Collector’s Items That May Be Worth Keeping
Do you remember all those toys from your childhood that your parents tossed in the trash? Do you often wonder how much they would be worth today?
If so, it's up to you to avoid a similar fate in the future. If you have any toys around the house that you believe could be worth big money in the future, it's best to hang onto them. There is no way of knowing which ones will increase in value, but that’s part of the fun. All you can do is save them and hope for the best. Let's take a look at some of the toys that could increase in value over the next decade.
Save Anything Star Wars
Star Wars has been and always will be one of the top movie franchises of all time. Because of this, you can expect new Star Wars toys to hit the market year after year. Looking back at the past, you’ll find that many Star Wars toys, such as figurines and lunch boxes, are now worth a small fortune.
If you have any Star Wars items in your possession, it’s best to hold onto them for the time being. After all, it won’t be long before another chapter in the franchise hits theaters!
LEGO Sets (Especially Special Editions)
Many LEGO sets from the past are worth thousands of dollars (or more) today. So, if you have any complete sets, especially those that are still in the box, you may want to hold onto them and see what happens.
If you really want to improve your chance of hitting it big, hang onto special edition LEGO sets. These have a good chance of increasing in value, as they were produced in smaller numbers. For example, the Millennium Falcon and Disney Castle sets, both released over the past couple of years, are already selling on auction sites for $700 to $1,000.
You Could Be In Luck If You Keep Your DVDs
Believe it or not, some VHS tapes are worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It’s natural to believe that DVDs will follow in the same path as the years go by. With streaming services taking over, DVDs are not nearly as popular as they once were. However, if you still have some of these, it never hurts to see what they’re worth (and hold onto them for the future).
Disney VHS tapes are among the most valuable, so if you have any Disney DVDs you may have a winner on your hands in 10+ years. Just wait it out and see what happens!
Barbie Dolls Are Always Popular
Original Barbie dolls, which are now 50+ years old, often sell for thousands of dollars. While you can’t expect the same from every Barbie that is produced today, you never know when one of these will skyrocket in value.
For example, this "The Blonds Blond Gold Barbie Doll" is already worth hundreds of dollars online! If you’re lucky enough to have any of these in the box (and in mint condition), keep them that way.
Hold Onto Harry Potter Toys
Star Wars toys have always been big hits, but Harry Potter is not that far behind. When the Harry Potter movie franchise was in its prime, these toys were everywhere. From figurines to board games, there was no shortage of items to buy.
If you have anything Harry Potter, such as the Hogwarts LEGO castle or Dursley Family figurines, you have the chance to make big money in the future. Some of these toys are already valued at $1,000 or more, so you can only imagine what will happen over the next 10 years.
Video Games Can Be Valuable
Unlike the early days, video games are now mass-produced. But that doesn’t mean you should throw them out when you are done playing. Just like some of the games from the past, there are sure to be a few modern titles that end up greatly increasing in value.
Take, for example, Nintendo World Championships (Gold Cartridge) video game, which was produced in 1990 for a global video game tournament. It has sold for as much as $100,000. You may never hit it this big, but who knows which modern game could increase in value over the next decade.
Board Games Are Extra Fun When They're Worth A Ton
It’s easy to play a board game, lose the pieces, and toss it in the trash. But if you do this, you could be throwing money out the window. If the past is any indication of the future, there are a few board games being sold right now that could be worth thousands of dollars in the future.
For example, any special edition board games should catch your eye. Monopoly is known for releasing these every now and again.
Collectors Like Imaginext Toys
Imaginext is a fast-growing Fisher-Price brand that is popular among parents and children alike. From figures to playsets, these are produced for both fun and education. When your children are done with their Imaginext toys, don’t throw them out. Keep them in a safe place, with the box, if possible, as they could be worth something in the future.
For instance, many Imaginext toys are inspired by DC superheroes, which have a strong following among collectors.
Hot Wheels Will Always Have A Following
Hot Wheels have been a popular collector’s item for many years, with some of these small cars carrying a hefty value. Some of the cars produced over the past few years have the potential to increase in value, such as the Mainline Cars.
