7 Nostalgic Millennial Childhood Items That Could Net You Serious Cash

If you’re a millennial who bridged the unique blend of pre-digital and digital experiences, chances are every movie from your childhood is either getting a remake, a prequel or a sequel. Nostalgia is not only comforting, but it can
also be quite lucrative
. Baggy jeans are making a comeback and Chuck Taylors are lining the ankles of teenagers sporting Nirvana shirts and bucket hats. In fact, trends from the ’80s to the early 2000s are seemingly more popular than ever.

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You could have a treasure trove of not just artifacts from your past, but extra cash, stacked in that spare bedroom closet or in your parents’ attic. Here are seven vintage items (
yes, anything over 20 years old is considered vintage
) from your childhood that could be worth a pretty penny.

Earning passive income doesn’t need to be difficult.
You can start this week.

Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels cars are a seemingly timeless toy introduced in 1968. Over the years, the handheld collectible vehicles have largely bucked inflation.

The cars retailed for 69 to 89 cents when they launched; comparable models today sell for just $1.29. If they had kept pace with inflation, they’d cost about $6.24 in 2025. But if you’re lucky, an older, mint-in-box Hot Wheels car can
sell on the aftermarket for $12,000 or more
.

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Transformers Toys

Toy maker Hasbro first launched the Transformers as a toy line in 1984, and the vehicles that transformed into robots remained popular through the early 2000s, eventually spawning cartoons and blockbuster movies.

If you’re a millennial, no doubt you’ve encountered the franchise at some point. If you, or perhaps a slightly older sibling, have any of the original Transformers from the first release (deemed G1, or Generation 1), you could transform a sealed Optimus Prime into $1,800, according to Transformerland.com.

My Little Pony Figures

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 brightly colored ponies and unicorns.

Hasbro’s original My Little Pony toys hit shelves in 1982, and models between the launch and 1992 have appreciated the most in value. Collectinsure.com reported that a first-generation edition of Rapunzel can resell for $1,550.

Pokémon Cards

Another iconic toy brand from the 1990s through today is Pokémon. If you spent your childhood trying to “catch ’em all,” and managed to hang onto your Pokémon cards (and keep them in reasonably good condition), you can make a small fortune.

As with other collectibles, the price your cards can command will depend on the condition, the scarcity of the card and the specific Pokémon depicted.
previously reported
that valuable cards can range from hundreds of dollars up to six figures.

Rare Coins

U.S. coins
from virtually any era can be worth well more than their face value, depending on their rarity and condition — and the 1990s and early 2000s are no exception.

If you happen to have a 1990 no-S mint mark Lincoln penny, you could potentially cash it in for as much as $6,000, according to the APMEX Knowledge Center. Similarly, a 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter in mint condition could sell for more than $2,500, although most coins of this variation
sell for $95 to $300
.

Old Movie Posters

The 1990s brought many people fond childhood memories, super-cool toys and iconic films. A lot of teens liked to hang posters of their favorite movies on their bedroom walls.

If you were wise enough to keep them in good condition, you could make hundreds of dollars. A used “Matrix” poster is selling at FilmArtGallery.com for $795. Not a sci-fi fan? If you’re willing to part with your “Home Alone” poster from 1990, you could make nearly $600.

Lunchboxes

Lunchboxes have evolved over the decades, from metal to plastic to today’s bento boxes. However, if you have any plastic or metal licensed character lunchboxes from the ’80s or ’90s, they might be worth a few hundred dollars.

A quick eBay search reveals fan favorites like “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” “Star Wars” and “Thundercats” lunchboxes going for $30 up to $350 or more. The older the lunchbox, and the more popular the character, the greater the value — with metal lunchboxes from the early ’80s going for more than plastic models from the ’90s.

Final Take To GO: Millennials Invest in Nostalgia

Millennials have seen their fair share of “unprecedented” financial crises, and now, with another potential recession looming, nostalgia can not only offer comfort, but it can also write checks.

So, it’s time to forget about stagnant wages, high student debt and housing market instability, and start walking down memory lane. Be sure to check out some items from your childhood that could be worth a ton of money.

Caitlyn Moorhead

contributed to the reporting for this article.

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