With the average cost of college tuition topping $23,000 for public and $42,000 for private institutions,1 earning a scholarship or grant can significantly reduce the cost of obtaining a college education.
If you are a woman in college or going to college, these are some scholarship opportunities you can apply for:
Scholarship awards are up to $500 per semester or $125 per quarter or summer semester. Preference is given to students attending Foothill/DeAnza College or Ozarks Technical Community College.
ASIST awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 and are for adults seeking higher education who need assistance due to financial, social, or physical challenges.
EWISP is for high school seniors and provides more than $100,000 in scholarship money each year. Applicants must live near a participating EWI chapter.
Go Girl! Grant
The Go Girl Grant! is provided by the Girlfriend Factor, an organization that aims to make sure higher education and occupational training are financially accessible to all women. To date, they have awarded more than $700,000 to 180 women.
Applicants for the Go Girl! Grant must be 25 years old or older and must live and go to school in the Coachella Valley in California. Women must demonstrate how this educational path can help them achieve a specific employment goal.
Ignite Fellowship with Teach for America
Women looking for flexible income and experience impacting students can also consider a paid for the the Ignite Fellowship, a paid remote teaching fellowship that enables you to tutor underserved children online while continuing your own studies or parenting.
The Ignite Fellowship is a rewarding, meaningful way to gain unique, hands-on experience as you put your passion for educational excellence into action.
Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund
The Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund is an award-winning financial aid program bolstering income-challenged women aged 35+ seeking a degree or trade certificate. The program supports continuing education efforts with a focus on inclusion for all who identify as women. Open to U.S. residents and permanent citizens.
Dr. Anita Young Boswell Scholarship – $1,000 awarded to African-American students who excel academically and demonstrate care for their community while continuing a postsecondary education
Dr. W. A. Frazier “Sister-to-Sister” Scholarship – $1,000 to provide financial help mature African-American women who are pursuing a postsecondary education.
This education grant is for women whose education has been interrupted who are now looking to continue their education to enhance job skills for employment and better their lives and their families’ lives.
To be eligible for the Program for Continuing Education (P.C.E.) Grant, you must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States or Canada and must be enrolled in an education program.
You must be in within 18 consecutive months of completing your education program. You must also have the sponsorship of a local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
P.E.O. STAR Scholarship
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is for young women in their last year of high school for tuition, fees, books, room and board or other qualified college expenses. The $2,500 scholarship is not renewable and can be paid directly to the recipient or the school of choice.
The Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
For those who identify as a woman and are interested in pursuing a degree in Engineering, the Society of Women Engineers Scholarship is valued from $1000 to $5000.
Interested applicants only have to submit one application, but they will be considered for all of the scholarships they are eligible for.
SWE also offers scholarships in India, provided that the students are enrolled in SWE India Affiliate School and Washington-accord accredited program.
The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award
The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award is for women who are breadwinners in their families. Soroptimist provides up to $16,000 for the Live Your Dreams Award finalist to use toward tuition fees, books, transportation, and child care.
The Live Your Dreams Award aims to help women continue their education to transform their lives and communities. Applications are open from August 1 to November 15 each year.
To apply, you must not have a graduate degree and must have a financial need. Recipients must be passionate about achieving their educational career and goals. You must be enrolled in or have been accepted to an undergraduate degree program or vocational training program.
Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship awards scholarships to surviving spouses or children of deceased service members and veterans. If you are a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability, you may also be eligible. These needs-based scholarships are for those who are enrolled or enrolling in an accredited college or university.
WID Scholar Program
The WID Scholar Program is offered by the Women in Defense (WID) National Security Organization and is for women who are pursuing careers supporting U.S. national security.
Prospective applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree and must have attained junior status by the fall of 2024. Graduate students are also eligible.
Applicants must carry a GPA of at least 3.25, be a citizen of the United States, and must demonstrate interest in pursuing careers related to national security or defense.
Women’s Independence Scholarship Program
For female victims of intimate partner violence who have successfully separated from their partners, the Women’s Independent Scholarship Program was founded in 1999 and has helped hundreds of women and their children.
Awards range from $500-$2,000 per semester or quarter for undergraduate students and $1,000 per semester or quarter for master’s degree students.
Worthy Women Scholarship
Every year, the jewelry buyback auction site Worthy.com gives away three scholarships — for $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 — to women aged 30+ enrolled in school. Essay required. Learn more at Worthy Women Scholarship.
“See the Average College Tuition in 2023-2024,” by Emma Kerr and Sarah Wood for U.S. News and World Report. Sept. 20, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/paying-for-college-infographic
According to Pew Research Center data,1 about 22% of people over 40 in committed relationships first met their partner on a dating site or app. But what about the other 78%?
While the idea of meeting someone “IRL” (in real life for the non-Gen Zers) can be daunting, there are plenty of places to meet quality singles in person.
One major benefit of meeting face to face instead of behind a screen? You can immediately establish whether you have a connection, rather than spending hours getting to know each other online only to meet in person and realize you have no spark.
Plus, you get to analyze that person’s communication style, body language, and overall level of interest.
Want to meet someone IRL? Here are some of the best places to connect:
One of the most popular ways to meet singles in real life is through golf — whether you’re actively learning and playing the sport or just attending tournaments. Golf is an excellent place to meet single, available men, often those who have the means and disposable income to play this relatively expensive sport.
I’ve had my hand at swinging the clubs surrounded by testosterone. It didn’t matter that I was terrible at it; many were delighted to see me making the effort as a solo single female. I opted for a few lessons, then made a beeline to the club restaurant, which served as a watering hole for groups who had completed their games.
