Many intelligent, enterprising and otherwise employable women choose to stay out of the workplace in order to be home with their children. But the desire to supplement the family income and perhaps have a life beyond the children, has led generations of stay-at-home-moms to turn to home-based businesses.

Beginning with Tupperware parties in the 1950's, the strategy of bringing women together to buy and sell in a social atmosphere has proved very successful. These days, I regularly receive invitations to product parties for everything from adult toys to candles to cookware. And now the newest party idea on the scene is gold parties.

It's the same concept, but with a twist. Instead of buying plastic bowls or fur-lined handcuffs, guests arrive at gold parties with pockets full of gold, ready to sell. As the price of gold nears $1000 an ounce, there is money to be made on what might otherwise just be cluttering up your jewelry box.

Of course, the real money is in hosting the parties. There are businesses who will sell you a kit that includes everything you need to confidently buy gold - a gold karat-testing machine, a scale, a jeweler's loupe and a how-to book. Once you've purchased the gold from your party guests, you then turn around and sell it for even more to a refinery.

I think it's a great idea and hope someone invites me to a gold party soon. Sure, I might make a little more money cutting out the middlewoman and selling directly to the refinery myself. But I am not likely to take the initiative and do that. Besides, I don't want to miss the party.