03/22/2024
Some of the best advice I can give young people:
I asked Chatgpt to list 5 things from my era, I'll be 59 this year, I could have collected that would be work a lot of money today, and what things I should be having my daughter, who will be 20 this year, collect and also list 5. Here's what the AI said:
For Your Era (Mid-1980s):
Vintage Video Games and Consoles:
Original Cost: A Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cost about $100-$150.
Current Value: A mint condition NES can be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the model and packaging. Certain games, like a sealed copy of "Super Mario Bros.", sold for over $100,000.
First Edition Comic Books:
Original Cost: Comics typically cost around $0.60 to $1.00.
Current Value: Key issues, especially in mint condition, can be worth thousands. For example, a first edition of Frank Miller’s "The Dark Knight Returns" can fetch over $1,000.
Classic Toys:
Original Cost: Star Wars action figures were around $2.50-$5.00 each.
Current Value: Certain figures, like a mint condition Boba Fett with rocket-firing backpack, can sell for over $100,000.
Sports Memorabilia:
Original Cost: A pack of baseball cards was less than a dollar.
Current Value: A Michael Jordan rookie card in mint condition can sell for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Vinyl Records:
Original Cost: Around $10-$15 for a new record.
Current Value: Rare pressings can fetch hundreds to thousands. For example, a mint first pressing of The Beatles' "White Album" can be worth several thousand dollars.
For Your Daughter's Era (Now):
Limited Edition Sneakers:
Current Cost: Prices vary, often starting around $100-$200 for new releases.
Future Value: Hard to predict, but certain limited-edition models have sold for thousands of dollars in the resale market.
Modern First Edition Books:
Current Cost: Typically $20-$30 for a hardcover first edition.
Future Value: Depends on the author's fame and the book's impact. Some can increase to hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Tech Gadgets in Mint Condition:
Current Cost: For example, a new iPhone starts at around $700-$1,000.
Future Value: Could be significant if the model becomes iconic, like the first iPhone, which now can sell for thousands if unopened.
Contemporary Art:
Current Cost: Highly variable, from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.
Future Value: Also variable, but successful artists' works can increase manifold in value.
Digital Collectibles (NFTs, Cryptocurrency):
Current Cost: Highly variable. NFTs can range from a few dollars to millions.
Future Value: Extremely unpredictable due to the nascent and volatile nature of the market.
Investing in collectibles always involves a degree of speculation and risk, so it's wise to approach this as part hobby and part investment. It's also a good idea to keep abreast of trends and market changes.