With the ubiquitous social lubricant of alcohol, I found it easy to strike up conversations with avid players and would often use my bad golf game as an icebreaker.
Me asking for advice tended to make their faces light up, and once I got them started, it was easy to steer the conversation to other topics to gauge compatibility. While I never met a man I felt the urge to continue exploring, I couldn’t ignore the potential future opportunities.
Tennis…match?
Similarly, tennis is a great way to meet single men who value fitness. Like golf, tennis has a certain cachet, and the likelihood of meeting a fit, single, and upwardly mobile partner is high.
As a Southern California native, access to some sort of activity related to tennis is everywhere — especially the tournaments. I recently attended a tennis open in Desert Hot Springs, where I met people to chat with simply by grabbing a cocktail or food.
We sparked conversations over the progress of our favorite players and any drama surrounding specific matches. Tennis events often provide opportunities to mix and mingle after the matches are over.
If tennis is too strenuous or not your cup of tea, one of the most popular new sports, especially for older adults, is pickleball. As of 2021, the majority of pickleball players were 55, with an average age of 38. From 2014 to 2021, pickleball has nearly doubled in popularity, and six out of 10 pickleball players are male.
Wine tasting
As a resident of a city with more than 51 wineries, I can tell you that these places are a bastion of socializing and fun. Besides meeting someone who loves wine and the finer things in life, wineries often host a variety of events like concerts, wine pairing classes, and wine education.
These are just a few locales I’ve tried out for myself, but others have reported success in finding viable romantic partners at MeetUp events where participants share a common interest (e.g., running, hiking, gaming). Some other popular in-person opportunities include:
Fitness classes: Yoga, pilates, or spin classes can be great social environments.
Farmers’ markets: Shop for fresh produce and strike up conversations with other visitors.
Comedy clubs: Share laughs and connect with others who have a good sense of humor.
Workshops and seminars: Learn something new and meet people with similar interests.
Festivals and fairs: Explore local culture and meet a diverse group of people.
Travel groups: Join a group tour or adventure trip to bond with fellow travelers.
Meeting someone with a common interest has its benefits. You can immediately establish if there is chemistry and connection between you and get a better sense of a person’s personality and communication style.
But there is a downside. Virtually every opportunity to meet a potential romantic connection depends on quickly establishing whether the person is single and available. Many people attending these kinds of events are already coupled, especially if you live in the suburbs or country, where the marriage rate is higher.2
If you still prefer to meet people online, check out my list of the best dating sites for people over 40 and our reviews of top dating sites:
Your kids’ schools and social networks are a goldmine! Plenty of moms I know have met nice guys who are either dads or love kids through the natural age-appropriate network of similarly educated parents: Dads at sports events, afternoon pickup and event volunteering, coaches, teachers and cute fathers at the playground. Lots of divorces and breakups happening, lots to talk about.
Confirms Erin Michelle Silber: “I met my boyfriend of almost 6 years at a PTA back to school parents social. We had a friend in common.”
Via the Millionaire Single Moms Facebook group:
“Community events. I volunteer with organizations that mean a lot to me. The positive side to stuff like this is that it fills your cup. So if you don’t meet anyone you still will feel fulfilled and you may end up in a situation like me where dating just falls lower down on the priority list. If not, you’re bound to meet someone.” — Jannell Johnson
“Local sports clubs — running, softball, pickleball.” — Marissa Rose
“I just returned from a Virgin Voyages cruise and met lots of single men my age (43). Handsome ones I’d add.” — Tiffany Lambert
Via daters on Reddit:
Singles on Reddit also shared these ideas for meeting in real life:
California’s historic Gold Country is experiencing a resurgence, spurred by recent hotel renovations and an influx of new residents during the COVID-19 pandemic,1 likely because of an increase in people participating in outdoor activities.2
While it’s been nearly 200 years since the Gold Rush drove 300,000 people to that region, panning for gold remains a well-loved pastime shared by hobbyists and professionals alike.
But is gold panning a lucrative venture? Or just a fun hobby from a bygone era?
John Anderson, President of the Gold Searchers of Southern Nevada, a prospecting club based in Las Vegas, says most of the members of his club don’t prospect to make money, though some sell their gold to local stores at spot value.
“All the gold I have found is still in my safe,” says Anderson, who has been prospecting for 16 years. “Unless you prospect full time, it is just basically a hobby.”
I recently posed the same questions and more to members of the r/Prospecting subreddit, and the general consensus was this:
If you’re looking to make money prospecting for gold, you have to be willing to drop some serious cash upfront and make prospecting a full-time venture. Even then, you’re not likely to make a fortune.
“Typically, you spend more on the adventure than you’ll recover in gold,” Reddit user Grayme4 wrote. “There are rare exceptions, but in North America, hobbyist gold mining is just that — a hobby.”
History of gold panning in the U.S. (and why it has nothing to do with panning today)
While gold mining started as far back as 4000 B.C. in Eastern Europe, the first gold discovered in the United States was at Little Meadow Creek, N.C., in 1803, which set off the first U.S. gold rush.3 By 1825, North Carolina was supplying all of the domestic gold coined by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
In 1848, a man named John Marshall found flakes of gold while he was building a sawmill for Swiss immigrant John Sutter in Colona, Calif., about 40 miles east of Sacramento. His discovery at Sutter’s Mill ushered in the California Gold Rush, which lasted until 1855.
