20 things millennials could have in the loft, all worth a fortune
Nearly everyone has had treasured possessions from their childhood in storage at some point in their lives, and many millennials are just the right age to still have items from all those years ago stashed away in their loft or attic. But, did you know that some of the 80s, 90s, and 00s toys and games that you once played with are now possibly worth far more money than was paid for them?
If you’re planning a clear-out or loft conversion anytime soon, it really is worth having an idea of just how much some of your childhood treasures are worth before you get rid of them — you might be sitting on a small fortune after all! To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some of the most valuable things millennials could have in a loft. Have a look and see if you own any.
Action Man figures
Product: Action Man SAS Underwater Attack Set
Year: 1983
Estimated value: £180+
Action Man is a brand that first emerged in the 1960s, and the toys were popular through to the mid-80s, before the original run was discontinued. The brand was later reintroduced, but it is the earlier figures that have proved to be more collectible.
Older millennials may have a valuable Action Man in their loft, just like the 1983 SAS Underwater Attack Set, which can sell for upwards of £180 if it’s in good condition. The toys were inspired by the SAS’s involvement in the London Iranian Embassy hostage crisis, which makes them items of interest.
Transformers figures
Product: Hasbro Transformers G1 Optimus Prime
Year: 1984
Estimated value: £2,500+
Transformers has been a popular brand at the heart of pop culture since the early 1980s, spanning toys, movies, video games, comics, and TV series. Following their fearless leader Optimus Prime, the Autobots have battled their mortal enemies, the Decepticons, through the decades.
The original series of figures are among the most valuable collectibles from the brand’s history, and the G1 Optimus Prime is a fantastic example. If you happen to find a mint-condition sealed version up in the loft, you could sell it for £2,500 or more.
Teddy Ruxpin bears
Product: Teddy Ruxpin and Grubby
Year: 1985
Estimated value: £200+
Launched in 1985, Teddy Ruxpin is an animatronic teddy bear that specialised in telling bedtime stories to children. In the 1980s, he relied on a tape deck built into his back, and parents could choose from a range of tales to keep kids entertained.
Millennials who rediscover the original version of Teddy accompanied by his sidekick Grubby in good condition could be in line for a sale of £200 or higher.
Playmobil sets
Product: Playmobil 4032 Large Western Train Set
Year: 1988
Estimated value: £450
Playmobil is a German toy brand that has been going since 1974. They specialise in making playsets aimed at younger children that feature their signature figures in a range of historical and fantasy settings and scenarios. They even featured in collaboration with popular licensed brands.
One of the most collectible sets is the 4032 Large Western Train Set that was introduced in 1988 and discontinued in 1997. It features a steam train and track with a western theme. A complete set with the original box in good condition can fetch £450.
McDonald's Happy Meal toys
Product: Super Mario Bros. 3 toy
Year: 1990
Estimated value: £275
McDonald’s have been giving away small toys in their Happy Meals since 1979, and some are very collectible due to their time-limited availability. There are many iconic sets that have been given away over the years that are quite valuable now.
The Super Mario Bros. 3 collection that was released in 1990 is sought-after due to the popularity of the character and classic game. If you have all four toys (a spring-launched Raccoon Mario, pull-back Luigi sitting on a cloud, back-flipping Goomba, and hopping Koopa Paratroopa), you may be able to sell them for around £275.
Monopoly board games
Product: Franklin Mint Monopoly: The Collector’s Edition
Year: 1991
Estimated value: £800+
Monopoly is one of the world’s most popular board games and has been around for a long time, having first appeared in 1935. Over the years, many special editions of the game have been created, some of which are very collectible.
In 1991, the Franklin Mint Monopoly: The Collector’s Edition was released, which featured a more premium wooden board and case as well as gold-leafed and silver pieces. If you can find this edition complete with its glass lid, you may be able to sell it for upwards of £800.
Barbie dolls
Product: Barbie Totally Hair doll
Year: 1991
Estimated value: £400+
Barbie has been on the scene since 1959 and a play companion for countless kids as they have grown up. And, because she’s been around for such a long time and there’s a lot of nostalgia around the brand, some of the dolls have become highly sought-after.
