Most of the time, collectibles become more and more valuable as the years go by. That's why so many people across the globe do everything they can to keep hold of iconic Happy Meal toys, vintage records, old-school toys, and so many other items they think will reward them with a huge chunk of money when they're older. And while the collectible items on this list used to be valuable, the tides have now changed. These collectibles are now worthless, so you might want to check your attic and throw them in the trash to make space for some actual family heirloom!
Cabbage Patch Kids
Back in 1978, the world was introduced to a new phenomenon by the name of Cabbage Patch Kids, These dolls came in all shapes and sizes, and they're still being made today. In fact, over the years, Cabbage Patch Kids of our favorite celebrities have even been brought to life. But if you've been hoarding them in your attic hoping they'll make you a fortune, you might want to think again.
If you have dolls made by Coleco Industries, you could fetch a fair price for them. But if you have a Cabbage Patch Doll that was made after 1985, you'll get $20 for it at most.
Pogs
When you think about the history of Pogs, it's not hard to be impressed. Originally, these milk caps came free with the bottles of milk that came out of the Haleakala Dairy in Maui, Hawaii. Before too long, they became the talk of the town, and they could be found everywhere. Kids around the U.S. begged their parents for another bottle of milk so they could add to their collection, and we bet you might even have some Pogs in your attic.
In the grand scheme of things, Pogs are pretty worthless today. But as some designs can sell for $1 online, those who got them for free can still grab a small profit.
Patti the Platypus Beanie Baby
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 30 years, you'll know that Beanie Babies have always been a big deal - so much so that they're now considered to be collectibles. Amazingly, some Beanie Babies have sold for a fortune at auction, including a first edition of Platti the Playbus that recently sold for $9,000 in 2019. But don't get too excited if you have a Platti in your attic.
If you don't have a first-edition Platti from 1993, you're all out of luck and probably won't be able to sell it for anything above $5. So, it's just not worth it.
Morgan Dollars
If you're a lover of collectibles and a lover of history, you might be familiar with the Morgan Dollar. Minted by the U.S. Mint in 1878 and used until 1904, they were so popular that they were re-minted in 1921 and 2021. Of course, as you can probably tell by the name of this coin, the Morgan Dollar is only worth $1. And while it's not worth a huge amount of money today, it's still worth more than its value.
What makes these coins stand out from the crowd is the fact that they're made from 90% silver, and that's exactly why some people are willing to pay $11 to add them to their own collectible collection.
Vintage Pez Dispensers
Pex dispensers are iconic. In fact, most people wanted to collect these dispensers for the characters on them, rather than the candy inside! The brand and its creation are even popular today, and it's noted that Pez brings in a whopping $25.3 million every single year. And while that's a great win for the company, that's a huge loss for those who have a collection of vintage Pex dispensers at their disposal.
As they're everywhere, the demand for these dispensers just isn't there. And while you might be able to get a couple of bucks for your old dispenser, you're unlikely to get anything over $10.
Royal Family Memorabilia
Royal fever affects people from around the world, which is why so many people choose to buy all kinds of royal memorabilia. Whether it's decked out with the face of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the current King Charles, or maybe the likes of Kate Middleton and Prince Willam, people go wild for this stuff. And while they're considered collectibles, they're not considered to be the most valuable collectables of all time.
Most royal family memorabilia is usually boiut for around $50-$100, but the resale value only stands at $20-$40. So, this is more of a hobby than a business deal for these collectors.
Furby
Today, it's hard to understand the appeal of the Furby. With their beady eyes and their strange mouths, they're quite creepy - but that didn't stop them from being all the rage back in the day. Children begged their parents for a Furby for Christmas, and lucky ones managed to have a whole bed full of them. And while Furbys were once $35 a pop, you won't get that kind of money for them nowadays.
Most Furbys now have a resale value of around $25 to $55 - but that all depends on the Furby that you have. If you have a limited edition collectible, you should be able to get more.
1980s Barbies
You probably don't need us to tell you that the world had serious Barbie in 2023. You couldn't walk down the street without hearing someone shout 'Hey, Barbie' and the movie seemed to spark a resurgence in popularity for the dolls, too. However, if you spent your younger years collecting 1980s Barbies, we have some bad news for you because they're probably not worth as much as you were hoping for.