However, even though more than 300,000 people uprooted their lives to strike it rich in California, very few actually did. According to the California State Parks department,4 most miners brought home between $10 and $15 worth of gold dust per day, the equivalent of about $400 to $600 today, though the cost of living in the mine fields was quite high. These were typical prices for common items in the gold fields in 1851:
Item
Price in 1851
Beef
$10 per pound
Butter
$20 per lb
Cheese
$25 per lb
Coffee beans
$0.15 per lb
Cracker
$0.15 per tin
Eggs
$3 each
Flour
$13 per bag
Oranges
$0.15 each
Rice
$8 per lb
Boots
$6 per pair
Flannel shirts
$1.50 each
Blanket
$5 each
Shovel
$36 each
As competition increased and the amount of surface gold dwindled, many men started working for larger mining companies that sought to extract gold beneath the surface. Anglo-American miners forced other nationalities from the region using violent tactics, and an estimated 120,000 Native Americans died of disease, starvation and homicide during the California Gold Rush.
The final gold rush of the 19th century was in 1898 in Klondike, Alaska, where two prospectors discovered gold while they were fishing.
Today, panning for gold is just a fun side gig or hobby for the majority of people. There are hundreds of gold-panning clubs across the U.S., the largest of which — the Gold Prospectors Association of America5 — has 89 chapters in 31 states.
Panning for gold: The basics
If you’re new to gold prospecting, here’s a quick overview of the process and what tools you need to buy to get started:
How do you pan for gold?
Panning for gold, a form of placer mining, is based on the principle that gold is heavier than most other particles. According to the Environmental Protection Agency,6 these are the basic steps involved in panning for gold:
Place sediment or ore in a pan and submerge in water. You can also use a sifting pan to separate larger rocks from smaller particles.
Move the pan in a circular motion so the gold particles sink to the bottom of the pan, removing lighter materials and water as you go.
Repeat this process until you can see and collect gold particles at the bottom of the pan.
You can see this process in action in this video from Vo-Gus Prospecting:
What tools do you need to pan for gold? How much do they cost?
“For a hobbyist you just need a shovel, pan, and something to suck up the gold in the pan,” wrote Reddit user ConfidenceKitchen216, who told me privately he lives in Southern California and goes panning for gold about twice a month. He said he spent about $50 on tools to get started.
These are some gold-panning kits available on Amazon, ranging in price from $24 to $116:
If you use a sluice to pan for gold like the last kit above, you’ll place the sluice in running water and scoop gravel and dirt into the top. As the water travels through the sluice, lighter materials will flow back into the water and heavier particles, like gold, will get trapped in the sluice’s pockets.
Types of raw gold you can find panning for gold
Gold nuggets
Most gold nuggets are between 75% (18k) and 91.7% (22k) pure gold, combined with other minerals like silver and quartz. Gold nuggets are typically smooth, thanks to many years of water erosion.
A gold nugget that weighs 1 troy ounce at 91.7% pure gold would be worth about $2,418 as of December, 2024.
Gold flakes
Gold flakes are also a form of high-purity raw gold, but it takes a lot of gold flakes to reach a substantial amount of gold.
Gold flakes are often sold in vials or jars on sites like ebay because they have a higher value as a souvenir or keepsake than they do based solely on gold content.
These vials of 1 gram of gold flakes were on sale for $15 on ebay in April, 2025:
Where should you look for raw gold?
Gold deposits are typically found along riverbeds and streams or in the dirt in the crevices of bedrock, particularly where water is obstructed or changes course.
ConfidenceKitchen216 says you should research where people have previously found gold to set yourself up for the greatest chance of success.
“While new deposit discoveries are possible, it isn’t likely a hobbyist will find a brand new productive area,” he wrote.
The Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) has a search tool on their website to find prospecting locations. If you become a GPAA member, you can see comments other members have made about each location and what they’ve found there.
Reddit user ChewyRib says there are some businesses that will take you on a tour and show you how to pan for gold and what to look for. He recommends Gold Prospecting Adventures or Roaring Camp Gold if you are in California (or willing to travel there).
How hard is it to find gold?
Finding gold is difficult and time-consuming, which is why it’s not a lucrative venture for most people. The measure of gold in the earth’s crust is between 0.001 to 0.006 parts per million, according to USGS.7
That being said, your best chance at finding gold is to look where other people have found gold before. That could be on public land or private claims with the owner’s permission.
Where are the best places in the U.S. to pan for gold?
Reddit user Grayme4 said the best places in the U.S. to find gold are places that have historical records of gold.
These are some popular locations for gold panning, according to Reddit users:
Sierra Nevadas (California/Nevada)
American River in California (origin site of the California Gold Rush)
Offshore Alaska
Talladega National Forest in Alabama
Goldvein, Va.
Thermal City, N.C. (east of Asheville)
Prescott, Ariz.
Georgia Gold Belt (eastern Alabama to Rabun County, Ga.)
Western and Southern Oregon
Note that most states have regulatory laws that restrict where you can prospect for gold and which tools you can use. For example, California State Parks8 dictate that “tools and equipment may not be used in rockhounding, except gold pans.” Rockhounding is the recreational gathering of stones and minerals that occur naturally on the undisturbed surface of the land.
Likewise, rocks or minerals found in California State Parks may not be sold or used commercially for profit, and each person is limited to 15 pounds of mineral material per day.
On some federal public lands, you need to stake a mining claim with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or National Forest System (NFS) before you can pan for gold, which means you claim the right to extract minerals from that area. You can also get permission from a current claim owner to pan for gold on their land.
