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You probably have a few of these hiding in your attic, packed in a moving box, or still sitting in a parent’s basement. They were never bought as “collectibles.” They were just phones, blenders, blankets, and coolers that got used hard, then forgotten.

But a lot of those old household workhorses now sell for real money. Think avocado-green mixers, plaid picnic gear, heavy wool blankets, and chunky stereos from the 1980s. If you recognize any of these from your childhood kitchen or living room, it might be worth digging through those storage bins.

Here are old, very ordinary household items that can quietly be worth a small fortune today.

Turquoise Western electric 500 rotary desk phone

That heavy rotary phone your grandparents had? The turquoise versions are now design pieces for mid-century fans. The Western Electric 500 model came in lots of colors, but turquoise and other pastels are some of the most wanted. These phones are solid, heavy, and built to survive decades on a kitchen wall or hallway table.

Flip the phone over and look for “Western Electric” stamped on the bottom. Many of these can still be wired to work, but even as decor they sell well. Condition matters: original handset, dial that moves freely, no big cracks or yellowing, and a clean cord all help. Some collectors also care about date stamps on the base.

A clean, working turquoise 500 rotary desk phone can fetch about $275 and sometimes more when fully restored.) If you spot that exact blue-green color at a thrift store, grab it and check comps before you underprice it.

Red plaid steel Thermos vacuum bottle (1-quart)

If you grew up in the ‘70s or ‘80s, you’ve seen this one: the classic red plaid metal Thermos bottle that rode to school in every lunchbox. These steel vacuum bottles came in different sizes, but the 1-quart versions with bold plaid patterns and metal cups are especially easy to recognize.

When you find one, open it up. The real money is in bottles with their glass liners intact, no big dents, and a working stopper and cup. A little scuffing is fine; people expect patina on something that’s been to work sites and fishing trips for 50 years. Avoid badly rusted bottoms or missing parts unless you’re pricing it low.

Even with some wear, a vintage 1-quart red plaid bottle can sell for around $25–$40. Rarer patterns or sets with the original lunchbox and matching cup can go higher, especially around the holidays when buyers get nostalgic.

Avocado green Sunbeam Mixmaster stand mixer

Avocado-green appliances were once everywhere, then became a punchline, and now they’re cool again. Sunbeam Mixmaster stand mixers from the late 1960s and 1970s, especially in avocado green, have a steady following with people building retro kitchens.

Look for a heavy stand mixer with a tilt-back head, a speed dial on the side, and “Sunbeam Mixmaster” branding. Avocado versions usually have matching green or brown bowls. Check that it powers on and the beaters spin smoothly. Even if you can’t fully test it, working lights and turning blades are a good sign.

Working avocado Mixmasters with beaters and at least one bowl often sell in the $40–$80 range, sometimes more if very clean and complete. The color is the hook here, a basic white mixer may be worth only a fraction of the same model in that dated green.

Skotch Kooler plaid metal picnic cooler

Before plastic coolers took over, a lot of families packed road-trip lunches into metal Skotch Koolers. These are the round or barrel-shaped coolers wrapped in red-and-black (or red-and-green) plaid with a metal handle and lid. They scream “1950s fishing trip” and fit right into cabin or camp-style decor.

On the bottom or side you may see “Skotch Kooler” or Hamilton branding. Look for the original lid, interior liner, and a handle that still works. Rust, dings, and scratches are normal, but heavy interior rust or missing lids will drag down the value. Some versions came with trays or accessories, which can bump up the price.

A 4-gallon plaid Skotch Kooler in good vintage condition can bring around $120. Rarer colors and near-perfect examples can go higher, especially if they photograph well for design-minded buyers.

Tupperware Wonderlier pastel nesting bowl sets

Those stackable plastic bowls with pastel lids your mom used for potato salad might be worth more than you think. Vintage Tupperware Wonderlier or Servalier nesting sets from the 1960s–70s are popular with collectors and people who actually use them in the kitchen.

You’re looking for a full set of bowls that nest inside each other, usually in five sizes, with matching pastel lids in colors like aqua, yellow, pink, and blue. Check for cracks, warping, and stained interiors. Light scuffs are normal. Bowls without lids are worth less, but still sell if the colors are good.

A complete five-piece Wonderlier-style pastel set in nice shape can sell for around $50+ (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4382827437/vintage-tupperware-wonderlier-nesting). (Etsy) Rare colors or large matching sets can climb higher, especially if you stage them nicely in photos.

Corning Ware “Spice of Life” 3L casserole dishes

Corning Ware casseroles were everyday cooking dishes for decades. The “Spice of Life” pattern, white with vegetables and herbs printed on the side, has turned into a hot collectible line. The 3-liter A-3-B casseroles, especially those marked “L’Echalote La Marjolaine” or similar, are often the most interesting.

