Are you sitting on a goldmine? What your old toys could be worth

Feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis? You’re not alone. Many of us are looking for creative ways to boost our income. But what if the answer is already tucked away in your attic or hiding at the back of a cupboard? 

Beloved toys from your childhood might be worth far more than you’d expect. If you’re willing to trade a little nostalgia for some serious cash, now might be the perfect time to cash in.  

Here are 20 vintage toys that collectors are snapping up and what they might be worth.  

1. Barbie dolls  

Barbie dolls have been loved by generations and still are. The hit 2023 film starring Margot Robbie reignited the world’s love-affair with the impossibly proportioned icon!  

Like with most toys, the rarer and older the Barbie, the better, with the ones from the ‘50s and ‘60s typically selling for the most.   

And it’s not just Barbie, it’s her companions and accessories too. In November 2024, a Barbie Meadow mares horse sold for £928 on eBay.  

2. Sindy dolls 

If you were more Team Sindy - Barbie’s girl-next-door British counterpart launched in 1963 -you might have a little treasure on your hands.  

Early Sindy dolls in good condition can go for anywhere from £50 to £1,000. 

3. My Little Pony 

Those bright, brushable manes are back in style! Rare My Little Ponies like the 1983 'Firefly' have sold for as much as £786. 

4. Cabbage Patch Kids 

They were insanely ugly but insanely popular in the 1980s and, as such, are highly collectible today.  

If you’ve got rare editions like Mickey Mantle and the Cabbage Patch Twins, you could earn £700-plus.  

5. Game Boy 

In the days before gaming was something we take for granted on our phones, the Nintendo Game Boy was the gadget to own for the ultimate portable gaming experience.  

The original Game Boy is now a retro collector’s item. A basic one in decent condition fetches £50 – £100, but if it’s boxed and bundled with games, you’re looking at £700 or more. 

6. Mario Kart 64 

The Nintendo 64 was a staple gaming accessory in the ‘90s. Old Nintendo 64 cartridges could be worth a fair bit and none more so than the Mario Kart 64. If it’s in the original box, you could get a cool £50.  

7. iPod Classics  

It might feel like yesterday when the iPod Classic came out, redefining tech as we knew it. But these first-generation iPods from 2001 now sell for £100 – £200.  

Time to check the back of that tech drawer.  

8. Tamagotchi  

Your forgotten digital pet on an egg-sized screen from the ‘90s could be worth a fortune. An original English version can sell for up to £3,500. 

9. Princess Diana Beanie Baby  

Now these could be worth some serious money! The ‘90s Princess Diana Beanie Baby is a special edition commemorative plush toy that was released by Ty Inc. just months after Diana's death in 1997.  

This iconic purple bear with a white rose can vary in value depending on rare features. Most go for around £420, though some hopefuls are listing them for £1m! 

10. He-Man action figures 

By the power of Grayskull! Iconic He-Man characters like Scare Glow or Laser Light Skeletor can command £2,000-plus, if they’re in good condition. 

11. Star Wars action figures  

Original 1977 Star Wars figures are like gold dust, especially rare ones like the ‘small head’ Han Solo, which has sold for over £1,500. 

12. 1983 Indiana Jones action figure  

If you have a factory-sealed Indiana Jones figurine from 1983, it could be worth nearly £800. 

13. Daredevil Comic #186  

Featuring the debut of Elektra, the Daredevil Comic #186 is considered one of the greatest Marvel comic book editions of all time.  

If you're lucky enough to own a copy, its price will depend on how well it’s been looked after. One in mint condition could go for nearly £900. 

14. 1986 American Girl Doll  

Each American Girl Doll represented a different era of American history and came with a book about its period. Today, they’re seen as valuable pieces of cultural history, often selling for up to £1,000. 

15. The Atari game Red Sea Crossing  

Atari was at the forefront of video game innovation. And while most Atari games aren’t worth much, rare ones are highly prized among collectors. 

The ultra-rare Red Sea Crossing is based on Moses crossing the Red Sea. There are only two known copies, one of which sold for a staggering £8,549 in 2012. 

Where’s the other copy? Could it be in your attic?  

16. Harry Potter books  

Calling all Harry Potter fans… if you've got an early print of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone from 1997, it could be worth thousands. Even later books go for a few hundred each. 

17. Happy Meal toys 

Yes, McDonald’s Happy Meal toys might have once been tossed aside, but if you did hang on to them, they could be worth a bit.  

Complete sets, especially from the ‘90s, are surprisingly valuable. A full 101 Dalmatians set from 1996 with the original display box could get you around £50.  

18. Polly Pocket  

Bluebird’s original Polly Pocket sets are pure gold to collectors. A 1995 Polly Pocket Children's Hospital fetched £4,000! 

19. Furby  

Launched in 1998, Furby became an instant hit. Today, limited editions of these much-loved furry creatures can easily fetch upwards of £150, depending on the condition and packaging.  

20. Hot Wheels  

Hot Wheels from the '60s are a hit on resale sites. One recently listed for £434, despite costing less than 50p when it was first sold. 

So who knows, your attic might just be hiding your next holiday fund.  

Time to start searching!