Anderson says most places that have good amounts of gold deposits are already under a mining claim. When you join a prospecting club, you can often gain access to mining claims the club owns.
Claims are typically marked at their corners by small monuments made of wood, metal, or stone. Some people use piles of rocks, known as cairns, to mark their claims.
Anderson’s club, the Gold Searchers of Southern Nevada, has a 120-acre claim in Nevada and 800 acres claimed in Arizona, where they also own 60 acres of land. Members have 24-7 access to all of these claims, and prospective members can join the club on one of their monthly outings to get a feel for whether it’s right for them.
“The biggest advice I can give you is not to buy a lot of equipment before you check out a mining claim,” Anderson says.
Research laws on gold panning in whatever state you plan to pan for gold to make sure you aren’t breaking the law or infringing on land that has already been claimed.
According to the Bureau of Land Management,9 there are federally administered lands in 19 states where you can locate or stake a mining claim:
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
Louisiana
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
However, you do not need to stake a claim to pan for gold on public land as long as it hasn’t been previously claimed. You can find a database of existing claims on the USGS website. These are the types of mine claims available in these states:
Placer claims give the claim owner the right to search for valuable minerals in loose material. This is the type of claim that covers gold panning.
Lode claims give the claim owner the right to extract valuable minerals from rock veins in the earth.
If you find eligible unclaimed land you’d like to claim, these are the costs associated with registering for both types of mining claims via the Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS):
Claim type
Claim fee
Placer Claims
$165 for each 20 acres, then a $165 annual maintenance fee
Lode Claims
$230, then a $165 annual maintenance fee
It is illegal to stake a mining claim on the following lands:
National parks
National monuments
Indian reservations
Reclamation projects under the Bureau of Reclamation
Military reservations
Scientific testing areas
Wildlife protection areas managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
How much can you make panning for gold?
If you are panning for gold as a recreational activity, you shouldn’t expect to make much, if any money.
“To make money, you would need a large investment for heavy machines to show a profit,” Anderson says.
While gold prices remain near record highs, the amount you’d have to pan to make a livable income would require you to commit to panning as a full-time job. Even then, you would still likely make less than minimum wage unless you found a highly lucrative claim.
ConfidenceKitchen216 said he’s made “less than nothing” panning for gold.
“I have definitely spent more money on gas and equipment than I made in profit,” ConfidenceKitchen216 wrote. “You have to be 100% dedicated to research and hard work to find consistently productive grounds that will yield enough gold to cover the costs of your equipment and fuel. In the end, you still will make less money than if you worked at McDonalds.”
For reference, the average hourly wage at McDonalds is $16 ($32,342 annually for 40 hours a week) as of November 2024, according to Ziprecruiter.10
Most of the Reddit users who responded to my post said they prefer to keep the gold they find, and some plan to turn what they’ve found into jewelry one day. One joked that you can make a lot of money panning for gold — if you spend twice as much to get started:
Grayme4 says you may be able to make more than the spot gold value on particularly beautiful or unusual gold nuggets, like those of an exceptional size or character of nugget, gold in quartz, or crystalline gold.
For example, this 86.1 grams Australian golden nugget was for sale on ebay for $13,255.55 in April, 2025
How can you make a career out of panning for gold?
“I know people who make a living from prospecting, but it’s a hard life and you do it for the joy of being in nature, not for early retirement,” Grayme4 wrote.
ChewyRib says if you don’t have a good claim, no amount of time or money would be worth your investment:
“To make some real money, you need money upfront to pay for drilling to get reports on what is under the ground. Heavy equipment, a crew of people to run it, etc. You could also get a job with an established gold mine.”
How to sell raw gold or panned gold
If you do decide to sell gold you’ve panned, the first step is determining the value of what you have:
1. Determine the value of any gold you find
Any gold you find panning is worth the spot value of its pure gold content. Most raw gold is between 18k and 22k (75% and 91.7% pure gold, respectively).
Purity
You can determine the purity of your gold using at-home tests, like this gold and silver jewelry testing solutions kit from Amazon:
Gold prospector Dan Hurd explains how to test gold at home in this video:
Weight
We recommend investing in a high-quality digital scale that will give you an accurate reading, like this one on Amazon that sells for about $10.
Likewise, you can bring your raw gold into a local jewelry store or send it to a reputable online gold buyer, who will determine its purity and weight, whether you choose to accept or reject their offer.
Check out our guide on how to sell gold for an overview of online and local gold buyers and learn more ways to determine if your gold is real.
FAQs about raw gold
What is raw gold? Is it the same as natural gold?
The term raw gold, also known as natural gold or gold ore, refers to any gold alloy (mixture of gold and other metals) that is found in nature and that has not yet gone through a refining process. It can come in many forms, including gold nuggets, gold dust, and gold flakes.
What does gold look like in raw form?
Raw gold is typically bright, shiny, and dark yellow in color. The yellower the metal, the more gold it likely contains; the paler or whiter the metal, the more silver or other metals it likely contains. Raw gold with other impurities can appear in other colors, as well.
How pure is raw gold?
Most raw gold found in nature is between 75% and 91.7% pure, and always contains some kind of impurities.
What carat is raw gold?
Raw gold is commonly between 18k and 22k gold, though it can be as low as 14k in purity.
The most common metal to be found with gold is silver, but gold can also be found with copper, iron, and lead impurities.
How can you tell real raw gold?
Real raw gold is very heavy, has a deep yellow luster, and is not magnetic.
This video does a good job explaining how to identify real raw gold vs fool’s gold:
Can you sell pure gold?
