Amateurs can compete in "GameBattles," which are essentially the farm leagues of Major League Gaming, for the chance to be called up and compete for over $100,000 in prizes at national competitions. Some of the famous players in the MLG also net lucrative sponsorships for their aptitude at destroying opponents in HD on demand. Can it get any better? I know I'm not alone when I say that I would love to make playing video games my main job, especially at a six-figure level, but for most of us it isn't realistic. The leaders of the MLG circuit can rip us newbs to shreds as easily as you or I can make a PB & J sandwich.

Before you decide to quite school or resign from your job you need to remember that it is called Major League Gaming. I'd be willing to bet that the number of gamers who can turn pro and make a living off of gaming is lower than the 3% of college athletes who play professional sports. MLG focuses on shoot'em up games, but there is also a very competitive arena for rhythm video game stars who kick out killer jams in Guitar Hero. Recently Chris Chike, a 17-year-old from Minnesota, attained the highest rating on Guitar Hero leaderboards and a place in the Guinness World Records book for his gaming skills. Chike also became the spokesperson for Ant Commandos, a video game hardware company, letting him cash in on his gaming prowess.

When you travel for work, you know the drill: Get receipts for everything. When you spend cash for stuff like meals, beverages, hotels, and rental cars, your employer is likely to pick up the tab as long as you've got proof of purchase.

But what if you have to spend money on the road but can't get a receipt? It's happening more and more. The major airlines have deployed their newest fees with such haste that they are not always equipped to issue receipts for on-board purchases. Ask a flight attendant for one, and on some carriers you're more likely to receive a blank stare than appropriate documentation.

Take U.S. Airways. As of Aug. 1, the carrier began charging for drinks of any sort, including $2 for water. Passengers are not permitted to carry their own beverages through security, and buying drinks in the terminal is not always possible either because of a time crunch or because of personal dignity over gouging. If you, a business traveler, decide during Hour Three of a flight that you're thirsty, the staff will sell you a drink but they won't be able to give you a receipt.

I called U.S. Airways to ask if any of its flight attendants were equipped to furnish receipts for this newfangled charge. The answer was no. Right now, an airline rep told me, there are "plans" to give on-board staff hand-held devices for printing receipts by the first quarter of 2009, but for now, they have nothing, and those nebulous "plans" could not be elucidated for me. U.S. Airways' flight attendants also have neither the training or the equipment to write receipts by hand.

A tragic case in Taunton, Mass., where a 53-year-old wife and mother fatally shot herself after faxing a letter to her mortgage company, demonstrates a common issue in many marriages; secrets about money. According to police, Carlene Balderrama fax read, in part, "By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead."

"I had no clue," said spouse John Balderrama. He further explained that his wife had handled all the couple's finances and he no idea that she hadn't paid the mortgage in 42 months. But, in fact, there were clues. According to court records, Mr. Balderrama had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy three times from 2004 to 2006. Obviously there were long-standing financial issues that this couple were not facing together.

This is not unusual. Spouses more often lie to each other about money than any other issue. From hiding purchases and bills to opening single accounts, spouses often minimize their own spending. And in many households, only one spouse is actively involved in handling the family finances.

Former Major League Baseball player Julio Mateo -- who is currently playing in the minor leagues -- was arrested on suspicion of forgery last weekend after police found counterfeit $100 bills in his hotel room.

Of course everyone is innocent until proven guilty but The Associated Press found this gem in the police report: "Before officers informed him of why we were there, Julio stated that he did not know anything about fake money,"

Aha! A clue worthy of a particularly obvious episode of Murder, She Wrote, and also a good tip for any would-be criminals out there who are reading WalletPOP: don't deny that you've committed a certain crime before you've been accused of it.

But maybe we're being too hard on Mr. Mateo. I mean, with the federal government planning to spend $482 billion more than it has in 2009, is paying a cab fare with fake greenbacks really that big of a deal? Just saying. . .

According a recent article from Reuters, how couples handle money early in their marriage can have a profound impact on the rest of their lives. Now, I don't disagree but couples better not wait until after the honeymoon to talk about the BIG issue. Money is the number one problem that couples fight about and a major factor in most divorces. Yet surprisingly, many couples don't discuss cash until there are problems. Some key issues that you must discuss before you walk down the aisle with anyone.

• How much money do you both have in savings, checking, IRS's, 401K's and other assets?
  
• What liabilities do you or your partner have? Include mortgages, car payments, school loans, personal loans, and credit cards?
  
• What is the current status for you and your partner with the IRS? Beware of marrying anyone who owes the IRS money. It can cause havoc for both of you.
• How do you both feel about money? For some money represents control, others view it simply for fun. Some folks are savers. Identify what your attitude is about money.

Reconsider the next time you look for overtime to make some extra money or volunteer for an extra project to impress the boss. Working on your marriage may be as financially important as working on your career.

Couples who stay together long term have more money for retirement, financial security and fun. According to research by Linda Waite, at retirement a typical married couple has accumulated about $410,000 compared to about $167,000 for those who have never married, about $145,000 for divorced and just under $96,000 for the separated. Married couples also have better access to health insurance, annuities, pensions and social security.

