The 90's are really having a moment with a comeback era, but Gen Xers know it's always been cool. Nostalgia is more than just pop culture, because part of what drove the dynamic creativity of the decade was economic prosperity.
People didn't have to maximize every moment of existence with side hustles that work with full-time jobs, and had discretionary income to participate in buying into things for the pure, unadulterated joy they brought.
If you hung on to your 90s memorabilia, it could be worth some serious cash on the resale market now. See which ones made the list.
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Beanie Babies
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The Beanie Babies frenzy may have died out, but certain ones are still coveted. The Princess Diana commemorative bear remains one of the most valuable, although the price can vary wildly depending on each bear's unique factors. Prices range from a few dollars to a million dollars on eBay.
If you've still got a box full of these lying around, it might be worth digging them out and checking third-party resale sites like eBay to see how much they are currently worth.
American Girl Dolls (Pre-Mattel)
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Colonial Williamsburg inspired this line of educational dolls that skyrocketed into popularity by the 90s. Each doll came with an accompanying book that told a story incorporating various social stories reflecting the time period in which they "lived".
The original dolls (Samantha, Molly, and Addy) and accessories made by Pleasant Company can resell for thousands of dollars, while the dolls made after Mattel acquired the company are worth less.
Tamagotchis
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The original virtual pet practically flew off the shelves for popularity, and now those little "egg watches" can make you more than just the height of cool. Any 90's Tamagotchi is now worth more than the original sticker price, but the Deviltchi Devilgotchi is currently bringing in about $750 in good condition.
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Polly Pocket
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There is just something about shrinking a doll and setting it up in a compact-sized play environment that drove kids in the 90s to a frenzy. Again, we see a toy that was worth more before Mattel took over the company.
The original Polly Pocket toys made by Bluebird Toys now sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on their condition. An unopened package of Polly's Party Stamper Set recently sold for a whopping $7,163.84.
Happy Meal toys
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Gen Xers are still chasing the specific high of opening a McDonald's Happy Meal and pulling out a cool toy. One of the classic favorites are the Changeables, plastic McDonald's food that transforms into little robots. They may have cost a single dollar along with a kids' meal, but now a set resells for about $100.
Some other Happy Meal toys that have gone dramatically up in value are the Beanie Babies, Furbys, Inspector Gadget, and the Halloween Buckets.
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Furby
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The 90s also brought us the Furby which looked like a Jurassic Park abomination that mixed an owl and a hamster into a robot pet that gave the illusion of learning English over time. The original toy can now fetch a couple hundred dollars on the collectible market.
A rare and unopened Furby can fetch up to $2,000 on sites like eBay.
My Buddy and Kid Sister
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Those of a certain age can probably still hear the commercial jingle in their head for these toys. My Buddy was a unique toy for the time which was aimed at teaching young boys about caring for their friends in an emotionally healthy way. TheKid Sister line was later introduced as girls became interested in the line of toys.
In "like new" condition, these dolls can resell on the vintage market for between $100 to $300. That jingle in your head? That's forever, though.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
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June is here, and with it comes the start of summer, Father’s Day (June 15), and a fresh wave of markdowns. Keep an eye out for savings on:
Tools, grills, and outdoor gear
- Swimwear and summer fashion
- Patio furniture and garden decor
- For grocery savings, stock up on seasonal produce like blueberries, corn, and zucchini
While you're soaking up the sun, retailers are already thinking ahead to back-to-school prep, making June a great time to save on summer essentials and snag fresh deals before the crowds catch on.
My Little Pony
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Gen X may have outgrown My Little Pony by the 90s, but watching the original movie can unlock nostalgia from the deep recesses of Saturday Morning Cartoon memories.
The 80s MLP toys are worth the most, but even the 90s versions can fetch over $100 on resale sites.
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Lady Lovely Locks
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Gen X grew up with some odd cartoons that had highly marketable companion toys, but Lady Lovely Locks was one of the stranger options which focused around princesses with wild hair kept long so magical rodents could live in it.
The toy line came with "Pixietails" made into little barrette clips that could be worn in your hair to add a streak of bright color.The dolls are worth approximately $200 to $300 in good condition.
Scripto Classic mechanical pencils
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Scripto now makes lighters, but in the 90s they were still manufacturing mechanical pencils. The Scripto Classic featured a chunky 1.1mm lead with a twist action top that was re-released in the 90s with a translucent barrel.
If you held on to any of these, you can get about $70 per pencil, making it a huge return on your parents' 79 cents investment in the 90s.
Pogs
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Also known as the milk cap game, Pogs took the world by storm in the 90s. The circular cardboard milk caps featured iconic pop culture art that made them highly collectible, and those who held on to their collections could get a couple hundred dollars for them in today's market.
Individual pogs don't fetch a very high price, but selling entire collections can net about $400. The most popular sets include pop culture IP such as Disney, Jurassic Park, and Marvel.
Pokémon cards
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The pocket monster game that swept over the 90s kids scene turned out to be more than just a fad, and became hot again with the release of Pokémon Go. The original trading card game can now score big bucks for those who held on to their original decks.
According to Tabletop Gaming, the most expensive card is Illustrator Pikachu, which sold for over $5 million. The most expensive card with English text is a first edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard #4, which sold for $420,000.
Retro Coca-Cola memorabilia
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Everybody enjoys an ice-cold Coca-Cola now and again, but some people love the brand so much they'll pay handsomely for the coolest merch released by the soda company.
90's era Coca-Cola apparel can fetch between $35 to $110 on average, so it's worth checking eBay to see if your old Coke products are worth putting on the market.
Quick tips: How to prepare for economic uncertainty
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Uncertain times call for a review of expenses that goes beyond simple cost-cutting. Here are some steps for you to consider:
- Build a 6-month emergency fund. Prioritize this above other financial goals.
- Compare rates on big ticket items like auto insurance to make sure you aren't overpaying.
- Delay major purchases when possible.
- Consider a side hustle that can generate income with minimal startup costs.
During challenging economic periods, try to focus on what you can control. And remember that financial resilience isn't built overnight.
Vinyl records
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Vinyl records just have a richer, unique sound quality — or at least that's what enthusiasts and collectors say about one of the oldest sound storage methods. Records from the 70s are generally considered the most profitable, however rare 90's era releases can also get you a pretty decent amount on the resale market.
For instance, Nirvana's Bleach re-release is valued at around $1,500.
Game Boy console
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Gaming has come a long way since the first black-and-white handheld console released by Nintendo in 1990, but collector's still want those early iterations.
An original Game Boy in good condition can net over $1,500 and a sealed and unopened device sold for nearly $5,000 in April of this year.
Bottom line
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Before you chuck that box of childhood memorabilia, be sure to check online to see if anything has appreciated in value over time and could potentially help you earn some extra cash on the side.
Toys that seemed like a silly fad can be worth a lot decades later, and sometimes the strangest brands have staying power (we're looking at you, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.)
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