Pure gold is most often found in the form of gold bullion bars or gold coins, which are worth nearly the market value of gold.
Can you sell gold that you find?
You can typically sell your raw gold the same way that you would sell refined gold products like jewelry, coins, or bullion — though keep in mind that gold found through prospecting, or other raw gold, does not fetch the same high price as government-backed gold products.
Depending on where you found the gold, there may also be restrictions in place on whether you can sell it.
Pawn shops, gold exchanges, and online gold buyers all purchase raw gold, though certain establishments may have their own policies.
Bottom line: Is panning for gold worth it?
As a money-making venture, panning for gold likely isn’t worth the investment of your time or money. If you want to make money selling gold, you’re better off searching through your jewelry box or finding unwanted gold jewelry at a local thrift store.
However, if you’re just looking for a fun hobby and to join a community of like-minded people, panning for gold is absolutely worth it, Grayme4 wrote.
“I love camping in the wild, spending a weekend at a river, digging and finding shiny metal. Some of the best days of my life.”
SOURCES
“California gold rush towns are booming again. Here’s what to see and do,” by Barbara Noe Kennedy for National Geographic. Nov. 30, 2023. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/sierra-mountains-gold-rush-historic-hotel-trails
“Increase in outdoor activities due to COVID-19,” Outdoor Industry Association. https://outdoorindustry.org/article/increase-outdoor-activities-due-covid-19/
“The History of Gold,” National Mining Association. https://www.nma.org/pdf/gold/gold_history.pdf
“Gold Rush Prices Worksheet,” California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/22922/files/worksheet-goldrushprices.pdf
Gold Prospectors Association of America. https://www.goldprospectors.org/Community/AboutGPAAChapters
“Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Without Mercury,” United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-without-mercury
“Gold in meteorites and in the earth’s crust,” by Robert Sprague Jones. USGS Numbered Series. https://www.usgs.gov/publications/gold-meteorites-and-earths-crust
“Gold Panning Regulations,” California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30708#:~:text=Gold%20Panning%20Regulations
“Mining Claim Fees,” U.S. Bureau of Land Management. https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/mining-and-minerals/locatable-minerals/mining-claims/fees
The value of your raw gold depends on the same factors as other types of gold: How much gold you have, and how pure it is. Most raw gold is about 18K and is often combined with other metals like silver, copper, and lead.
Can you sell gold that you find?
You can typically sell your raw gold the same way that you would sell refined gold products like jewelry, dental scrap, coins, or bullion, though keep in mind that gold found through prospecting, or other raw gold does not fetch the same high price as government-backed gold products.
Can you sell pure gold?
Pure gold is most often found in the form of gold bullion bars or gold coins, which are worth nearly the market value of gold.
How pure is raw gold?
Raw gold is commonly found as 18 karat (18K) gold. It can be as low as 14 karats in purity.
Where is raw gold found?
Gold can be found all over the world. China, Australia, Russia, the United States, Canada, and South Africa are commonly mentioned as top gold-producing countries.
What does gold look like in raw form?
Raw gold is typically bright, shiny, and dark yellow in color. The yellower the metal, the more gold it likely contains; the paler or whiter the metal, the more silver or other metals it likely contains. Raw gold with other impurities can appear in other colors, as well.
What is raw gold?
The term raw gold, also known as natural gold or gold ore, refers to any gold alloy (mixture of gold and other metals) that is found in nature and that has not yet gone through a refining process. It can come in many forms, including gold nuggets, gold dust, and gold flakes.
How much are gold flakes worth?
Gold flakes are a form of high-purity raw gold, but it takes a lot of gold flakes to reach a substantial amount of gold.
How much are gold nuggets worth?
Most gold nuggets are between 85% and 95% pure gold, which means you’ll get a higher price for nuggets than most other forms of raw gold.
More than ever, people are turning to online dating to find a partner, and older adults are leading the pack in terms of successful online dating.
A survey published in August 2023 by OnePoll and Forbes1 — which polled 5,000 adults on their dating habits — revealed interesting results when age was considered:
Singles between the ages of 43 and 58 found the most success with online dating, with 72% of participants reporting their efforts had led to a romantic relationship.
So, where are all these successful singles over the age of 40 finding their matches?
Data from the Pew Research Center2 found that among daters ages 30 to 49, Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid were the most widely used dating apps, while daters over 50 preferred Match.com and eharmony (especially among daters over 65).
In this post, I’ll break down what each of these sites offer to daters over 40:
Despite their bad rap, dating sites are a gold mine of dating for all ages, including Gen X and Y:
OkCupid
What if the vapidity of swiping endlessly on profile photos for casual encounters makes you cringe? Studies show3 that older singles are more keen to flock to sites that emphasize profiles and quality matches for long-term relationship seekers.
OkCupid, used by 28% of online daters ages 30 to 49 and 15% of online daters ages 50 to 64, is particularly appealing to singles in their 40s due to its comprehensive approach to matching for long-term partnership.
Unlike many dating apps that prioritize quick swipes, OkCupid allows users to create detailed profiles that showcase their interests, values, and personality traits and aggressively markets to those looking for serious relationships and marriage.
OKCupid users build out their profiles by answering user-generated questions (there are thousands of options to choose from, though OKCupid recommends answering between 50-100 to start). These questions are meant to help people learn unique things about you and for you to find daters who share your interests and beliefs.
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Tinder…Not just for hookups?
Tinder went online in 2012 and maintains the impression in many minds as a casual hookup site. But is that the whole story?
