Millennials: 7 things from your childhood that could be worth money

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With “Beetlejuice” and “Mean Girls” enjoying a revival, baggy jeans making a comeback, Converse Chuck Taylors everywhere in stores and teenagers wearing Nirvana t-shirts, the past decades from the ’80s to the early 2000s more popular than ever.

For Millennials, this could mean having a treasure trove not only of nostalgia, but also of extra money, stacked in your guest room closet or in your parents’ attic.

Hot wheels

Hot Wheels cars are a seemingly timeless toy that was introduced in 1968. Over the years, handheld collector vehicles have largely defied inflation. The cars sold for 69 to 89 cents when they were released; Comparable models cost just $1.29 today. If they had kept pace with inflation, they would cost $6.24 in October 2024.

But if you’re lucky, an older, like-new Hot Wheels car can sell for $12,000 or more on the aftermarket.

Transformers toys

Toy manufacturer Hasbro first released the Transformers as a toy line in 1984, and the vehicles that transformed into robots remained popular into the early 2000s, eventually spawning cartoons and blockbuster films. If you’re a millennial, you’ve undoubtedly come across the franchise at some point.

If you, or perhaps a slightly older sibling, owns one of the original Transformers from the first release (considered G1 or Generation 1), you could transform a sealed Optimus Prime into $1,800, according to Transformerland.com.

My Little Pony characters

Around the same time that some kids were turning plastic trucks and cars into robots, others were discovering the magic of friendship through a series of colorful ponies and unicorns. The original My Little Pony toys from Hasbro were released in 1982. The models between launch and 1992 gained the most in value. Collectinsure.com reported that a first edition copy of Rapunzel can be resold for $1,550.

Pokémon cards

Another iconic toy brand from the 1990s to today is Pokémon. If you spent your childhood trying to “catch ’em all” and managed to hold on to your Pokémon cards (and keep them in reasonably good condition), you could make a small fortune. As with other collectibles, the price your cards can fetch depends on the condition, rarity of the card, and the specific Pokémon depicted. GOBankingRates previously reported that cards can range in value from hundreds to six-figure dollar amounts.

Coins

U.S. coins from virtually any era can be worth far more than their face value, depending on their rarity and condition—and the 1990s and early 2000s are no exception. If you happen to own a 1990 Lincoln penny without an S stamp, you could potentially redeem it for up to $6,000, according to the APMEX Knowledge Center.

Likewise, a 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter in mint condition could sell for more than $2,500, although most coins of this variety sell for $95 to $300.

Old movie posters

The 1990s brought many people fond childhood memories, super cool toys and iconic films. Many teenagers liked to hang posters from their favorite films on the walls of their bedroom. If you were smart enough to keep them in good condition, you could make hundreds of dollars. A used “Matrix” poster is selling for $795 at FilmArtGallery.com. Not a science fiction fan? If you were willing to part with your 1990 Home Alone poster, you could make almost $600.

Lunch boxes

Lunch boxes have evolved over the decades, from metal to plastic to today’s bento boxes. But if you have licensed plastic or metal lunch boxes from the ’80s or ’90s, they could be worth a few hundred dollars. A quick eBay search turns up fan favorites like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, and Thundercats lunch boxes that range in price from $30 to $350 or more. The older the lunch box and the more popular the figure, the higher the value – with metal lunch boxes from the early 80s costing more than plastic models from the 90s.