One of the most collectible Barbie ranges of the 90s was the Totally Hair range, which featured dolls with extra-long hair that could be brushed or styled easily. One of these dolls in good, boxed condition can fetch £400 or more.
Power Rangers figures
Product: 1993 Bandai Europe Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
Year: 1993
Estimated value: £500
In the 90s, the Power Rangers were a phenomenon among children who tuned in every Saturday morning to see what giant creature would be battled. Offering a mix of martial arts action and Transformers-style robotics, it’s little wonder they were so popular.
These days, the original Bandai Europe Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers action figures are worth quite a lot of money, especially if you have the full set of five. Boxed and in good condition, they could be worth about £500.
My Little Pony figures
Product: My Little Pony Sweet Babies
Year: 1993
Estimated value: £700+
Since the early 1980s, My Little Pony has been a favourite brand of many small children and it’s not difficult to see why. Combining ponies with rainbow colours and glittery designs was always sure to catch the eye, and the toys have had enduring popularity for several decades now.
Though the brand is still going, there is a strong demand for classic collectible Ponies from the 80s and 90s. The My Little Pony Sweet Babies from 1993 are particularly sought-after thanks to their cute sweetshop-style designs and accessories. If you have one in mint, boxed condition then you could be in for a windfall of £700 or more.
Polly Pockter toys
Product: 1996 Donald with Chip ‘N Dale – Mattel 17882
Year: 1996
Estimated value: £600+
Polly Pocket is a brand of children’s miniature toys that had its first run between 1989 and 2010. They are typically small, self-contained playsets with miniature figures that can be positioned inside. They were a big deal in the 90s, which has seen them become something of a cult collectible since.
Many of the early and licensed Polly Pocket toys are incredibly valuable now. A good example is the Disney-branded Donald with Chip ‘N Dale – Mattel 17882 playset, which is worth over £600 in good condition and with all of the small parts present.
Super Soaker water guns
Product: Super Soaker CPS 2000 mk.1
Year: 1996
Estimated value: £700
Super Soaker is another brand that was very popular in the 1990s. With their huge range of water guns, they quicky became the go-to for kids planning water fights in the summer. Some of the more limited guns are now highly sought-after.
The Super Soaker CPS 2000 mk.1 has a unique story. This was the brand’s first “Constant Pressure System” model, offering a more powerful jet of water than ever before, making it the must-have water gun for kids looking to dominate their friends. It was, however, too powerful when released, and reports of it causing eye injuries led it to be withdrawn from market and replaced with a less powerful mk.2. If you have a mk.1 in good condition, it could be worth £700.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone books
Product: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book (1997 first edition, first print run)
Year: 1997
Estimated value: £6,000+
When the first book was published in 1997, no-one had any real idea of the global phenomenon that the Harry Potter universe would go on to become. As a result, there is a huge market for any and all genuine memorabilia from the series, including rare versions of the books.
The first novel — Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — will be a fixture on many millennials’ shelves, but it may be worth checking what version your copy is. If it’s one of the 1997 first editions that were part of the first print run, it could be worth upwards of £6,000 — this goes for paperback and hardback editions, too.
Beanie Baby collectible
Product: Princess Diana Bear (first edition)
Year: 1997
Estimated value: £5,000+
Beanie Babies are bean-filled stuffed animals designed to be collectible. Introduced in 1993, their popularity didn’t sky-rocket until 1995, when they became one of the very first internet sensations. It reached a point where nearly every young child (or adult) had at least one of these toys, whether they’d begged their parents for it or received it as a free Happy Meal gift.
One of the most valuable Beanie Babies, if not the most valuable Beanie Baby, is the Princess Diana Bear — more specifically the first edition. This toy was released to commemorate the death of the royal earlier in the year and all proceeds went to charity. Now, a mint-condition one complete with the iconic heart-shaped “ty” tag is worth £5,000 or more.