In a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,4 sociologists polled 3,000 Tinder users to understand their top motivations for using the app. Despite its reputation, motivation for casual hookups ranked number 11 out of 13 categories.
Tinder boasts more than 75 million subscribers, and although the Pew Research data show it’s most popular among daters ages 18 to 29, 44% of people ages 30 to 49 reported using the site/app.
However, manage your expectations. Given the platform’s skewed age range (18 to 29 highest user volume), women over 40 looking for companionship are likely to encounter partners significantly younger or those seeking more short-term connections.
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Is Bumble bumbling?
Pew’s study shows that 24% of online daters ages 30 to 49 use Bumble. For Generation X and older Millennials, who were born in the late 70s and early 80s and grew up during the rise of “woman power” and the archetype of the modern working woman, there is appeal to Bumble’s format of women making the first move.
Bumble was founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, one of the founders of Twitter, who wanted to give women more power in online dating. Recently, however, Bumble has faced scrutiny over its billboard marketing and changes5 to the platform that now allow men to initiate contact under certain conditions, which may alter the original dynamics that made the app appealing to women.
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For Singles 50+
eharmony
eharmony is a standout option for singles aged 40-65+, primarily due to its reputation for fostering long-term, meaningful relationships.
Launched in 2000, eharmony’s matching algorithm is built on an extensive compatibility questionnaire that delves into 32 dimensions of personality, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. eharmony uses the answers you provide to pair you with individuals who share similar values, beliefs, and life goals.
Singles in this age range often have clear ideas about what they want in a partner. The level of detail and focus on compatibility saves time in the long run and increases the likelihood of finding a truly compatible match.
Established in 1995, Match.com is the grand-daddy of dating applications, with the largest percentage (54%) of singles ages 50-64 signing on. With more than 21 million users in that age range, chances are pretty good that you’ll find a partner who watched all of the “Back to the Future” movies and will agree with you that New Coke was a terrible idea.
While Match allows you to create more comprehensive profiles compared to more modern sites like Tinder and Bumble, the interface looks as if it hasn’t changed much since the ’90s. If you can get past that, there are some clear positives.
Plenty of features can be accessed for free, like viewing profiles, creating one of your own, and sending ‘winks’ to show interest to potential matches. For those who opt for the paid version, Match offers a six-month guarantee for users who don’t get matches initially.
It is worth mentioning that the Pew Study has limitations. Referring back to the graph, a significant number of singles in older age groups are using other smaller, more niche sites, like these:
SeniorMatch has a large and active community with about 2.7 million members. This platform is specifically designed for singles aged 45 and above, offering features such as advanced search tools and daily match suggestions, making it a great choice for older adults seeking serious relationships or companionship.
BBB rating: F (for parent company Crunchbase)
Trustpilot rating: 2.6 / 5 stars
Big takeaway
So as a woman over 50, here’s my take: I’m all about efficiency of time, and meeting potential matches online fits better in my busy schedule with work and family than meeting people out in the wild.
I am currently in a serious relationship with a lovely man I met on Bumble that I know I would have never met otherwise, despite living less than 40 minutes away. I find that paying for the subscriptions also accelerated my efficiency, and I was able to date multiple qualified candidates all at once and choose the best man for the job.
SOURCES
“Forbes Health Survey of 5,000 U.S. respondents who have actively dated in the last 5 years,” OnePoll/Forbes Health. August 2023. https://www.forbes.com/health/dating/dating-statistics/
“Key findings about online dating in the U.S.” by Emily A. Vogels and Colleen McClain for the Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/
“Internet Initiated Relationships: Associations between Age and Involvement in Online Dating,” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Volume 14, Issue 3. April 1, 2009. https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/14/3/658/4583567
“Tinder Users: Sociodemographic, Psychological, and Psychosexual Characteristics,” by Juan Ramón Barrada and Ángel Castro. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 Nov; 17(21): 8047. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7662763/
“Women no longer have to make the first move on Bumble. Will it make the app better?” by Claire Murashima for NPR. May 6, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/05/06/1249296671/bumble-dating-apps-women-opening-moves
A 2023 Future Market Insights analysis1 of the doula industry showed a 6% expansion in the market share for doulas and birth coaching businesses. The market for these services is expected to reach $25.7 million by 2033. Many of these birth professionals earn $100,000 or more.
The need for doulas is predicted to rise as states explore programs that would increase access to doula care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services2 (DHHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) published a brief in December 2022 that mentioned federal support to expand the perinatal workforce, which includes doulas and nurse midwives.
As the founder of Parentswarm, an online directory for parent-support professionals, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with thousands of doulas building thriving businesses.
Along the way, I’ve observed several key strategies the most successful birth workers employ to reach $100,000 in income or more while maintaining sustainable businesses and personal lives:
Stake your claim on every corner of the internet where parents might search for support. Start with the biggies: Google My Business, Yelp and Facebook. But don’t stop there. Get listed on parent directories like parentswarm.com, neighborhood sites like Nextdoor, and community boards.
Your online presence is your 24/7 open house, so make it inviting! Craft bios that showcase your personality and expertise, use consistent, professional photos across all platforms, and ensure your contact info is front and center. The goal? When a sleep-deprived parent searches for “best doula near me” at 2 a.m., your warm, trustworthy face is the first they see.
2. Build trust with social proof
In birth work, trust isn’t just nice — it’s necessary. Parents are inviting you into one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Show them you’re worth it with a mountain of social proof: testimonials, reviews, awards, certifications, media mentions and endorsements.