Married couples behave more responsibly about money because they have more responsibilities. Often, the spouse who manages money best takes over the duties for both partners. No more eating out every night or blowing the paycheck at the bar. There now is a financial watchdog on duty. Even in-laws can be valuable. Not to sound mercenary, but they provide a potential access to inheritance. They also tend to help couples, with about 29% of married couples receiving financial help from in-laws and about a quarter of families with children receiving financial transfers in the past five years.

I like money, particularly bills. I like their weight, their smell, the pretty colors that they have, and the cool pieces of colored lint that the manufacturers put in the paper.

What I don't like, however, are the pictures. Not to insult Messrs. Washington, Lincoln, Grant, and Franklin, but these guys were revered for their intelligence, statesmanlike qualities, and dedication to the country, not their looks. I give partial passes to Jefferson, Hamilton, and Jackson, as they at least had good hair, but even they would be hard pressed to get a spot on a regional nightly news show, much less the coveted national anchor spot. And don't even get me started on McKinley, Cleveland, Madison, Wilson, and Salmon P. Chase; let's just say that I'm glad that they're stuck on the really large denominations.

Every so often, I've though about what America's currency would look like if the country had been established by attractive people. Luckily, thanks to Freaking News, I need wonder no longer. The site, which regularly features photoshop contests and strange news, has identified a recent trend in the United Kingdom: apparently, people with money, images of celebrities, and way too much time on their hands have begun combining the monetary portraits and the paparazzi pictures. In the process, they have created art that ranges somewhere between the monstrous, the amusing, and the deeply inspiring.

Excited by the potential of this process, Freaking News has conducted Photoshop money contests of its own. Check them out; the results are sure to give you a smile...particularly if you've ever wondered how Brad Pitt would look on a $50!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. If, for some reason, he ever ends up on currency, he hopes that the designers will use common sense and hire a stand-in. Perhaps Bruce Willis?

Late on rent? Loan shark breathing down your neck? Can't fill your car with gas to get to work on Monday? Assuming all available funds and traditional sources of credit are tapped out, here are 25 (legal) ways to raise cash in a few days. We list them in order from least to most desperate.

100,000 homeless can't be wrong! In states that require a deposit, 50 cans could bring you $2.50. As scrap, 32 cans make a pound, worth 70 cents.

When I need a little quick cash, I simply grab a little poundage from my cache of scrap aluminum cans and turn them into legal tender. Junk aluminum cans are everywhere, and just about any town has someone who'll pay cash for them. The trick is to get enough of them to make it worth your while, and find a way of managing them which keeps you from getting disgusted with the whole proposition.

Finding enough scrap cans is fairly easy. I scan parking lots and ditch lines. I keep a couple of plastic shopping bags handy to throw cans into. Most people you know send aluminum cans into their recycling bin. I have found that if you make a routine of collecting the cans from them for yourself, they are more than happy to hold them for you. Coworkers are also a good source of scrap cans.

Processing and storage is probably the most difficult part of my can saving project. The foremost rule for me is to deal with the cans as soon as possible after I receive them. I crush the cans a number of different ways, and I store them outside the house and as discreetly as possible. Aluminum cans take up a lot of room. That is why many people are put off of the idea of saving them. However, when crushed, you'd be amazed at how much poundage you can conveniently store. By crushing the cans and keeping them in sealed plastic bags, you can easily save up enough of them to make the hobby well worth your while.

Grab a shopping cart and go hunting!

All 25 ways to raise quick cash.

Late on rent? Loan shark breathing down your neck? Can't fill your car with gas to get to work on Monday? Assuming all available funds and traditional sources of credit are 9tapped out, here are 25 (legal) ways to raise cash in a few days. We list them in order from least to most desperate.

The Internet is a great place to make some extra cash, or at least that's what all the pop ups I got last night said! Thankfully Amazon offers a legit method of raising some extra coin online for completing mundane tasks. To start you just need to sign up with Amazon's Mechanical Turk program, , where companies post tasks that machines cannot easily do, but that are relatively simple for humans. You can choose an assignment, and, on completion, are credited with payment to your Amazon account. This money can be withdrawn once you accumulate $10.

However, these payout amounts are much lower than the many online ad programs or survey sites which greatly increases the chance that you'll eventually see the fruits of your labor. As I check out the current HITs which I qualify for I find over a hundred of them, ranging from free up to $7, but most seem to measure in cents.

If you have a lot of time or you feel comfortable "turking" on your employer's dime then this program could be a good way to make enough money to bankroll your entertainment needs or cover groceries for a week. While this is a relatively easy way to earn money, the time and effort needed to reach a reasonable amount holds this back from being an amazing opportunity. In my opinion this is a good deal if you aren't easily bored and you have the ability to quickly handle simple tasks. But for most people, you'll start off full of gusto and end up with 28 cents in your account just like me.

All 25 ways to raise quick cash.

