Listicle Sample - 23 Things in Your Garage That Are Probably Worth Way More Than You Realize

The key to something being valuable lies in its rarity (just ask Honus Wagner). With so many people tossing old toys, discarding old decorations, and swapping old technology for newer versions, one person’s trash helps set the stage for another’s treasure. 

In fact, all sorts of gadgets and gizmos hold value; from vintage items going for a few hundred dollars to quit-your-job money, your net worth might be higher than you realize.

So, before you call the donation truck or fill up your garbage bin, consider searching your home for the following 23 things:

#1 Old Video Games and Cartridges

You might have had a legendary run in the Legend of Zelda or helped Luigi rescue Princess Peach, but not even turtle tipping is as valuable as specific video game cartridges. The factors that determine value include a game’s title, its rarity, and the cartridge's condition.

While opened video games can hold value, the never-opened ones tend to be the real moneymakers; in 2021, an unopened 1985 Super Mario Bros. sold for $2,000,000. 

#2 Vintage Bicycles

Vintage bicycles can sell for quite a bit, depending on their condition, how many similar bikes were made, and their historical significance. Bikes that are well-preserved and retain all their original parts hold the most value; limited-edition bicycles are also in high demand.

A bike’s value will also skyrocket if it’s verified to have once been owned or ridden by a significant figure. Some famous bicyclists include the Wright brothers, Maurice Garin (the winner of the first Tour de France), and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West. 

#3 Retro Boomboxes and Cassette Players

Retro boomboxes and cassette players are often sought after by collectors for their nostalgia, limited supply, and high-quality construction.

Models with features or aesthetics no longer included in modern electronics fetch the highest prices. If you have a vintage stereo sitting around, this is probably music to your ears; throw in some rad breakdancing moves or a Milli Vanilli tape, and you might have yourself a deal.

#4 Antique Tools and Handcrafted Woodworking Gear

Antique tools and handcrafted woodworking gear are popular among historians and collectors who appreciate their significance.

While any vintage tool has value if it’s rare enough and in decent enough shape, the most sought-after saws and coveted chisels were used in building noteworthy things, such as Mount Rushmore, the Hoover Dam, or the first steam-powered merry-go-round (although you’re more likely to find many of these tools in a museum rather than a shelf in your garage).   

#5 Old Fishing Gear

Most fishing gear holds little value because it is used until it becomes a shell of itself, cast out of the tackle box and into the garbage can. However, this isn’t always the case; some old gear can be worth a fortune.

Among the most famous lures to lure profits was the Giant Haskell Minnow, which sold for more than $100,000 in 2003. Fishing gear also holds value when used in an impressive fishing feat, such as catching the world’s biggest swordfish or a giant great white. 

#6 Classic Car Parts and Accessories

Classic cars are valuable collector’s items, so it should come as little surprise that their parts and accessories are moneymakers as well. Original parts from classic cars are sought by car enthusiasts and restoration professionals who want to restore their cars with their true-blue pieces.

Car parts and accessories that have never been opened or are rare and hard to find are especially valuable. Some of the most coveted car parts include vintage emblems, hubcaps, engine components, and bumpers.   

#7 First-Edition Comic Books

Comic books are among the most frequently collected items, which causes a deviation in any given first edition’s value. Some factors that determine value include the comic’s popularity, the number of copies in the original print run, the book’s condition, and whether the book is signed.

Comic books with errors, in particular, can be treasure troves; these were often recalled and reprinted, so there aren’t many in circulation. 

#8 Rare Sports Memorabilia 

Ask any man born in the 1940s or 1950s, and he might have a story of how his baseball card collection was discarded by a well-meaning mother tidying up the house. His loss is, naturally, a collector’s gain, as the rarity of a card determines its value. Even so, the card’s condition is a huge factor; those in mint condition go for far more money than cards ripped, torn, or covered in remnants of bubble gum.

Some of the most profitable cards include variations of Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Pete Rose. But it’s not just players from sports past that hold value: Some uber-rare Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Mike Trout cards are worth millions. 

#9 Hot Wheels and Diecast Cars

With some Hot Wheels going for tens of thousands of dollars, your toy car may be worth more money than your actual one. So, before you give away your collection, ensure you’re not harboring a diamond in the rough or your child’s college tuition.

You’re most likely to have a Hot Wheel of value if it was made between 1968 and 1980, if the car is in pristine condition, and if it’s a variation with limited cars in circulation. If your Hot Wheels fail to fit these criteria, don’t put them out to the Pontiac pasture just yet; even poorly maintained Hot Wheels are worth something when rare enough. 

#10 Vinyl Records

Kids these days might have a world of music at their fingertips, but vinyl records are making a comeback. For collectors, their value was never in doubt; certain records are worth a fortune, especially if they’re rare, free of warping and scratches, and signed by the artist. Some of the most sought-after vinyls include Elvis, The Beatles, Prince, and Wu-Tang Clan. 

#11 Vintage Typewriters

Typewriters might give you flashbacks to Murder, She Wrote and using two spaces after a period, but vintage models can sell for a few hundred or thousands of dollars. The going rate of any given typewriter depends on its condition, brand, age, rarity, and demand.

If you own a vintage typewriter, it’s worth researching its value. If you’re a collector, adding a typewriter to your tapestry might be a solid investment…..just don’t attempt to buy Jessica Fletcher’s: It’s at the Smithsonian.  

#12 Old Cameras and Lenses

Old cameras and lenses can retain value, though this is determined by brand (iconic brands are usually in higher demand), working condition, and the number of similar cameras in circulation.

