I should have saved EVERYTHING in my youth!

[Adam Helmer]

As the PA Dutch say, "Too soon old and too late schmart." I just came back from an indoor yard sale and it was a shock to realize how old I am and how much VALUABLE stuff I burned in the burning barrel out back or took to the dump.

Cases in point: I handled dozens of different year's editions of Sears and Montgomery Ward Catalogues from 1950, 1951.......up to the 1960s. In addition, there were the smaller Christmas Catalogues for the 1950s years. The prices were $20-$150.00 EACH. I saw Colt .45 Automatics for $77.50, Winchester Model 70 rifles for $96.50, etc. Had we know the value of old Sears and "Monkey Ward" Catalogues, we would never have consigned them to the outhouse as we routinely did in days of yore.

Yep, too soon old and too late schmart, or maybe we just lived too long to realize what treasures we tossed.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Problem is, Adam.....where you gonna store all that chit until it becomes valuable, instead of just being garbage?

The whole idea is that everyone else through it out, so there ain't a lot of them around! You'd need a couple of barns, and then some, in order to cash in.

I watch shows like pawn stars & American pickers from time to time, and think "man, I wish I woulda.....", but the one thing that comes to mind is this: first, you gotta find someone with cash9which seems to be in short supply for most these days) who wants to buy it!

Still, I wish I had my Batman lunch box from the 60's.....not that I want to sell it; I just wish I had my Batman lunch box!

[Johnny Reb]

Back in the mid 70's I threw away a garbage bag full of Baseball,Football and Basketball cards that I collected in the 60,s and 70's. some of my dad's baseball cards from the 50's were in that bag. who knew those old cards would be worth anything someday.

[FIJI]

Bad:
I had lots of "stuff" as a kid that would be worth $$$ now. My grandfather gave me a baseball that was signed by Mickey Mantle and a few teamates. Years later I got the bright idea to retrace the signatures with a ballpoint pens since they were beginning to fade. Yup....RUINED any value it might have had

Worse:
We visited Fred Bear's shop when I was a kid tagging along with a buddy. Fred happen to notice the two youths admiring the bows. He came in, pulled two recurves off the line and signed them (with our names too!)
Years later in college I was desperate for cash and sold mine

Stupid is as stupid does

[buckhunter]

I really laugh. My Dad played Pro football and had a number of signed footballs Even a game ball from a champsionship game). I remember as a kid playing with them in the back yard. I often wonder how much we decreased the value of these. Doesn't matter they are in the Kansas Hall of Fame.

[GoodOlBoy]

My grandfather and I used an old bucaneer stamps sign that was mint condition to repair a rusted out $8 BBQ pit.... That sign is worth around $6000 now....

GoodOlBoy

[gd357]

Here's something that will really twist your brain...

If everyone had kept all of the old cards/signs/catalogs/etc. they would be next to worthless as a result of the supply. Or at least a mere fraction of what they currently command. Still doesn't hurt the sting of what was lost...

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I just found out what my Batman lunchbox from 1st grade is worth.....all I can say is DAMMIT!!!!

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

WAS your lunch still in that lunchbox? LOL!

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

WAS your lunch still in that lunchbox? LOL!

Nope, it wasn't.....my favorite subject in school was lunch! I ALWAYS ate my salami sandwich (mom knew I hated peanut butter), spaghettios, and (proof that my mama loved me) my Ding dong or Twinkie. Washed it all down with a thermos full of Hi-C fruit drink or chocolate milk.