Today's Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) on some of the creative lengths people are going to to come up with cash to meet rising expenses in the face of falling home values: life settlement agreements, borrowing against 401(k) assets, maxing out whatever credit cards are left to max out, reverse mortgages, and a strange hybrid of sorts that allows you to receive cash in exchange for a chunk of any future appreciation in your home's value.

Of course, there are situations where all of those solutions may be appropriate but, as I see it, there are two great, obvious and often ignored solutions to a financial shortfall:

• Work more! Get a second job! Babysit! Mow lawns! As Dave Ramsey says, the best place to go when you need money is work. Before you even contemplate thinking about thinking about borrowing money, ask yourself whether you could find more hours at work or find another source of income.
  
• Sell crap that you don't need, including stuff you currently think you need but don't -- Re-examine everything you have. Old video games, books, collectibles, etc. can be sold on eBay. Most families have plenty of non-critical stuff that they could sell to generate cash. And I have a hunch that cash-strapped families are more likely than financially secure ones to have a supply of jewelry and hi-tech stuff that can be sold. They're broke for a reason!

I am an avid weekend commuter. With family and friends four states away, I get to see the varying gas prices along my weekend route.

Currently, the average price of car life giving blood is $3.28 in Maryland, and just last week I went in search of the ever elusive just-a-few-cents-cheaper gallon. I came across a rinky-dink station, with blaring red neon signs that read, "Regular $3.19", JACKPOT! Then I see the blaring blue sign, "CASH ONLY." Uhhh, seriously?

I realize it's one of those smaller chain gaseterias, and that I will now have to find my way to a bank to get, yick, "cash." I really do like the ease of swiping a debit card and being on my way, call it spoiled if you want. I guess being able to accept cards costs the station owners money, so if they're willing to pass on the savings for not using credit machines, I'll play along.

If you're in need of some extra cash right now, you're not alone. Today, The New York Times reports that the family budget is getting pummeled by--yep--gas prices. Pump tallies of $4 a barrel are coming at a very bad time.

"The effect of high oil prices today could be the difference between having a recession and not having a recession," said Kenneth S. Rogoff, a Harvard economist.

Energy increases have normally been absorbed by consumers, but this time not so easily. The housing crisis and credit crunch have made household budgets even tighter, creating a real need for extra emergency cash.

AOL Money & Finance's new feature--Top Five Ways to Get Extra Cash Fast--could help your situation, offering up some familiar (and unfamiliar) ideas for scoring some extra bills.

B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.

Let's face it, frugal shopping can be difficult but it's not because the retailers are out to rob you of your money. Stores of all types operate on one simple premise; It's their job to convert product display space into profit. Store layouts, merchandise displays and product placement are all used in well researched configurations to make the most from limited retail space. As frugal shoppers, it's our individual responsibility to see through the merchandise promotion blitz and to guard our own spending by fending off the impulse purchase of items we never intended to buy when we first entered the store.

The expertise of retailers in moving product is the major cause for my "shopping with an attitude" theory. I realize that stores are providing me a service by offering products for sale, but that doesn't mean that I should be surrendering my wallet to them at the door. My shopping attitude theory is summed up in the following words: "It's my money and I'll decide how much of it you get." It's a simple condition of mental focus which should be taken along with you into every store you enter and it's partially rooted in the following frugal shopping principles:

With the Christmas shopping season in full gear, it's important to remember these three basic money rules, so that this shopping season doesn't bring a lump of bankruptcy coal for your stocking.

Cash is King
While it sounds simple to spend only the money you actually have, in practice it's much more difficult. With consumers being bombarded from every angle to spend spend, spend and pay the consequences later, the easiest way to ensure that this holiday season doesn't bring personal economic collapse is to use cash. Make your gift list, and then withdraw cash, and use it to make purchases. This will give you the discipline to spend only what you have. Each spending decision will need to be analyzed as to its importance. If you hear the call of the amazing special in aisle four, and decide to impulsively buy the special, you may have no money left to get your best friend a gift. Just like your mother told you; it's all about consequences.

Don't keep up with the Joneses
It's very tempting to try and keep up with our well-off friends. We know that they are not only going to buy presents for anyone and everyone, they are going to spend a small fortune in doing so. While we all enjoy the spirit of giving, we can't get carried away by it. Before you think about shopping, make a budget and see just how much money you have to spend this season. If you go into your shopping adventure knowing how much you can spend, chances are that at the end of the day, you will be able to stick to that plan. However, If you wing it and make it up as you go along, well that's when trouble hits. Before you know it, you will have incurred credit-card debt that will take months or even years to pay off.

No Quick Fix
Don't plan on paying for your holiday excesses by thinking that you are going to "get rich quick." Chances are that you aren't going to win the big lottery, or pick that stock that will return 1,000% next year. We need to live in reality, and thinking that your financial happiness is going to ride on winning the lottery isn't particularly rational. The key to growing wealth is to save regularly and invest. There are no shortcuts.

Acting financially responsibly may be the best gift you can give -- to your family, and to yourself.

Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com.