15+ Household Items That Could Be Worth A Fortune In The Future!
Looking back 10 or 20 years ago many of the things people own today would seem very outlandish. Also, in the future, the common items we use daily will most likely become obsolete. Now, people can find vintage objects from 10 or more years ago on sale for a fortune at vintage stores, eBay, or at antique markets.
As each generation grows older they may yearn to own some of their favorite things from their youth. These items may be worth a bit of money now, but will most likely be skyrocket in price in the years to come.
Stamps
People have been collecting stamps for decades and it has turned into a popular hobby across the world. Collectors have been keeping an eye on them dating back to the 19th century. Even though older stamps tend to be worth more current stamps stand a chance of being worth a lot of money in the future.
Collectible or limited edition stamps that were released as early as the 1990s are starting to accrue some worth. Also, those who currently own old stamps will most likely see the value of those increase heavily in the decades to come.
Polly Pockets
Polly Pocket dolls were one of the biggest toy crazes of the 1990s and are now having a resurgence in popularity. Chris Wiggs first came up with the idea of the doll and accessory kits for his daughter in 1983 and sold Polly Pocket to Bluebird Toys in the late 1980s. A few years later the brand was purchased by Mattel.
The original Bluebird Toys Polly Pockets are now some of the most valuable vintage toys on the market with some selling for around $300. In order to make sure it's an original check for plastic cases that open to form a dollhouse or other playset with figurines less than an inch tall.
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Funko Pop! Figurines
The 2010's version of the bobblehead are Funko Pop! collectibles. These vinyl figurines are cartoon versions of celebrities or TV and movie characters ranging from Lady Gaga, Harry Potter, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There are thousands of different ones to collect, but the ones that aren't mass-produced will be worth more in the future.
One of the most popular places to buy a limited edition Funko Pop! is at the San Diego Comic-Con. A rare Chewbacca figurine recently sold for $2,700 when the average retail price is between $10 and $20.
Vinyl Records
Even though vinyl records were more common when baby boomers were growing up they have become a fun hobby for younger generations. They are still produced because there's a high demand for them either for collecting or for those who prefer the sound of vinyl.
With the higher demand, more people are willing to spend top dollar to ensure their collection is perfect. Many vintage or special edition records by artists such as Elvis and Bob Dylan are selling for thousands of dollars.
Cereal Boxes
Something as common as cereal has the ability to become a highly sought after item for collectors. It's not necessarily the brand of cereal that people are looking for, but instead, it is more about finding a vintage box with celebrities, popular cartoons, or a specific prize inside.
In the past unopened boxes with the Beatles or hologram Nintendo characters sold for thousands of dollars. That could hypothetically mean a box with Serena Williams or Disney's Frozen characters may have the same luck in the future.
The Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
The Dyson Supersonic hairdryer is already a pricey item at $400, but its value is predicted to increase in the next couple of decades. This hair dryer stands out because it's one of the more advanced models equipped with air temperature measurement, heat damage protection, and fast drying.
Experts believe that the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer is something that defines this time period due to its unique shape and style. It's heavily compared to the 1950's "space-age" where all the items in that category had a similar futuristic look.
Sneakers
Many vintage and limited edition shoes are already selling for a ton of money, but there are new ones that will shortly rise in price. For example, when a coveted sneaker such as Nike's Air Jordan comes out people will wait in extremely long lines that go out the door in order to snag a pair.
Those who've hung on to their special sneakers have been able to make a ton of profit. A mint-condition pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan shoes that cost about $65 at retail price were recently bought for around $4,000.
Furby
One of the main toys that defined that 1990s was Furby. This electronic robot toy was able to blink its eyes and say gibberish words and quickly became one of the top toys between 1998 and 2000.
Hasbro made some modern versions of the Furby, but the original is the one that's caught the eye of collectors and toy fanatics all over the world. Both the unopened and used Furbies are worth hundreds and are predicted to steadily increase in cost over the next few decades.
Maps
The need for physical maps is becoming more obsolete each day. With an increasing amount of people able to access maps virtually on the smartphone or GPS map makers may be out of a job in the near future. Since the production of maps is starting to decrease, their value is slowly increasing.
To people of the future physical maps will most likely seem like an antique. Older maps from the early 20th century and before are starting to become quite valuable today, so it might be a good idea to stock up on extra maps you see laying around.