When each contract concludes, make it ridiculously easy for those clients to leave glowing reviews and 5-star ratings by texting them a link directly to the review site on Yelp, Google or a form for your website.
Share these testimonials everywhere: your website, social media, even in your email signature. Post photos (with permission) of you in action, supporting families. Display your certifications proudly; they show your commitment to excellence.
3. Find your niche
The doula field is blooming, and that’s beautiful. But it also means you can’t be the vanilla ice cream of doulas anymore.
Maybe you’re the doula who speaks three languages, perfect for your city’s diverse families. Or you specialize in supporting parents through grief, bringing light to dark times.
Perhaps you’re the go-to for NICU families or second-time parents seeking a VBAC. Find what lights you up, what problem you solve better than anyone, and own what makes you different. Dive deep, gain expertise, and let your unique flavor shine in your branding.
4. Design services that light you up
When building your service offerings menu, looking at the websites of others in your field can give great ideas, but to really thrive as a six-figure doula business, focus internally. What brought you to this work?
Was it the magic of aromatherapy during your own labor? Create a package around that. Obsessed with infant massage and its bond-building power? Make that a centerpiece. Look at your bookshelf—what topics keep calling you? Those are clues.
Think about clients who made you think, “I’d do this for free!” What were you doing for them? Design 5-8 services around what energizes you, fills gaps in your market, and aligns with your superpowers. When you’re lit up, clients feel the warmth.
5. Price ambitiously
We’re nurturers, so it can feel icky to think about the money. But listen: every family deserves a doula, and every doula deserves to thrive. With more insurance and employers covering our services, families are increasingly seeing the value of paying a premium for the work we offer.
So, price like the pro you are. Research your market, then go a bit higher. You’re not just a hand to hold; you’re a skilled professional impacting lifelong health. Include one premium, “OMG, she must be amazing!” package.
It anchors your value high and makes other packages look like steals. For lower-income families, offer a sliding scale or a giving fund sponsored by clients or local businesses looking to support growing families. You can serve all, without selling yourself short, especially if you have a doula certification to back up your high value.
6. Teach what you know
You’re a wisdom-keeper, not just a womb-whisperer. Share that knowledge! Your niche is the perfect launchpad for lucrative courses. Partner with local baby boutiques or hospitals for free space, then roll out workshops like “Hypnobirthing for Skeptics” or “Postpartum Meal Prep Magic.”
These classes are gold: you earn more serving multiple families at once, and they get to experience your vibe firsthand. Don’t stop at parents, either. Other birth workers crave your unique skills.
“iPhone Birth Photography 101” or “Mastering Social Media for Doulas” could be your next hit. Teaching cements your expert status and diversifies your income. Win-win!
7. Create evergreen products
Reality check: there’s only one you, with limited hours and energy. Enter: evergreen products, that earn money without your ongoing work.
One of the hardest transitions for any service-business owner is realizing that growth can’t depend entirely on their own time,” says Richard Huang, founder and CEO of Reframe Space. “Once demand starts growing, look for parts of your expertise that can be packaged into something repeatable, whether that’s a course, guide, workshop, or another resource clients can use without requiring another hour on your calendar.
Think e-books like “50 Affirmations for Birth Goddesses” or “The Fourth Trimester Survival Guide.” Pre-film online courses on packing the perfect hospital bag or sibling preparation. Create checklists, trackers, or a labor playlist that parents can buy with a click.
These products showcase your expertise, serve families you can’t physically reach, and keep your income flowing even during your well-deserved vacations. It’s working smarter, not just harder, doula-style.
8. Nurture past clients
Your past clients are more than fond memories — they’re your ultimate brand ambassadors. Keep that connection alive! Host an annual “Doula Babies” tea party. Picture it: toddlers munching cookies, parents swapping stories, and you, beaming at the little ones you helped welcome.
Use this heart-warming event to share your latest offerings, like sibling doula services or preschooler sleep consulting. Remind them gently that you’re always seeking new families to support. They’ll leave with full hearts, ready to rave about you to every expectant friend. Your next clients are in their playgroups!
9. Authentic social media
Forget the algorithm chase. Social media isn’t about going viral; it’s your digital living room where clients get cozy with your style.
Pick 1-2 platforms where your dream clients hang out. Then, be unapologetically you. Share a behind-the-scenes of your birth bag prep, your favorite post-birth meal delivery, or a quick tip on perineal healing. Comment on others’ posts with genuine insights or encouragement.
You’re the empathetic pro; let that personality shine! Consistent, authentic content turns followers into clients who already feel like they know you.
10. Set sacred boundaries
Doulas, we hold space for others beautifully. Now, let’s hold it for ourselves. Boundaries aren’t selfish; they’re the guardrails keeping you from burnout boulevard.
Envision your ideal week. Is it no overnight calls? A month off every summer? Two clients per month? Write it down. Sure, babies come when they come, but having a north star helps. Communicate these boundaries upfront in contracts and interviews. Most clients will respect them, even appreciate that you model self-care. When life throws curveballs (hello, surprise twins!), you’ll have the reserves to flex without breaking.
Sustainable boundaries mean you’ll be able to continue this work for decades.
11. Find your mentor
Even doulas need doulas — of the business kind. Every birth work leader I know credits a mentor or coach for their success. Why? Birth work is intense, emotionally and logistically.
A seasoned guide gets it. They’ve navigated the middle-of-the-night texts, the marketing hurdles, the postpartum blues (yours and clients’). They’ll share hard-won wisdom, tough love when you’re undercharging, and champagne emojis for your wins. They’ll remind you why you started when a challenging client has you doubting.