Of course, if you have the likes of Peaches N Cream, Dream Glow, or Magic Movies in their original, unopened boxes you could be sitting on a fortune. But secondhand, unboxed 1980s Barbies only sell for around $20.
McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys
McDonald's Happy Meals have been iconic for decades. Not only is the small portion of fast food absolutely delicious, but every Happy Meal comes with a small toy - and over the years these toys have become collectibles. In fact, if you have a 2008 Clone Wars Happy Meal toy, some Potato Head Kids from 1987, or some Hot Wheels from 1983, you could fetch a pretty impressive price for resale.
But if you don't, you won't be so lucky. Even the oldest Happy Meal toys will only ever sell for a few dollars as they were so mass produced they're not as rare as they once were.
Lladró Figurines
There's no doubt that Lladró figurines are stunning. Lladró has been making these delicate and beautiful porcelain figures since 1953 and they have since made their way across the world - which is an impressive feat, considering they have worked out of the same small factory in Valencia this whole time. Because of this, there are some Lladró figurines that are worth a hefty fortune. Around $250,000 to be exact.
However, it's important to note that only the larger, more detailed figurines are worth that much. If you have a smaller figurine that you bought for around $400-$600, you'll probably only get around $20 for it today. And that's a tough blow.
$2 Bills
Every so often, the U.S. Mint decides to mess with our minds a little bit and print $2 bills. They're rarely mass produced and they're normally minted in small quantities to keep circulation small - but when some lucky people come across them, they assume that they're going to become valuable collectibles. Unfortunately, that's not the case. In fact, there's such a surplus of these bills that most banks have a whole vault full of them!
If your $2 bill was issued between 1862 and 1918 you could see a payback of $100, but the average $2 bill won't earn you that much. You guessed it; it'll earn you $2!
Lionel Model Train Set
There are two kinds of people in this world; those who love train sets and those who aren't bothered at all. But if you're part of the former category, there's a high chance that you're familiar with the Lionel brand. Today, new Lionel train sets will set you back upwards of $100 - with some sets even costing as much as $500. And while you may assume that vintage sets would be more valuable, that's not the case at all.
If you bought a Lionel train when it cost just $1 back in the day, you'll probably only get around $20 for it today. But we guess you've got to take what you can get, right?
Madame Alexander Dolls
Although Barbie has always reigned supreme, there's no doubt about the fact that Madame Alexander Dolls have also found their place in the doll history books. In fact, they seem to have become more and more popular as the years have gone by - especially when McDonald's decided to add some to their Happy Meals. But most of these dolls are worthless today, apart from a few select dolls that were made during a certain time frame.
Yes, if you have a Madame Alexander Doll that was made between the 1940s and 1950s, you could sell it for tens of thousands of dollars. If not, you'll just get a few dollars.
Baseball Cards
Sports cards have always been popular, and you might still have a folder of your old baseball cards lying around in the loft. Yes, kids and adults alike took these collectibles very seriously, thinking that one day they would provide them with millions of dollars. But while the odd rare baseball card has come out of the woodwork, most are pretty worthless and aren't even worth the price of sticking it in the mail.
If you're lucky, you might find a baseball lover willing to spend around $10 on an old baseball card of yours - but this is unlikely. So, you might as well just keep them in the attic.
Disney Black Diamond VHS Tapes
For any Gen-Zs reading this, we used to have these things called VHS tapes - and they looked like this! And while every VHS tape was special in its own way, none were as iconic as the tapes that had the Black Diamond insignia on the spine. Back in the day, these Disney Black Diamond VHS tapes set us back around $10, and many Disney lovers made it their mission to collect all 18 of them.
Today, some still consider these tapes to be collectibles - but they're not worth as much as many had hoped. At the time of writing, they're selling for around $17 a tape, which means you'll probably be in minus numbers by the time you've mailed it out.
