15 Things You Have Around The House That Could Be Worth A Lot of Money
By now, maybe you’ve heard about the 1943 penny worth approximately $282,000 that could potentially be in your possession. After sifting through our coin jars and underneath our car seats, this news really got us thinking about what other unknown valuable items we could have lying around the house.
On that note, we think it’s time to clear out the cabinets and check between the couch cushions for these surprisingly valuable items you might not even know you own.
Old Magazines
If you’re one of those people that find it hard to through away magazines, it may have been worth those years of lugging them around. Magazines that have been around for decades, or those that no longer exist, can be considered valuable collectors’ items.
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Vintage Furniture
As fashion trends come and go, so do interior trends. Furniture that was popular back in your parent’s time is now highly sought after with the resurgence of retro, mid-century, and vintage interior decorating.
If you’re not into the style yourself, it might be worth putting that 1960s teak Parker sideboard you’ve got stored away, up for sale.
Old Cameras
Are you hanging on to an old camera that you can’t even buy film for anymore? If you know it’s going to sit on the shelf and continue to collect dust, consider getting it valued. There’s sure to be an avid photographer out there hunting for rare vintage models.
Rare Coins and Money
That old penny you’ve been hanging onto your whole life might actually be worth a small fortune.
That penny we mentioned earlier is actually worth so much because of its historical significance during World War II. Much like this one, there are plenty of old coins that are worth much more than their initial value.
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Books
While you probably don’t have the original copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (worth $2 million!) tucked away in your bookshelf, you may have some old classics, children’s books, or even college textbooks that are worth a bit of cash.
Stamps
Who didn’t collect stamps when they were a kid? Believe it or not, stamp collectors still exist. There are hundreds of rare stamps on eBay alone ranging from tens to thousands of dollars. Dig out your old stamp collection and see if you have any winners!
Old China
With any kind of old pottery, dinnerware, or china, the embossed sign underneath could be a sign that an item is a collectible. Do a quick search on eBay to see if it might be worth something.
Look for fine bone china teacups by design houses such as Shelley, Wedgewood, and Royal Doulton.
Glassware
Depression-era glass, carnival glass, even old soda bottles and vintage canning jars can be worth more than you think.
Have a look on Ebay or get an antique expert’s advice to find out what it’s worth before letting it go.
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Jewelry
If you’ve got some old jewelry lying around that you no longer wear or want to get rid of due to the wrong kind of sentimental value, it’s worth looking into trading it in for cash.
Although it’s unlikely you will get back what you paid or what it’s worth, it’s a quick and easy way to make some money from unwanted goods. Look online for reputable dealers.
Records
Loved for their sense of nostalgia and intimacy, record players are making a comeback as a hip home accessory.
While old record players may not be of much value, some records are! If you’ve got some old Beatles records lying around, you could be sitting on a small fortune. Maybe we should be hanging on to those old cd’s?
Vintage Bakeware
You might remember your mom or grandmother cooking in one of these; a CorningWare casserole dish. Turns out some of these dishes could be worth a pretty penny.
The most common floral pattern is the instantly recognizable Cornflower range, which is still available to purchase today.
There are, however, several rarer designs which could be worth a hefty sum. Look for rare designs that were originally introduced in the 1970s, such as the “Wildflower” and “Floral Bouquet” patterns. Dishes with these designs can make up to $10,000 at auctions.
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Old VCRs
Sure the humble VCR was outmoded almost a decade ago, but film buffs are still out there, searching for rare copies of their favorite blockbusters.
VHS tapes of the original Star Wars Trilogy and classic Disney films are the most valuable of the bunch.
Casette Tapes
Call your dad and tell him to put his tape collection in the will. These old things – which no one thought would make a comeback – are again having their time in the limelight. Experts say a high-end cassette-buying trend is emerging.
Because cassette tapes declined significantly with the introduction of the CD, they are incredibly rare, a fact which has driven their value up in recent years. In 2016, a copy of The Artist album by Prince sold for $4,117 on Discogs.
Childhood Toys
Open up your toy cabinet and you could be sitting on a small fortune. Even if you’re a child of the 90s, there are some treasures to be found. Unopened miniature Polly Pocket sets have been known to fetch up to $600 at auction.
Likewise, original Tamagotchis and rare Pokemon cards could be worth thousands. A Charizard Holo card from 1999 are worth upwards of $5,000.
Valuable toys from the 80s include View Masters and Cabbage Patch Kids. Even things like the free toys you’d get in a Happy Meal could be worth a couple of hundreds of dollars.
Original Tupperware
For decades, Tupperware has had a dedicated fan base. Aficionados of the brand regularly scour auction sites for rare and unused vintage designs. A pair of mid-century ‘Millionaire Collections’ salt and pepper shakers could be worth up to $50-70.
Many original Tupperware designs, including the Wonderlier Bowls (which debuted in 1946) and the Servalier Astro Bowls (from 1972) have also retained their value, selling for around $30 a pop.
It may not seem like much, but considering many people purchased Tupperware in bulk, these small values will quickly add up to a decent fortune.
This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.