Flip the dish over and look for “A-3-B” or a similar code, plus the Spice of Life name. Original glass lids help a lot. Condition matters: chips, burned-on stains, or dishwasher haze will cut into what you can get. Some number-stamped pieces are considered rare and can jump way up in value.

Plenty of standard Spice of Life 3-quart casseroles with lids sell in the $30–$70 range while special versions and big sets can go into the hundreds or more. It’s worth checking the exact pattern and backstamp before you price one.

Fire-King Jadeite D-handle coffee mugs

Those solid green mugs you remember from a diner or grandma’s kitchen might be Fire-King jadeite. These heavy glass mugs in a milky jade-green shade are some of the most recognizable vintage kitchen collectibles. The classic style has a squared-off “D” handle.

Turn the mug over and look for “Fire-King,” “Oven Ware,” or similar markings. The color should be even, without big chips or cracks. Minor utensil marks are common. Plain restaurant-style jadeite mugs are strong sellers; graphics, logos, and rare variations can bring more.

Single D-handle jadeite mugs often sell around $35–$70 depending on style and condition, while pairs or small sets can hit $100–$160+. If you see a stack of them in a thrift store, don’t leave them behind.

1960s starburst wall clocks

Starburst or sunburst wall clocks, with metal or wood “rays” shooting out from a small clock face, were a mid-century staple. The real vintage ones, especially from the 1950s and 1960s, now sell well as statement pieces in modern homes.

Look for brass, wood, or metal rays rather than light plastic. Names like Junghans, Atlanta, Ingraham, or various German makers on the dial can nudge the value up. Check that the hands move and the mechanism works or can be easily changed to a modern quartz movement.

Original 1960s starburst clocks in good shape commonly sell in the $100–$300 range, and some larger or rarer examples can go even higher. If you find one for a few bucks at a yard sale, that’s an easy flip.

Hudson’s Bay 4-Point wool blankets

Those heavy striped wool blankets with colored bands near the ends may be more than just warm. Genuine Hudson’s Bay “point” blankets, especially 4-point sizes, are sought after by collectors and people furnishing cabins and rustic homes.

Look for a woven label showing the Hudson’s Bay name and the point markings along the edge (small stitched lines that indicate size). Classic multicolor stripes (green, red, yellow, black on cream) are always popular, but solid or unusual colors can be valuable too. Moth holes, stains, and worn edges lower the price but don’t always kill it.

Depending on color and condition, vintage 4-point Hudson’s Bay wool blankets often sell in the $200–$600 range. Extra-clean examples or rare colorways can go even higher.

Dansk Kobenstyle Enamel Casserole Pans

If you see a low, wide enamel pot with a cross-shaped lid that doubles as a trivet, you may have stumbled on a Dansk Kobenstyle piece. Designed by Jens Quistgaard in the 1950s, these brightly colored casseroles and paella pans are mid-century modern classics.

Flip the piece over and look for “Dansk,” “Kobenstyle,” or “France” marks. Popular colors include red, mustard yellow, teal, and deep blue. Chips in the enamel, especially on the rims and handles, will cut into value but don’t always make the piece unsellable. Lids are critical, a pan without its original lid is worth much less.

Depending on size, color, and condition, Kobenstyle casseroles often sell for about $125–$275, sometimes more for rare colors or larger pots. If you flip cookware, it’s worth learning how to recognize that distinctive lid.

Farberware “Superfast” Electric Coffee Percolators

Before drip machines, a lot of families perked their coffee in Farberware Superfast percolators. These tall stainless-steel pots, often with black handles, are classic mid-century design. Many are still in working order and have a loyal following with coffee fans.

Look for “Farberware” and “Superfast” markings on the base or underside. Common models include 2–8 cup and 8–12 cup versions. Check that the cord is present, the interior isn’t heavily corroded, and the basket and stem are included. Plug it in briefly if you can do so safely to see if it heats.

Working mid-century Farberware Superfast percolators often sell between $35 and $75, with some especially clean or boxed examples going higher. Not bad for something that might be gathering dust in a cabinet.

Panasonic RX-5050 Boombox

If you see a huge 1980s boombox with four speakers and a busy front panel, take a second look. The Panasonic RX-5050 (and RX-5050F variants) are serious collector pieces in the vintage audio world. They’re big, loud, and hard to miss once you know what to look for.

Check for a model label (often on the back) that reads RX-5050 or RX-5050F. Look at the cassette deck, EQ sliders, and antenna. Working condition is ideal, but even non-working units can bring solid money if they’re clean and complete. Heavy wear, missing knobs, or broken antennas drop value but don’t always kill it.

Rough, partially working RX-5050s can change hands for a few hundred dollars while clean RX-5050F units in good condition can be priced around $2,000 or more and even higher on some collector sites That’s serious profit if you pull one out of a closet or thrift-store shelf.