Hot Wheels From The 90s
Adults young and old know what Hot Wheels are, right? These small Mattel cars came in all shapes and sizes, and they've continued to release new cars every single year for decades. But while you'd assume that the older cars would be worth more than some of the newer models, that's not the case. If you have a collection of Hot Wheels from the 1990s, they're not very valuable at all.
Unless you have the Collector Number 271 model (which is extremely valuable), your Hot Wheels cars will probably only add another $7.99 to your bank account. So, we guess coffee is on you.
Hummel Figurines
Today, these porcelain figures look a little creepy. But these Hummel figurines were all the rage during the Second World War, with American soldiers in Germany paying anything from $50 to $70 to buy and send them back to their families in the U.S. Before too long, they became popular collectibles, with many trying their hardest to complete their collection. But do you have any of these guys lying around the house?
Although these figurines aren't completely worthless, they're probably not worth as much money as you'd think. You could probably get around $40 per figurine if you're really lucky. But we guess if you do have a whole collection, they're still fairly valuable.
Webkinz
If you cast your mind back to 2005, you might remember a few stuffed animals by the name of Webkinz. These weren't just any stuffed animals, though, as they had two playable digital counterparts that were supposed to revolutionize the toy market. And while some kids absolutely loved them, the company behind Webkinz decided to call things quits in 2019. You'd think that would make them valuable... but they're not.
While the Grumpy Cat and British Bulldog have previously sold for $50 apiece, the other toys in the Webkinz collection normally sell for around $10 online. That means you're not sitting on a fortune, unfortunately.
Star Wars Action Figures Post-1980s
You might not heard of Kenner, but this manufacturer landed themselves the deal of a lifetime in 1978 when they became the sole makers of Star Wars figurines. As part of their deal, they made over 100 different figurines and ultimately ended up selling over 300 million units before 1985 when they decided to ditch Star Wars for a while. However, it wasn't long before they realized what they were missing, so they started making the figurines again in 1995.
And while you may assume that the Kenner figurines made during that early release would be extremely valuable, they're not worth a lot of money at all. Generally, you can find these figurines on sale for between $5 and $45.
Norman Rockwell Collector Plates
When you think of collectibles, you probably think of historic mugs and dishes. And while there was a time when collectors were falling over themselves to get as many Norman Rockwell Collector Plates as possible, it seems as though their efforts were fruitless. Sure, there was talk that they'd become around $75 apiece - but the tides have now changed and they're worth just $10 apiece. There are some exceptions, though.
If you happen to have the Knowles Plate sitting in the back of your cupboard, you might be happy to know that this rare plate could offer you a paycheck of around $300.
Funko Pops
While their heads may be larger than normal, Funko Pops are designed to look exactly like famous movie characters, singing, musicians, actors, and more. And there are some people in this world who wanted nothing more than a house full of big-headed dolls. But while they were extremely popular back in the day, it's fair to say that they're not as popular as they once were - which means you've probably not made any money from them.
Although most Funko Pops were around $20 to buy new at the height of their fame, you'll struggle to sell them for anything more than that online today. You'll get $20, tops.
Vinyl Records
You've probably heard stories of old vinyl records selling for tens of thousands of dollars at auction, and that certainly happens! But if you're hoarding a whole load of vinyl records in your attic in the hope that you're going to become a millionaire, you might just want to clear out the space instead. That's because most vinyl records aren't as valuable as you may think. Only a very small percentage are actually worth something.
Most only have a resale value of a couple of dollars, which is why you normally find so many vinyl records being sold for so little in thrift shops and auctions.
Silver Platters
Anything made from silver must be extremely valuable, right? Although you might have told yourself that in an effort to stop your other half from throwing out your silver platter, you might have to accept defeat. In theory, silver platters should be worth a lot of money - but they don't. They're not something that most people want to buy in today's day and age, which means modern buyers just won't shell out that much for them.
You might be able to scrape up $50 for a silver platter if you're lucky, but the chances of that happening are very slim. So, it might be time to say goodbye to it once and for all.
Tamagotchis
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, kids across the globe got a glimpse of what it would be like to be a parent. Yes, Tamagotchis gave kids the responsibility of raising a digital pet and doing everything they could to keep it alive. Anyone who used one of these things will know that was easier said than done, but that didn't stop Tamagotchis from taking over classrooms around the world.
