NATCHEZ — Miss-Lou residents are tightening their belts and looking for ways to save or get more money.

One way many people look to get money quickly is by taking out a small, collateralized loan at pawn shops.

Concordia Gun and Pawn owner Finley Hootsell said there has been an increase in people coming in and selling things at his two local shops.

Two factors have contributed to the increase in the pawning of items, the first of which is the price of gold, he said.

“The value of gold is two or three times higher than it has been in a while now, and so there are some folks who might have an old class ring or a broken chain sitting in their sock drawer, and all of a sudden you can get a lot of money just selling that for scrap gold,” he said.

Gold is valued at approximately $745 per Troy ounce. A Troy ounce is approximately 0.069 pounds or 1.09 ounces.

The second reason more people are taking out pawn shop loans is the price of fuel.

“High gas prices have definitely pushed people to (pawn items),” Hootsell said.

At St. Andrew’s Thrift Store, located on U.S. 61 South, Manager Tracy Tillman said she has seen a slight increase in business in the last couple of months.

“Business is always steady — it’s never dead,” she said.

Along with the pace of business, Assistant Store Manager Donna Germany said she has noticed a change in the buying patterns of customers.

“They were buying more clothes when we opened (in May), but now they’re picking up more on odds and ends — household goods,” Germany said.

But times are hard even for thrift stores.

Customers also go to the Salvation Army — located on North Canal Street — looking for goods as well, but the pace of things has slowed considerably in recent weeks, Social Worker and Cashier Alberta McDuffie said.

“Business is down because donations are down,” McDuffie said. “People come in and look (for goods), but if it’s not here they don’t buy.”

What people are looking for in thrift stores now is furniture in good condition, dishes and appliances.

“We get plenty of clothes, but we don’t get many appliances,” McDuffie said.