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Byline: Katy Willis

Most days, a stuffed animal is just something you trip over on the way to the laundry basket. But every now and then, one turns out to be worth more than your car payment…or your car…or your house.

If you’re juggling rent, debt and grocery prices, it’s tempting to toss old plush into the donation bin without thinking. These real sales are your reminder to slow down and check the tags. A handful of rare bears, Beanie Babies, Squishmallows and even modern Pokémon plush have sold for thousands, and in a few cases, hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Most toys won’t make you rich. And it’s unlikely you’ll find many of these particular ones at the thrift store or a garage sale, but it’s still worth keeping your eye out for them.

1912 Steiff “Titanic Mourning Bear” Othello

After the Titanic sank in 1912, Steiff produced a small run of black “mourning” bears in tribute to the victims. Only about 80 of these Othello bears were made. In 2023, one of them hit a special Steiff auction in Germany and hammered at 180,000 euros, about $202,000, or roughly $250,505 with fees

That single teddy bear out-earned many people’s entire retirement savings. Steiff even released a new replica that openly notes this record price in its description, which tells you how huge the sale was.

If you’ve inherited an old black Steiff bear with red-rimmed glass eyes and a central seam on the head, don’t assume it’s just creepy and old. The mourning bears are heavily faked, and condition matters, but an authentic one with documentation is the stuffed-animal equivalent of winning the lottery.

Steiff “Teddy Girl” (1904)

Teddy Girl looks like a regular old brown bear at first glance, but she belonged to British Colonel Bob Henderson and traveled with him through World War II. That history made her special. In December 1994, this 1904 Steiff bear sold at auction in London for about £110,000, roughly $171,600 at the time.

Teddy Girl was considered the most expensive antique teddy bear in the world until even pricier Steiff rarities came along. A big part of her value came from the story: original early Steiff, well-loved but cared for, and clearly tied to a known owner with wartime history.

For regular people, this is your reminder that provenance matters. A random old bear with no tag is one thing. A tagged early Steiff with family letters, war photos, or other proof tying it to a specific person or event can be worth far more than the plush itself. If your grandparents kept both the toy and its story, keep those together.

Steiff “Happy” (1926)

Happy is a 1926 Steiff bear with a big grin and “dual plush” fur. At a Steiff festival auction in Giengen, Germany, one 40-centimeter Happy sold for £101,556, which worked out to well over $150,000, roughly $160,000, at the time.

Another write-up about rare plush includes a 1926 Steiff bear with a center seam that sold for “over $150,000,” which lines up with that same sale.

What pushed the price this high? Age, of course, but also the exact model, its unusual smiling face, original mohair in good condition and, again, a documented sale at a high-profile Steiff event. If you have an old bear with a distinctive face or fur pattern, it’s worth checking against online Steiff guides before you shrug and call it junk.

Steiff “Elliot” blue bear (1908)

Elliot is a small 32-centimeter blue Steiff teddy from 1908. Despite his size, he carried a big price tag: one example sold at a 1993 Christie's auction for £49,500, which was roughly $80,000 at early-’90s exchange rates.

Blue bears were produced in tiny numbers compared to standard browns and golds. Combine that with age, original mohair, and a famous auction house, and you get five-figure pricing for a plush you could hold in one hand.

If you’ve got an odd-colored bear that looks genuinely old, blue, green, or other unusual shades, that’s a signal to research, not toss. Sun-faded fur is common, but true original dye plus early tags and stitching can mean the bear is closer to “investment piece” than “chew toy.”

Ty Beanie Baby “Peanut the Elephant”

Most Beanie Babies are worth lunch money at best. The rare original royal blue version of Peanut the Elephant is a big exception. One version of this plush has sold for about $7,000, according to a roundup of the most expensive stuffed animals ever sold.

The value comes from a production mistake: Peanut was first made in a darker blue that was quickly changed to a lighter shade, so the original dark blue run is tiny. Add in the usual Beanie rules, crisp tags, correct pellets, no stains or smells, and you get a Beanie that can actually move the needle for your savings.

If you’ve still got tubs of Beanie Babies in the closet, don’t panic-sell all of them for a few dollars. Look for early characters, odd colors, and first-generation tags. Ninety-nine percent will be common, but a handful, like Peanut, can still sell for real money if they’re the right version and in excellent shape.

Ty Beanie Baby “Humphrey the Camel”

Humphrey the Camel looks simple: tan plush, knotted tail, floppy legs. But he was one of the first Beanie Babies to be retired and was produced in low numbers. A particularly desirable embroidered Humphrey with mint tags has sold for $1,136 after 14 bids in an online auction

For a toy that originally cost just a few dollars, that’s quite a return. Collectors pay a premium for early retirement dates, PVC pellets, and rare packaging or tag variations.

