Back in the ’80s, a few bucks could get you something really exciting—whether it was a new toy, a stack of trading cards, or the latest cassette single. We spent our allowance money on things that felt like treasures at the time, and now? Some of those little splurges are worth a small fortune. If only we had known to keep them in mint condition! Here are 14 things every ’80s kid happily bought with allowance money—items that now might require a loan to own again.
1. Garbage Pail Kids Cards
At just a few cents per pack, Garbage Pail Kids were an absolute steal back in the day. The gross-out, hilarious characters made them irresistible, even if parents weren’t thrilled about them. Most of us peeled off the stickers or tossed the doubles into a pile, never thinking they’d be worth anything. Today, rare cards can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars, especially if they’re in pristine condition. Mental Floss reveals the much more hygienic details behind this product line.
A first-series Adam Bomb card in mint condition has sold for over $4,000. That’s a long way from the pocket change we used to spend at the local corner store! If you held onto your collection, you might be sitting on a goldmine. The rest of us? We’re just kicking ourselves for not keeping them safe.
2. Star Wars Action Figures
Every ’80s kid had at least a few Star Wars action figures, and they were cheap enough to buy with allowance money. We tore open the packages, acted out epic battles, and probably lost a few blasters under the couch. But those same figures, especially the ones from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, are now worth serious cash. A mint-condition Boba Fett from the original Kenner line can go for thousands. For those who still have their intergalactic treasures, Gizmodo writes that the Force is particularly strong with some.
If you had a rare figure like the early “rocket-firing” Boba Fett prototype, you’d be looking at a six-figure payday. Even common figures still sealed in their original packaging can sell for hundreds. Too bad most of us ripped them open the second we got home!
3. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games
A new NES game cost around $30 back in the day, which meant saving up for weeks or months of allowance money. Once you had it, though, you’d play it endlessly, blowing into the cartridge whenever it wouldn’t start. Games like The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and Castlevania were must-haves, and if you had a rare one like Stadium Events, you basically had a treasure chest sitting in your room. For an added layer of nostalgic fun, The Brothers Brick praises the Lego version as a 1:1 faithful recreation.
Today, some NES games in mint condition can sell for thousands. A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for over $2 million! Even opened copies of rare titles can go for a few hundred. If only we’d kept them in the box instead of shoving them into that plastic cartridge case!
4. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Figures
If you were an ’80s kid, chances are you had at least one He-Man action figure. They were tough, came with cool accessories, and made every kid feel like a hero. Most of us tossed them into a toy box without a second thought, but collectors today will pay big money for figures in mint condition. A vintage He-Man figure still in the box can fetch over $1,000, while rare versions like Scare Glow can sell for even more. The history of this franchise is as grand as the plot, as outlined by SyFy.
The original Castle Grayskull playset, once just another piece of bedroom clutter, is now worth hundreds—sometimes thousands—if it’s in great shape. Who knew that all those epic battles we staged would turn our toys into collector’s gold?
5. Cabbage Patch Kids
When Cabbage Patch Kids first hit stores, they were so popular that parents literally fought over them. Kids were lucky to get one, and if you saved up your allowance to buy accessories or outfits, you were the envy of the neighborhood. Today, original Cabbage Patch Kids in perfect condition—especially those with birth certificates and boxes—can sell for hundreds or even thousands.
Limited edition dolls and early models from 1983 are particularly valuable. If you happened to have a rare one, you might be holding onto a serious payday. Too bad most of us gave ours a haircut or let them get dragged through the backyard mud.
6. Transformers Toys
Transformers were some of the coolest toys of the ’80s—robots that turned into cars, jets, and even dinosaurs! We spent our allowance money on Autobots and Decepticons, staging battles on the living room floor. But those same toys, now considered collectibles, are worth way more than they cost back then. A mint-condition Optimus Prime can sell for over $2,000.
Some of the rarest figures, like the early Megatron that turned into a gun, are worth even more. Most of us had no idea our everyday toys would become serious investments. If only we had kept the original boxes!
7. G.I. Joe Action Figures
G.I. Joe was a staple of every toy collection in the ’80s, and new figures were cheap enough to buy with saved-up allowance money. We had armies of these little guys, complete with weapons, vehicles, and playsets. Today, certain figures—like the rare Cobra Commander with a Mickey Mouse logo on his chest—can sell for thousands.
The USS Flagg aircraft carrier playset, which seemed impossibly large back then, now fetches insane prices. Even common figures, if they’re still sealed in their original packaging, can bring in a hefty amount. Who knew all those backyard battles were being fought with future collectibles?
