These Vintage Household Items Are Worth Way More Than People Suspect
Could you name every item you’ve got stored in your attic? What about everything that’s at the back of your cupboards? As life goes on, we tend to cram more and more stuff into the corners of our homes. Now, it’s time to get sorting! Lots of household items from yesteryear are actually worth a fortune today. Whether it’s that old piece of crockery you never use or that gigantic camera that looks like it’s from a whole different world, your old family items could have you raking in the big bucks.
1. Computers
Nowadays, you can get a smartphone that does all of the computing you need and also fits into your pocket. And that's why you probably keep your clunker of a vintage computer in the attic. But if that device is seriously old school, it could be worth a lot of money. Appraiser Eric Silver told Popular Mechanics that a first edition Apple computer sold for a whopping $900,000 at auction.
2. Lunchboxes
Perhaps a sentimental parent held onto your childhood lunchbox — or even their own — and now that midday meal carrier sits in your attic. But if the container features a nice design on its front, such as a Beatles or Jetsons motif, dust it off and sell it. You'll be glad you did: some such collectibles have sold for upwards of $3,000.
3. Cookie jars
Not just any old cookie jar will sell on today's antique market. If you have a piece that was made in the 1940s or '50s, though, you could be in luck, as that's apparently what buyers are after. More specifically, a cookie container that's fashioned in the form of a well-known character or cartoon figure could earn you hundreds of dollars.
4. Postcards
Did someone in your family have a famous pen pal? Well, you may want to check, because a letter from a well-known name can rake in big bucks. Otherwise, vintage postcards can attract collectors, too — especially ones that were sent prior to World War I. And as you can imagine, the better condition that the cards are in, the more money they're likely to make.