Furby toys
Product: 1998 first-run Furby
Year: 1998
Estimated value: £185
When Furbies were released in the late 90s, they quickly became a love-it-or-hate-it toy for parents. Some found the way that they blinked and chattered annoying, while others loved their quirky looks and sounds. However, Furbies certainly struck a chord with children, and at one point virtually every toy shop around the country was sold out.
These days, original Furbies from the late 90s are something of a collector’s item, especially the 1998 first editions that can be difficult to find. So, if you happen to own an original Furby in its box, you may be able to sell it for around £185 to a collector.
Pokémon cards
Product: Holographic first-edition Charizard card
Year: 1999
Estimated value: £6,000+
Pokémon is another world-famous brand that’s still going strong today, with a global empire of games, toys, movies, TV shows, and theme parks that keeps getting bigger. However, the “Got to Catch ‘Em All” motto of the franchise is perhaps best encapsulated by the trading cards that were released in 1999. These cards are still incredibly collectible today, so the originals are sought-after.
One of the most coveted cards is the holographic first-edition Charizard. This card was one of the most popular — and rarest — when it released, so it makes sense that, two decades later, the demand has only intensified. A first-edition version of this “shiny” card can go for over £6,000.
Digimon virtual pets
Product: Bandai Digimon Digivice version 1
Year: 1999
Estimated value: £100
Similar to Pokémon, Digimon was a Japanese sensation that focused on collectable monsters, this time in the form of virtual pet toys. Kids could raise their digital beast to get stronger from the palm of their hand, and these nifty devices could link with others of the same type for monster vs monster battles to take place.
Early Bandai Digimon virtual pets, like the Digivice version 1, are quite collectible now thanks to the nostalgia around the brand. If you have one that still works with its original packaging, then it could fetch around £100 when auctioned.
Nintendo 64 games consoles
Product: Nintendo 64 Pikachu edition
Year: 2000
Estimated value: £430
It’s hard to believe it but video game giant Nintendo was founded back in 1889 as a playing cards maker. They didn’t start to make consoles until 1977 but have since released a succession of iconic devices beloved by gamers worldwide. For many millennials, their first introduction to the brand was through the Nintendo 64, which was introduced in 1996, so it makes sense that a great deal of nostalgia exists around the console to this day.
In 2000, the Nintendo 64 Pikachu edition was released to capitalise on the popularity of the monster-catching game Pokémon. It featured a blue and yellow design with the character’s foot as the reset button. If you have one of these stowed away in the loft, it could be worth around £430 today.
Apple iPods
Product: Apple iPod Classic First Generation
Year: 2001
Estimated value: £700+
The original Apple iPod changed the face of the music industry when it was released in 2001. The device allowed the listener to carry thousands of songs around with them, while also incorporating the revolutionary iTunes store that allowed music to be bought online and moved straight to the player. The First Generation model also featured an innovative click wheel that became an iconic part of subsequent iPod designs.
For many millennials, the iPod was their first introduction to the portable MP3 players that would be popular throughout the noughties, so the nostalgia factor is strong. From a tech point of view, the First Generation iPod is a highly collectible item as it represents a significant product in history. If you have a working version in good condition, it could sell for £700 or more in today’s market.
Lego sets
Product: Lego 10179: Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon
Year: 2007
Estimated value: £4,000
Lego is one of the world’s most famous toy brands, and it’s likely that nearly every millennial will have crossed paths with or owned some at one point or another. Due to the high desirability and longevity of the models and sets, there are many vintage products that can be sold for a lot in the current market.
One to watch out for is the Star Wars–themed Lego 10179: Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon, which was released in 2007. Complex, nostalgic, and with a hefty RRP, it’s a set that’s likely to have appealed to grown-up millennials rather than children. A boxed set with all of the pieces can be sold for around £4,000, so it’s definitely worth checking the loft.
As you can see, there are a lot of items from the 1980s right through to the noughties that could be worth a lot of money if you’re clearing out your loft. Once you have sorted through everything, you might finally have the space you need to renovate.
And, if you need advice on moving forward with your loft conversions by adding a roof window,flat roof window, or loft ladder, feel free to get in touch with us here at RW4Y.
To see the sources for our data, pleaseclick here.
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