Best things to pawn at a pawnshop

Think of pawnshops as a last-resort, short-term loan with collateral — basically, you offer up a valuable item and the pawnbroker lends you money. Once you pay off your pawnshop loan, you get your merch back. Of course, you can always choose not to take your items back, opting to sell them to a pawnbroker instead, just as you can sell your valuables outright without having to take out a loan.

Before you find yourself pawning items for cash — or using them as collateral — knowing the best things to pawn can help you strategize. Pawnbrokers determine the value of items on a case-by-case basis via personal appraisal, but the pros can help identify some industry staples that consistently fetch big dollar values, so you can get the money you need quickly.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Best Things to Pawn at a Pawnshop