Investing in a mentor isn’t an expense; it’s rocket fuel for your confidence, strategy, and bottom line. Find a business coach or mentor. Your future six-figure self will thank you, and you can return the favor in years to come.
12. Collaborate with heart
Our work is rooted in the village mindset, so let’s build that village professionally too. Seek out complementary pros—the lactation expert, the postpartum nutritionist, the prenatal chiropractor.
Co-host an Instagram Live on “The First 48 Hours: Boobs, Bellies, and Backs.” Create a podcast miniseries, “Fourth Trimester Dream Team.” Join forces for a charity auction supporting postpartum mental health.
These collaborations are magical. You offer clients a more holistic journey. You cross-pollinate audiences and referrals. Most importantly, you build a network of colleagues who truly get your world. In this heart-centered hustle, community over competition isn’t just nice—it’s profitable.
13. Make referrals a breeze
We all want to sing your praises, but life’s chaotic, especially with little ones. So, make it toddler-level easy for folks to refer you. Design gorgeous, information-packed brochures and business cards. Leave stacks with OBGYNs, yoga studios, even that boutique with the best nursing bras.
Beyond brochures and business cards, branded extras help your name stick. Ordering custom promotional products from a company like Ideal Promotions, such as printed tote bags, water bottles, or onesies for new-parent clients, gives people a useful keepsake that keeps your business top of mind long after the first meeting.
Write shareable social media captions (“Meet @YourName, the doula who got me through 30 hours of back labor with nothing but her magic hands and playlists! 🙌 She’s booking for summer: youremail@email.com”).
Draft a referral email they can forward with a click. The easier you make it, the more your phone will buzz with new client inquiries. Effortless referrals? That’s working smarter, doula-style.
And there you have it! Your roadmap to not just a six-figure income, but a doula business that’s as nourishing for you as it is for the families you serve. It’s about showing up authentically, working smarter, and never losing sight of why you began — to make a profound difference, one birth at a time.
If you want to explore other potentially high-earning career opportunities, check out these posts:
“Doula and Birth Coaching Services Market,” by Sudip Saha. Future Market Insights Inc. July 2023. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/doula-and-birth-coaching-services-market
“Health Resources and Services Administration Announces Availability of New Funding to Support Community-Based Doulas,” U.S. Department of Healthy and Human Services. April 1, 2022. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/04/01/hrsa-announced-the-availability-of-4-million-for-hiring-training-certifying-compensating-community-based-doulas.html
In my 20 years as a financial advisor focusing in high-earning women, I see how mothers in particular who earn more than seven figures have common habits that help them not just earn high incomes, but invest and grow their assets and wealth.
High-earning moms realize that their tax bill is their largest expense over time, and they focus on maximizing their tax strategies with the help of a financial planner.
2. Millionaire moms don’t let their kids drain them financially
Affluent moms’ high incomes make it much easier to pay a high college tuition or buy a tricked-out Ford Bronco, but they know this type of spending might not be the best for their children. Instead, they focus on teaching them about hard work, money management and frugality.
This doesn’t mean that moms shouldn’t invest for your kids’ future. There are a number of investment schemes, like a JISA, that offer a tax-efficient way of investing for your kids. Wealthify is a popular Junior ISA provider that enables you to save for your kids in a tax-efficient way.
3. Millionaire moms don’t flaunt their high incomes
In Texas, there is a saying, “all hat and no cattle.” Smart, high-earning moms focus on earning and investing — not showing off.
4. Millionaire moms know that time is money
High-earner moms value their time — delegating household and professional tasks, and seeking expert council in all areas. They know DIY can be fun, but could cost them in the long run.
5. Millionaire moms understand mental health is important in their wealth-building
High-earning moms realize that energy spent on taking care of their mental health creates more head space for tuning into long term financial plans.
6. Millionaire moms watch expense creep
Expense creep is when your income gradually grows, and your lifestyle and expense also grow — often unconsciously.
But not for these high-earning, wealth-focused moms. As their income rises, master wealth builders play a mental trick with themselves. They pretend like they don’t have that extra money, and they wisely invest it. They don’t touch it — it’s hands off to them. And they thrill in watching their wealth grow.
7. Millionaire moms stay the investing course
These moms didn’t just manifest money out of nowhere, so they value expert advice from advisors who help them devise thoughtful, long-term investment strategies. These moms do not chase the “hot” investment of the day or invest in their buddies’ get-rich-quick business ideas.
8. Millionaire moms give joyfully
Moms making over the $1,000,000 mark find that the more they donate to charity, to the greater good, the more fulfilled they feel.
9. Millionaire moms increase savings as their paycheck increases
These high-earning moms realize that maxing out their 401(k) just isn’t going to provide them with what they want in the future. They go over and above these maximum limits in other investments, and the smartest of them do this in a tax-efficient way.
10. Millionaire moms protect their assets
Savvy high-earning moms protect their wealth. One life event could blow all that wealth building: disability, unemployment, death. These moms make sure to buy enough disability income, life insurance and long-term care insurance — adequate levels until they are self-insured (meaning having enough cash to cover these events without insurance).
Molly Ward offers securities through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). Investment advisory products and services offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC. Equitable Network conducts business in CA as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC, in UT as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC, in PR as Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc. Well Lived Wealth LLC is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by Equitable Advisors or Equitable Network. Please be advised that this article is not intended as investment, legal or tax advice. PPG- 6688640.1 (6/24)(Exp. 6/26)