You never know when you’ll get your hands on a Hot Wheels car that could be worth tens of thousands in the future, much like the 1968 Over Chrome Mustang (which has sold for as much as $40,000).
Anything Sesame Street
When the first episode of Sesame Street was aired in November of 1969, there was no way of knowing what it would turn into. Nowadays, Sesame Street is a mainstay in households across the world.
Some Sesame Street toys have reached cult status, ranging from figurines to books. Even though most modern Sesame Street toys are mass-produced, keep them in good shape as you never know if they could increase in value over the next 10 years or so.
Toy Story: To Infinity...And Beyond
While Toy Story doesn’t have the same history as Star Wars, it’s been a popular franchise since the release of the first movie in 1995.
Although most Toy Story toys have been mass-produced, there are some that are always worth a nice amount (with many others following closely behind). For example, the original Buzz Lightyear figurine regularly sells for $500 more online. This may not make you rich right now, but who knows how much this toy, among others, will be worth in another 10 years.
Happy Meal Toys Tied To Movies Tend To Be The Most Valuable
Yes, those seemingly cheap toys distributed by McDonald’s in its Happy Meals can be worth a lot of money someday. For example, do you remember when the fast-food chain released its McFurby’s? Maybe not, but you probably wish you did if so. These regularly sell for $500 to $1,000, making them one of the most valuable Happy Meal toys of all time.
Tip: Happy Meal toys associated with popular movies, such as Star Wars and Frozen, have a better chance of growing in value.
App-Enabled Robots Are Hot
Go back to your childhood and it’s safe to say that you didn’t have an app-enabled robot. But today, these are all the rage among children. As technology advances, the app-enabled robots of today will eventually become obsolete. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll never be worth anything again. There could come a time when these early releases are big hits among collectors.
Example: the R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid is hot now, so there’s a good chance it could be valuable in the future.
Save Those STEM Toys
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), toys are hot, hot, hot. These are selling at a faster rate than ever before, meaning that a variety of cool items are making their way to market.
Since it’s a relatively new category, it’s hard to say what the future holds in regards to production and value. But if you hang onto your STEM toys, you could have a few that are worth good money in 10 years. For now, let your children use them to take their learning to the next level!
The Fidget Spinner Fad Will Die Down
Yes, they look like cheap toys. And yes, you can find these pretty much everywhere today. But these are the types of things that have the potential to increase in value over the years.
As the fad dies down, people will forget about fidget spinners. Then, when their popularity rises again in the future, the originals from today will be coveted. And if you have one or more of these, it may be time for you to cash in when that happens.
Disney Is Always Collectible
Disney collectibles have long been a favorite among fans. For example, Disney VHS tapes often sell for thousands of dollars today. And the earliest Disney books and figurines can result in a nice payday.
If you have any of the newer Disney toys, such as robots and DVDs, don’t toss them when your children are done playing with them. Put them in a safe place, wait a few years, and then check on their value.
You Could Hatch A Nest Egg With Hatchimals
Hatchimals are extremely popular among young children right now. After all, who doesn’t like to watch an egg hatch?
If you’re buying Hatchimals with the idea that they’ll one day be worth something, here’s what you need to do: nothing. If you actually hatch it, it’s not going to be worth nearly as much in the future. Instead, keep it in the box and wait for a decade. At that point, if Hatchimals are no longer popular -- and even if they are -- you may have a winner on your hands.
Anything Pinkfong
Pinkfong is most well known for the "Baby Shark craze," but the brand is beginning to expand into other areas. Often times, it’s the earliest toys from a brand that become the most valuable. And that’s why you want to buy up all things Pinkfong today.
Pinkfong markets everything from singing dolls to tablets and much more. While the brand is still relatively young, look into buying a few items that have the potential to increase in value (if you don’t already have them in your home).
Keep Your Nintendo Switch In Its Original Packaging
Mint condition gaming consoles often fetch a pretty penny after they’re no longer produced. For example, if you have an original Nintendo in good condition, its value could put a nice smile on your face.
The Nintendo Switch is hot right now, but it won’t be forever. It’ll eventually be a thing of the past, and that’s why it’ll be worth something. If you have a Nintendo Switch in its original packaging, think about keeping it this way. This is what can really make it valuable in the future.
