Top 5 Things From Your Childhood That Have Value Now

Many of us will store and forget about our old childhood toys and games. Although they brought us so much joy, they are often hidden away in our lofts, garages or we sell them at boot fairs. However, some particular items are worth thousands.

There are many toy collectors out there that are willing to pay a pretty penny for toys and games they used to play as a child, but the limited edition and older items are seen as more desirable due to their rarity, therefore they can prove to be quite an expensive asset.

Here at Cuttings the Pawnbrokers, we will be breaking down the top 5 things from your childhood that have value now…

1. Beanie Babies

If you were born in the 1990s or early 2000s, then it’s very likely that you’ve heard of, or used to own, a Beanie Baby. 

The first original beanie babies were launched in 1993, with there being 9 different varieties in total. Since then, there have been hundreds of different beanie babies produced, however, it is known that some of these cuddly toys have a high price tag to them now.

The most famous and expensive is the Princess Diana memorial bear. This was a special edition model where only 300 were produced and were created to raise money for The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund following Princess Diana’s death. If you own one, well, you are sitting on a substantial amount of cash…

As of August 2020, one listing on eBay is asking for $150,000 for this rare beanie baby. Yes, you heard that right…

Other valuable beanie babies such as Humphrey the Camel or (Royal Blue) Peanut Elephant, may earn you a couple of hundred pounds.

Tags, condition and whether the bear is a first or second-generation will affect the price you can expect.

To find out how much other beanie babies are worth, then visit this website. Some pawnbrokers may accept antique toys, so it would be worth checking which beanie babies you own and their value.

2. Lego

Dating back to 1932, Lego is one of the most popular, best-selling toys and is a household name. It continues to be successful to this day and was named “Toy of the Century” in 2000 by the British Association of Toy Retailers, beating both Barbie and the common teddy bear!

With selling lego, there are a couple of ways you can make money from it. If you have random mismatched pieces, then these can be sold by the kilo, or you can sell your sets as a bundle.

It is much more lucrative to sell complete lego sets, especially if they are rare. For example, Star Wars lego sets can be favourable, with the Millennium Falcon set previously selling for £3,800, originally bought for £342!

Any complete lego set from your childhood will most likely have some value now.

3. Pokemon cards

If you grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s, then you may have seen Pokémon battles being held between your friends.

It was also known that there were some seriously valuable cards out there that everyone wanted to own. Still to this day, they are desired, but only really for collectors. 

The rarest cards are the biggest moneymakers, so if you happen to own the first edition Holographic Shadowless Charizard card, then this is worth around £9,000. Also, the Shining Charizard card can fetch around £1,000. So you’re in luck if you are in possession of these!

The majority of Pokémon cards do not hold much value at all, however, the first edition cards (printed in 1999–2000) are the ones to look out for. You can find out the potential value of your Pokémon cards here. 

If your Pokémon card collection does not have any of these special features, then it may be best to sell them online in bulk.

4. Polly Pockets

Another favourite for many in the 1990s is Polly Pockets. These tiny sets can and have been known to sell for a considerable amount, however, this applies to the pre-1998 Polly Pockets. 

The condition of sets, like most toys and games, affect their price. For example, two Polly Pocket sets (The Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland) sold for £1,421 on eBay.  This did include the full packaging and the sets were in mint condition. 

So to summarise, if you’re selling your vintage Polly Pockets, check you still have the original boxes. If not, the jewel cases can still fetch between £10-£30, with rarer ones potentially earning you over £100!

5. Super Soakers

Do you still have your old water pistols in your shed or garage? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that certain models can sell for a considerable amount.

The Super Soaker mighty Monster XL can reach up to £200, while the classic Super Soaker 50 is worth around £30 – £50. 

Newer, more common models won’t earn you as much however, it is still worth checking around the internet to find out how much certain models are listed at.

These were a massive part of a lot of people’s childhoods, and will especially be in demand this summer!

There are plenty of other toys and well as board games that have some serious value, such as certain Barbie dolls, Game Boys, Action Men, Monopoly and much more.

If you’re looking to sell your old toys and games, it is worth doing some research beforehand to determine how much money you can make. 

If you don’t own any toys of value, then why don’t you pawn your jewellery and watches? Here at Cuttings the Pawnbrokers, we offer pawnbroking loans to help you when you need it most.