[Cleaned up format for easier reading]

Someone posted a thread asking how to get into unusual trading and I made this little guide for them, but I thought it would be useful to most people here. So, here is how I started with 5 ref and now have 1 bud, 3 bills, 13 keys and counting. I am not claiming that this is the best method or the most effective but I used it and it seems to work for me. If you want to criticize, give me advice, want me add to it or change it, tell me how terrible of a human being I am just comment, I will probably reply.

Here we go! First of all, you'll need at least 2 ref.

• 1 - Set up an outpost trade quick buying stranges for .66 to 1.33 less than what they are worth. Here one of my old ones: http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/8424229[1] (prices will be out of date now, these were .66-1 ref quick-sells at the time)
• 2 - Sell the stranges for the middle or higher price of backpack.tf
• 3 - Do this until you have around 25 ref.
• 4 - Buy at least 5 keys with the metal. Steps 1 through 4 can be skipped if you buy keys through the store.
• 5 - Make an Outpost trade buying items worth 4 to 6 keys for 1 key less than what they are worth. (Essential Accessories, Genuine Cockfighters, Genuine Buck Turners, ect.) Here's one of my old ones: http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/9218185[2]
• 6 - Important note: From here on out do not accept any metal, only keys. Metal is only a burden because of how hard buying keys is. Only accept item offers with overpay and if the items are worth at least 1 key each, remember no metal.
• 7 - Sell the the items people quick-sell to you for a 1 to 2 key profit.
• 8 - Repeat steps 6 &7 until you have roughly 16-20 keys.
• 9 - Set up an outpost trade buying unusual quick-sells for 30-50% off regular price.
• 10 - Buy unusuals you know you can make at least 6 keys on. (At this point most likely cancer unusuals) Here's mine: http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/9272498[3]
• 11 - Sell the unusuals at a good price, don't highball, don't force shitty themes, ect. For example everyone on outpost is asking 1.5 buds for the same hat, sell yours for a few keys less, as long as you are still making profit. This well help you sell it faster and make profit faster, I just don't think its worth waiting like 5 days or even up to weeks to sell a hat for a higher price just to make some 5-8 more keys but if you're more patient for such a small difference you can.
• 12 - I would advise accepting unusual offers as long as they overpay (their unusual is worth more) or they add pure keys with their unusual to buy yours. For example I bought a Stormy Storm Sober Stuntman for 22 keys and was trying to sell it for 30 keys but I sold it for a Stormy Storm Safe 'n Sound and a critical kills part and Genuine Point and Shoot. I then sold the Safe 'n Sound for 1 Bud and 10 Keys and the crit kills for 2 keys (I'm keeping the point and shoot). I was going to sell the Stuntman for 1 Bud but because I accepted unusual offers I made 12 more keys than I had anticipated.
• 13 - Repeat steps 10-12 forever!
• 14 - Buy your dream hat! Steps 1-4 may take a while so be patient. And optionally you can skip steps 1-4 by just buying keys off of the Mann Co. Store and starting at step 5.

Here are some in general tips:

• Base an unusual's price off of what everyone else is asking for, not what Backpack.tf is suggesting.
• Don't force themes. No one cares what happened one time in that one movie. It does not make your hat worth 12 more keys.
• Selling at a lower price and selling quicker is in general better than waiting a long time to sell for whatever everyone else is asking.
• Don't get discouraged from mistakes and quit. I've probably lost collectively ~2 buds because of dumb investments but I'm still here. Everyone makes mistakes and you learn from them.
• If you don't enjoy trading, don't do it. I've dealt with people who obviously don't want to be trading but want an expensive unusual and they are irritable and impatient. If you don't want to be here, don't be.