Comic Books
It may seem like comic book collectors are only looking for first editions that came out in early or mid-20th century, but that's simply not true. There are many things they look for such as the condition, the first time an important character is featured, or any errors in printing.
This means there's still a possibility some modern comic books will sell for a hefty price. Comics that came out as early as 2003 are already starting to sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Also, look out for the comics that inspired some of today's most popular movies and TV shows.
Instant Photos
While almost everyone has the ability to take photos on their smartphone the physical feeling of a photo is drastically different than seeing it on a screen. This is why the Polaroid-style instant camera has made a huge comeback in recent years.
Taking and viewing photos will probably be a lot different in the upcoming decades, so instant photos are set to be worth a good amount of money. Online shopping sites such as eBay already have individual instant vintage photos and slides for sale between $10 and $50.
Old Cellphones
Cell phones have drastically changed over the last few decades and are expected to keep evolving as time goes on. Since early cell phone models are almost considered to be historic artifacts they are starting to increase in value. It's rare to own a cell phone made before the 21st century and now these iconic gadgets are quite the hot ticket item.
One way society has been longing for nostalgic technology is the resurgence of the Motorola RAZR. This flip cell phone was first released in November of 2005 and updated versions that function as smartphones are starting to hit the market.
Contemporary Art
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but contemporary art will eventually become a piece of history. If you have the opportunity to purchase any contemporary art made by an up-and-coming artist or that reflects the current times it has the possibility to increase in value.
If this seems too expensive many contemporary artists will mass-produce their art and sell it for a quick profit. Even though it may not be worth much now it may become a wanted collectible in the future.
Boy & Girl Scout Memorabilia
The Boy Scouts of America dates back to 1910 with the Girl Scouts of America following a couple years later. Since they're basically part of American history a lot of their memorabilia can sell for a lot of money.
It's not only the stuff from the early days that is up for sale, but there are dozens of recent items such as merit badges and uniforms that catch collectors' eyes. Just a simple search on eBay shows that both Boy and Girl Scout paraphernalia goes for as high as $240 today.
McDonald's Products
McDonald's remains the most popular fast food chain in the world. Once the restaurant stops using a certain product it's value starts to increase. This doesn't just apply to the collectible Happy Meal toys that already are selling for thousands, but many other items are starting to become just as worthwhile.
Some examples of this are their shift to eliminate plastic straws; as someone ended up buying 400 of them for $100. Also, their limited edition Szechuan sauce inspired by Rick and Morty can be found on eBay for $5,000.
Beanie Babies
One of the biggest toy fads of the 1990s were stuffed animals called Beanie Babies. They stood out because they were more flexible due to being filled with plastic pellets, instead of soft stuffing. Certain Beanie Babies were collected as a financial investment because of their high resale value and limited quantity.
Although they have mostly lost their popularity there are some collectors willing to pay top dollar for the right ones. They are already some being auctioned for around $10,000 and their value will increase as they become more of a vintage toy.
Amazon Echo
The first model of a new piece of technology tends to be the most coveted collector's item. For example, someone on eBay recently purchased an unopened 1990s Motorola StarTAC flip phone for $250. The Amazon Echo speaker with Alexa has quickly become a household essential.
It's only been out for a few years, but there have been a couple new versions since its release. It's recommended for people to hold onto their first-generation Amazon Echo because it will most likely seem like a relic in about 20 to 30 years.
First Editions Of Modern Books
Similar to collecting contemporary art it's a good financial investment to get some first edition copies of modern books. For example, when the first Harry Potter book came out people had no idea how successful it would become. Now, the very few that are still out in the world are worth tens of thousands of dollars.
When a new book is printed publishers will only release a limited number of copies in order to see how it's received by the public. The next time you're browsing for a book, make sure to check out rising authors or books that have the possibility of turning into a franchise.
Legos
Lego building block toys have been around since the 1930s and have risen in popularity over the years. They still remain one of the top toys for kids with more sets than ever before. Their timelessness encourages collectors to pay higher prices for vintage and limited edition sets or finding the missing piece to a special set they already own.
Many of the most valuable sets are centered around pop culture. The Millennium Falcon set can be sold for $15,000 and the first edition of the Taj Mahal set is priced around $3,900.
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