8. Lisa Frank Stickers and Stationery
Every ’80s kid who loved neon colors and cute animals spent their allowance on Lisa Frank stickers, folders, and stationery sets. At the time, they were just fun little things to collect and trade. Today, vintage Lisa Frank items are highly sought after, with some sealed packs of stickers selling for hundreds of dollars.
Rare notebooks, trapper keepers, and sticker albums from the ’80s and early ’90s have become prized collectibles. If you kept any of these in good condition, you might be able to cash in. Meanwhile, the rest of us are wondering why we stuck all those valuable stickers onto our school desks.
9. My Little Pony Toys
The original My Little Pony toys were a must-have for many ’80s kids, and they were often bought with saved-up allowance money. We brushed their hair, played with their accessories, and lined them up on our shelves. Today, rare ponies, especially first-generation ones, can fetch surprising prices. A rare Rapunzel pony can go for over $1,000!
Even more common ponies are valuable if they’re in mint condition. If you have an original in-box Dream Castle playset, you could be sitting on a small fortune. Too bad most of ours ended up with tangled manes and missing accessories!
10. Atari 2600 Games
Before the Nintendo boom, the Atari 2600 was the king of home gaming. Kids would save up their allowance to grab the latest cartridges, from Pitfall! to Pac-Man. Back then, a new game might set you back $20 or so, but today, rare Atari games have skyrocketed in value. If you happened to own Air Raid, one of the rarest cartridges ever, you could sell it for over $30,000.
Even more common titles can still fetch decent money if they’re in good condition. Some collectors will pay top dollar for factory-sealed copies or obscure releases. While most of us just wanted to rack up high scores, it turns out that holding onto those little plastic cartridges could’ve made us rich. Now, trying to buy them back is an expensive trip down memory lane.
11. Pee-wee’s Playhouse Toys
Pee-wee Herman was everywhere in the late ’80s, and his Saturday morning show inspired a line of quirky and colorful toys. Figures of Pee-wee, Chairry, and the rest of the gang were fun collectibles that kids eagerly spent their allowance on. At the time, they seemed like just another TV tie-in, but today, certain Pee-wee’s Playhouse figures are worth a pretty penny. A boxed Pee-wee Herman pull-string doll can sell for several hundred dollars.
Even smaller figures, like Magic Screen or Jambi the Genie, have become highly sought after. The more obscure the character, the higher the price. Most of us just played with them until the paint wore off, never imagining they’d be worth so much decades later. If only we had a secret word for “valuable collectible” back then!
12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Figures
Every ’80s kid had a favorite Ninja Turtle, and the action figures were must-haves. For just a few bucks, you could pick up Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael, complete with weapons and accessories. But if you were lucky enough to grab rarer figures—like Scratch the Cat or an original April O’Neil—your childhood investment could be worth hundreds or even thousands today. A mint-condition Scratch figure recently sold for over $5,000!
Playsets like the Technodrome and Sewer Lair are also big-ticket items now. While we had a blast staging battles between the Turtles and Shredder, today’s collectors are willing to pay serious money for the same figures we once tossed around like nothing. Who knew the Half-Shell Heroes would become full-fledged collectibles?
13. Boom Boxes
Music was a big part of every ’80s kid’s life, and a boom box was the ultimate way to blast your favorite tunes. They weren’t cheap, but with enough saved-up allowance (and maybe some birthday money), you could get a decent one. These days, vintage boom boxes—especially high-end models from brands like Sharp or JVC—are worth a small fortune. Some fully functional models sell for over $1,000, and rare ones can go for even more.
If yours had dual cassette decks, flashing lights, or extra bass boost, you were the coolest kid on the block. Most of us wore ours out playing mixtapes or recording songs off the radio, but collectors today want them in pristine condition. It’s amazing to think that something as everyday as a boom box could become a luxury item!
14. Jordache and Guess Jeans
Fashion mattered in the ’80s, and designer jeans were a status symbol. Every kid wanted a pair of Jordache, Guess, or Calvin Klein jeans, even if it meant saving up allowance for weeks to afford them. Back then, a good pair might set you back $30 to $50, which felt like a fortune. Today, vintage ’80s designer jeans have made a huge comeback, and original pairs in great condition can sell for hundreds.
Brands like Levi’s have also seen insane resale prices for their older denim. Collectors and retro fashion lovers are willing to pay top dollar for the same jeans we once begged our parents to buy. If you still have a pair tucked away in the back of your closet, you might be sitting on a hidden payday. Who knew that our once-trendy jeans would one day be considered vintage gold?
Saving up allowance money in the ’80s meant getting the coolest toys, cards, and collectibles of the time. Little did we know, some of those purchases would one day be worth a fortune! If only we had kept everything in pristine condition, we might not need a loan to buy them back today. But hey, at least we got to enjoy them when they were just fun, everyday treasures.