If you have an old Tamagotchi in your junk drawer, we're sorry to say that it probably won't make you any money. Although they cost $18 to buy, they now rarely sell for more than $19.
Vintage Stamps
While some people may see it as the most boring thing in the world, there are others who get a real kick out of collecting stamps - and we don't blame them. Over the years, certain stamps have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the thought of having something worth so much money in a folder in the attic is a very intriguing prospect. But what about the average collector?
Well, it's not so good news for you. Although you might have fun collecting these stamps, they aren't collectibles per se. You'll probably only get between $1 and $10 for them if you're lucky.
Vintage Playboy Magazines
Although Playboy magazine is still iconic, there's no doubt about the fact that it's lost some of its shine over the years. Back in the day, getting centerfold in this magazine was a coveted job that models across the globe wrote in their dream journals. What's more, some of the biggest celebrities of all time have made their mark in this risque magazine - including Marilyn Monroe and Jenny McCarthy.
If you have either of those two ladies in your Playboy magazine, you could be sitting on a small fortune. But most of the other Playboys from the '60s and '70s will normally only fetch around $35 on resale sites.
Pandora Jewelry
If you were a teenager (or the parent of a teenager) during the early 2000s, you should remember the hype around Pandora jewelry. At the time, it seemed as though every teenager was wearing a charm bracelet, and all they asked for their birthdays and Christmases was to add even more charms to their jangly accessory. And while this was never the most expensive jewelry in the world, you might be interested to know that that's still the case.
If you were planning on selling your old Pandora jewelry, you'll probably only get 65% less than what you bought for it. After all, there's a Pandora store in almost every mall in the U.S., so it's not hard to find.
Thomas Kinkade Paintings
Collectibles come in so many different shapes and forms, and there are some people who make it their mission to collect art. Of course, this isn't the cheapest of hobbies - but sometimes it can really pay off. The right kind of art can sell for extortionate prices, but knowing what type of art is valuable and what isn't is a skill in itself. And if you have any Thomas Kinkade paintings lying around, we're sorry to say that your instincts weren't correct.
At the height of his popularity, The Thomas Kinkade Company mass-produced his paintings and other merchandise so much that they ultimately became worthless in the process. But you might get $99 for a canvas if you're lucky.
Silly Bandz
Sometimes, collectables that were incredibly cheap to buy eventually become valuable - but this doesn't happen often. And while you may have bought a pack of 12 Silly Bandz for $2.50 back in the day in the hopes that they would be worth money later down the line, we're sorry to say that they're still as cheap as they once were. But at least you can adorn your wrist in all kinds of shapes and colors, right?
Since their heyday in the 2010s, Silly Bandz have just gone down and down in price. Today, you could probably sell around 144 of these things and only get $10 for them.
Comic Books
There are many people out there with hundreds of old comic books stacked up in their basement. And while this is for their personal use and their own personal stash of collectibles, there are others who are keeping them in an effort to sell them for a profit later down the line. Of course, we can understand why. In the past, some comic books have sold for thousands and even millions of dollars!
These are normally first or rare editions, though. If you just have a giant collection of random comic books, you may find that most of them are only worth a few dollars.
Hess Trucks
Toy trucks have always found their way to the top of the toy food chain, and if you were a fan of trucks when you were younger you'll probably be familiar with Hess Trucks. These guys were super popular back in the day despite their 12-inch size, but it seems as though this size lent itself well to becoming collectibles. You might want to donate your old trucks if you've been keeping them safe, though.
Although some rare Hess Trucks can fetch a couple of thousand at auction, these are normally in mint condition and completely unopened. If you have old trucks that have been played with, they won't be worth anything.
Chia Pets
Who remembers Chia Pets? To those not born in the 1980s, Chia Pets were terracotta vases in various shapes and sizes that gave people the chance to grow their own chia sprouts. While vase themselves were fairly ordinary, they truly came alive when the seeds started sprouting, and the animal seemed to grow hair overnight. But did you know that Chia Pets are still being sold today? So, that's not good news for your collection.