If you see Humphrey in your stash, pay attention to details like tush tag wording, spelling errors, and whether the hang tag is attached and crease-free. Those tiny differences are what move a Beanie from $20 into the hundreds or, in special cases, over a thousand.

Squishmallows “Jack the Black Cat”

Fast-forward to today’s kid bedrooms. Jack the Black Cat is one of the most hunted Squishmallows, especially the 16-inch version limited to 500 pieces. Collectors have documented sales around $2,000 for Jack in top condition with original tags, based on auction and resale tracking for rare Squishmallows.

Why so much for a squishy cat? Limited edition runs, hype on social media, and a rabid collector base. Jack’s simple all-black design with crossed arms is instantly recognizable, and the fact that he was one of the first “Select Series” releases only increases demand.

If you or your kids grabbed a black cat Squishmallow during an early drop and it’s still got its tags, don’t toss it in the dog bed. Check the exact size, year, and tag details against collectors’ guides before you treat it like a regular pillow.

Squishmallows “Fania the Purple Owl”

Fania the Purple Owl looks cute and harmless, but a rare version of this Squishmallow has sold at auction for about $2,999, making it one of the highest-priced Squishies on record.

She wasn’t mass-produced like the ones you see in every big-box store. Fania’s value comes from a limited run, unique coloring and very low availability on the resale market. When a serious collector decides they “need” one to complete a set, bidding wars follow.

Most owls at Target are still just $20 toys, but this shows how modern plush can jump into four figures fast when they’re scarce. If you’ve got an unusual Squishmallow colorway you don’t see on shelves anymore, especially with a special tag or event logo, check recent sold listings before letting a friend’s kid adopt it.

Squishmallows “Beatrice the Lamb”

Beatrice the Lamb doesn’t look particularly flashy, but a hard-to-find version sold on a major resale site in May 2022 for about $1,200, according to a roundup of rare Squishmallows and their real sale prices

The key details: she was a specific size, limited run, and in mint condition with tags. Squishmallow collectors are serious about tag placement, stitching and even print quality on the label. Small defects or missing tags can cut the value down sharply.

If your kids were into Squishmallows during the early waves and you bought from specialty shops or online drops, you might have one of these niche characters mixed in with common ones. Before you bag them up for donation, it’s worth searching the exact name and squad on the tag to see if there are any eyebrow-raising sold prices.

Squishmallows “Ben the Teal Dino”

Ben the Teal Dino looks like a friendly cartoon dinosaur, but certain versions have become surprisingly pricey. One of the more sought-after Bens has been noted at around $1,000 on the secondary market, based on recorded auction sales for rare Squishmallows.

Again, this isn’t every Ben at every size. The valuable ones tend to be specific store exclusives or early releases that weren’t stocked for long, and prices assume near-perfect condition.

If you’ve got older kids who were into Squishmallows early on, especially limited drops or store exclusives, those dinos and other oddballs might have more earning power than the giant generic marshmallow you bought last year. Don’t just search “dinosaur Squishmallow”, type the full name from the tag to get an accurate picture.

Pokémon Center life-size Furret Plush

Pokémon fans lost their minds when the official 71-inch Furret plush went up for preorder. The jumbo Poké Plush was sold through the Pokémon Center and partner shops for around $350 before selling out.

Once it disappeared from the official site, the resale market took over. One life-size Furret plush from Japan was listed and sold for about £3,089, roughly $3,900, on a collector marketplace, and similar listings have asked in the $2,500–$4,000 range.

If you bought one of these monsters because it looked fun, you might literally be sleeping on a few thousand dollars. Keep the tags, avoid stains and pet hair, and store the box if you still have it. Collectors will pay more for plush that looks ready to go back on a display shelf.

Pokémon Center life-size Lucario Plush

Another modern plush that hits “small fortune” territory for a toy is the life-size Lucario plush sold through Pokémon Center Online in Japan. When it was released, the official price was about $400, steep for a stuffed animal, but fans happily paid it, and it sold out quickly.

Because of that high starting price and limited availability, Lucario tends to hold or beat retail on the resale market if it’s in excellent shape with all tags and packaging. For a lot of households, $400 is a car payment or a week of groceries, not something you expect to see stuffed in the corner of a bedroom.

If you bought one of these as a splurge, treat it like the collectible it is. Keep it away from sun fading and smoke, and check recent sold listings before you ever decide to let it go for “whatever someone offers.”

Strategies for making money outside of a traditional job:

Where to sell sterling silver for the most money: In this post, you’ll learn about the difference between sterling silver and other types of silver, and find places to make the most money from selling your sterling.

What can I sell to make money (or resell)? 38 ideas: Dive into this article to discover things in your house you can sell for quick cash — and where to sell.

What sells quickly at pawn shops: In this post, you’ll find ways to navigate pawnshops, understand how they work and what items are most in demand.

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Byline: Katy Willis