Vintage cameras are hot items among professional and amateur photographers seeking the picture-perfect craftsmanship and quality once standard. Cameras owned or used by famous photographers or those behind historically significant photos (such as the Berlin Wall crumbling) click exceptionally well with collectors.  

#13 Retro Lunchboxes

Retro lunchboxes might be covered in Snack Pack pudding stains and fermented Kool-Aid, yet they’re still a coveted collectible among those with a penchant for nostalgia. Often depicting popular TV shows, rock bands, cartoon characters, and movies, these metal marvels offer adults a blast from the past while honoring lunchtime lore.

Any vintage lunchbox can hold value, but the best-sellers are in excellent condition and made between the 1930s and 1970s. Like all collectibles, the rarer, the better. 

#14 Obsolete Tech Gadgets

From the original Sony Walkman, the Atari 2600, and the Commodore 64 to Tamagotchi digital pets and the Talk Boy featured in Home Alone 2, obsolete tech gadgets aren’t obsolete in the eyes of collectors. Still, the range of what’s valuable and what’s garage sale fodder is wide.

Devices in excellent condition, those that contain all their original parts, and those that aren’t saturating the market sell for the most money on auction sites. While some of these devices, like the Talk Boy, won’t pave the way toward an early retirement, they’ll allow you to recoup much more than you originally paid.  

#15 Mid-Century Furniture and Décor

Décor, like fashion, is cyclic: Just ask mullets—practically everything comes back in style eventually. Mid-century furniture is popular among those seeking a vintage look; it’s also sought by architectural enthusiasts who appreciate its craftsmanship, refinement, clean lines, and simple design.

The most valuable pieces are those in good condition, with short, sturdy legs, and made by well-known designers. 

#16 Old Advertising Signs and Gas Station Memorabilia

Old advertising signs and gas station memorabilia might be worth very little (as they’re familiar sights in modern-day man caves and sports bars) or worth several hundred dollars. This largely depends on their scarcity; signs with low circulation garner more money than those with high circulation.

Signs for well-known brands tend to also go for higher prices, with a Coca-Cola advertisement likely generating more interest than one marketing Shasta.  

#17 Rare LEGO Sets

LEGO sets aren’t known for their value for a few reasons. First of all, once these sets are opened, it’s doubtful that they’ll retain their completeness, with bricks and tiles disappearing into the abyss of the couch or into a heat vent. LEGO sets also tend to be passed down from generation to generation, which prevents them from ever becoming rare (the cardinal rule of what makes something valuable).

This isn’t to say that no LEGO sets have value; limited-edition sets are worth money because there aren’t many on the market. Some of the most valuable sets include the San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Spider-Man, Ole Kirk’s House, and the 106 UNICEF Van. Other valuable sets include the Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon, the Grand Carousel, and Café Corner. 

#18 Classic Board Games

Classic board games may retain value if they’re in mint condition and include elements that newer versions have disregarded. Other board games have value because they were published in very low quantities or were on the market for only short periods.

Some of the rarest games in circulation include Milton Bradley’s Win-a-Card, the Elvis Presley Game, Lost in Space 3D, and the vintage version of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. 

#19 Military Memorabilia

Military memorabilia can be quite valuable if it’s in decent condition, representative of an important era in history, and contains unit insignia. Medals, weapons, and uniforms from significant wars and conflicts are among the items collectors look for the most.

Age, of course, plays a huge role; while many people possess World War II memorabilia passed down by their parents or grandparents (saturating the market), possessing a relic from the Civil War or the War of 1812 is far less likely. 

#20 Old Coins and Currency

Old coins and currency can earn you a pretty penny (millions and millions of them), as rare bills and coins are extraordinarily valuable to serious collectors. The difficulty lies in finding these coins: Sorting through a five-gallon jug full of change on the off chance you’ll discover a gem is a huge commitment. Even so, it’s one you might want to make.

Among the most valuable coins is the 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent, which contains a mint error resulting in the penny’s bronzing (instead of the standard steel used that year). With only a few dozen in circulation, this penny can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hopefully, you never dropped one into a gumball machine or a kiddy ride at the local supermarket. 

#21 Classic Holiday Decorations

Those big 1980s Christmas lights might have done their darndest to burn your house down, but not all classic holiday decorations are out to get you; some are out to make you rich. When in good condition (especially if unopened), all sorts of décor can lead to a delightful windfall.

Some of the most valuable holiday items include ceramic Christmas trees, Victorian Kugel ornaments, decorations that are more than 100 years old, blow molds, and vintage sleds. Certain Hallmark ornaments are worth quite a bit, too, such as rare pieces from the Frosty Friends series. 

#22 Vintage Soda and Beer Crates

Vintage soda and beer crates probably won’t lead to wealth unless they’re incredibly unique or genuinely one of a kind. But their popularity makes them easy to sell, with limited editions going for a few hundred dollars. You might find a buyer for even the most common variations.

Someone once paid $1350 on eBay for a Cornflake shaped like Illinois; that means there’s a market for everything.  

#23 Original Star Wars Toys

Few things have as much staying power as Star Wars; the immense adoration it received in the 1970s was just a preview of things to come. Due to its everlasting fan base (and seemingly endless prequels and sequels), interest in original Star Wars toys has skyrocketed.

Those that go for the most astronomical prices tend to be rare and still in the box, yet even common toys can earn hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Whether you have a Boba Fett figure, a Darth Vader helmet, or a bottle of Star Wars vitamins that expired in 1990, you can find a buyer. In other words, the force is with you.