As 500,000 Chia Pets are sold every year, they can't really be classed as collectibles. And if you ever tried to sell yours, you'll see that they only really sell for around $10 - $15.
Shrinky Dinks
Although Shrinky Dinks first came onto the toy scene in the 1970s, they only really took off to become a worldwide phenomenon in the 1990s - and we have two housewives to thank for that. They realized that if you put polyester into the toaster it would expand, which is when they decided to turn that idea into a toy and create Shrinky Dinks. Back in the day, a Shrinky Dinks set would set you back around $10.
And while there are some rare and limited edition sets that can fetch a small fortune at auction, the average set of Shrinky Dinks is now worth just $9.99. So, you're actually making a loss.
Garbage Pail Kids
Did you know that Garbage Pail Kids were actually designed and manufactured to be parodies of Cabbage Patch Dolls? Of course, they're not dolls at all and were instead designed to be trading cards, but the idea behind it was to replicate the success of the famous dolls. And while so many different characters came out on these cards, only a few of them are valuable today. The rest are essentially worthless.
Most cards from the 1980s onwards will only sell for around $1 each online, but you'll definitely get more if you have packets of unopened cards that are in pristine condition.
Livestrong Bracelets
If you don't remember Livestrong bracelets, let us jog your memory. These bracelets became popular in the early 2000s when Nike decided to sell them as part of their brand. And when caner survivor Lance Armstrong became the spokesperson for this new product, the bracelets took on a whole new meaning. Everyone wanted to wear one to show their support for the cyclist, and for cancer research as a whole.
Of course, things changed drastically in 2013 when Lance's career and reputation blew up in his face. And while they're no longer made, the Livestrong bracelets still in circulation will only fetch $3 - $4.
Troll Dolls
What you might not realize is that Troll Dolls were around way before the movies, which made them extra famous with the youth of today. They looked a little different back in the day, too. They were a little more rough around the edges, and their hair was much bigger. And if you still have some of these originals lying around the house, you're probably intrigued to know whether they're valuable or not.
Well, they're not. They're not completely worthless, but you'll probably only bag yourselves around $3 per doll if you fancied selling them. So, you might as well just pass them down to your grandchildren instead.
Tickle Me Elmo
Elmo is kind of a big deal. This red bear has been around for decades and was a hugely popular toy during the 1990s. But while an ordinary Elmo toy is cool, there was nothing cooler than a Tickle Me Elmo. Every kid wanted one of these things for Christmas, and it probably became such a precious addition to your life that you may have passed your own toy down to your children.
Don't worry about snatching it back for a profit, though. Although Tickle Me Elmos are valuable to your family, they're not valuable in the real world and only sell for around $20.
CDs
You probably don't need us to tell you that the music world is dominated by streaming services. Nowadays, you can have whole albums and new music at your fingertips, and you don't even have to pay for it if you don't mind the ads. Yes, it seems like a long time since we were listening to CDs in our walkmans, but do you have any CDs leftover? We're going to assume you do, because everyone does!
Although they might be gathering dust in your attic, it's probably a good idea to leave them there for a few more decades. After all, they're not vintage enough to be valuable yet.
Marbles
From their perfectly round shape to their colorful swirly patterns, it's no wonder that marbles have become collectibles. But if Squid Game has put you off your marbles and you were thinking of selling, you should probably take note of what you've got. For example, if you've got an 'Indian Swirl' marble you could see almost $13,000 enter your bank account! But if you've got regular ol' marbles, they won't be worth as much.
Although they're not completely worthless, marbles normally sell for around $5 - $10 apiece. So, that's not too bad if you have a large collection sitting up in the attic.
Superballs
During the 1950s and 1960s, Superballs were everywhere. Parents even managed to drag their kids around the grocery store, bribing them with a Superball from the vending machine when they were done. At the time, they cost just under $1 - which meant they sold extremely quickly. And as many people tried to get as many Superballs as possible, the manufacturers Wham-O did everything they could to keep up with this demand.
This means that millions of Superballs were eventually released to the public, making them extremely common and less rare than you'd think. Because of this, they're pretty much worthless today.