You never know the kinds of things that people take to pawn shops.

“I've had people bring in a toilet brush, an electronic toilet brush, which is ridiculous. I've had people bring in shavers, electronic shavers and get mad at us when we don't take them,” said Stephen Espinoza, manager of a Gold Exchange store.

Donnie Gage didn’t take in anything like that; just some video games and DVDs to help him afford to drive to interviews.

“I just grabbed all I could to get some extra cash because gas prices are killing me right now,” he said.

Gage is not alone. Espinoza’s pawnshop is seeing a lot more customers these days – double what it had in the past few months.

“That tells us how bad the economy is,” he said.

Espinoza sees people bring in everything from jewelry to guitars, even a wrestling belt. Perhaps the most personal thing that people are selling is plasma.

“People are always looking for ways to get cash so, as the economy hits people harder, they need more money to help pay their bills,” said Jeffrey Parke of Biolife Plasma Services.

Biolife has seen 300 more people donating in the past three to four months – people like Heather Wilson, a single mother with two children.

“I donate just so I can have the money for little extra things that I want because otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it,” said Wilson.

It’s a twice-a-week routine that gives her $65.

“I used to not be regular. I'd just come in if I needed the extra cash but, since gas prices have gone up and the cost of living has gone up and food, I've had to go even more,” she said.