A lot of people invest in quite a disconnected way. Download an app that lets you share your investments amongst various things, like stocks, shares, and funds, and then just monitor it over time – what could be simpler?
But for some people, that form of investing just doesn’t cut it. It’s usually a good idea to build an investment portfolio and pad out an investment savings account, and we do recommend considering things like these for your financial future. Even just making money online is more accessible than ever, and it’s good to take time to consider a few methods that could be suitable for you.
However, there’s more than one way to see value in the way you use your money, and when it comes to buying investment pieces, the process can be made a lot more enjoyable! As such, if you want to have fun collecting investments for the future, we’ve put together a little list of some great things to look into.
LEGO
Everyone loves LEGO! That’s why it’s such a great thing to invest in. You can buy a few sets to build yourself, but if you’re paying out big money to secure something, save it for later. Keep it in its original packaging, make sure it’s kept away from anything damp that could rot the box or degrade the bricks, and then wait for the set to be retired.
Once it is, you can pop it onto the market and sell it to someone who missed their chance to get it brand new from a retailer. It may take a few years for the price point to reach its highest, with most collectors needing to wait at least three or four years to see the price point climb up to the optimum. But in that time you can buy more sets to keep for later – as long as the temptation to open them up doesn’t get to you first!
TCG Packs
Trading card games (also known as TCG), are perfect investments for anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s and remembers just how fun those childhoods could be. After all, these were the days when brands like Magic The Gathering and Pokemon came out, and if you used to love playing and/or watching these medias, why not start investing in them all over again?
Seeing as these are ‘blind’ packs that could contain anything, they’re very much a complete gamble to buy. That being said, if a Pokemon booster box costs you around £50, and you end up pulling a card that’s worth over £150, you’ve already made back the initial expense and doubled your profit. Pull more than one worthy card from the box and you could have around £1000 sitting in your lap in just one go!
Jewellery
Jewellery are classical investment pieces. Put all your money into highly valuable and rare gems and metals and you’ve got yourself a pretty secure investment. After all, these things have been valuable for a long time, and they’ll continue to be valuable for years to come.
Because of that, it may be worth taking yourself down to the local jewellery quarter and having a peruse. You don’t need to buy too many rings or necklaces, but adding something to your collection maybe every other month could be a good idea. You can wear them out from time to time too, which is a lovely bonus for any fashion lovers out there!
Be sure to give your jewels a regular polish, and you can buy special kits to do that properly. Otherwise, keep your accessories either in their original boxes, or in a jewellery box that’s got enough room for all of them.
Games and Consoles
Even if you weren’t a gamer when you were a kid, you can invest in games and consoles and keep them. Someone who grew up without access to a Super Nintendo, for example, may be willing to pay a good sum to get one to try as an adult – especially if they’re of an age where they remember playing it round a friend’s house.
More modern, interim consoles are worth a hefty amount too. The Nintendo Wii, for example, is a very popular console that still gets a lot of attention from both the current and future gaming generation. If you’ve got one of those in the attic somewhere, and it’s still got all the original wires, remotes, and pre-packaged games inside the box, make sure you hold onto it!
Number Plates
Private number plates can be a great investment for any vehicle enthusiasts out there. There are a lot of weird, wonderful, wacky, and unique number plates on the market – and of course, you can create your own. Whether you want to display something personal on your plate, or you’d just like a slightly funny one to use (that the DVLA allows), you can order one just like it.
And the more number plates you own, the better your chance of netting a good profit one day. After all, if someone wants a number plate that looks a bit like their name, and you’re the person who owns such a number plate, you’re fully within your rights to sell it onto them for their own use. You’re going to need to hold the right certificate for each one, but you can buy and own as many as you like. All in all, there’s a lot of value in customisation!
Vintage Clothing
Vintage clothes can be spotted a mile away. They have a very distinctive style to them, and the names of the fashion houses and designers are usually quite well known too. If you enjoy fashion and you have an eye for vintage Chanel, why not start collecting pieces you come across?
You may need to take a few more trips to antique fairs and down vintage stores across the country, but if you’ve got the cash and the space, investing in these pieces will build you a very valuable wardrobe.
After all, these items are from the days before ‘fast fashion’, so they’re much more likely to stand the test of time, even if you have to apply a few small fixes. Button holes in particular can be a bit shoddy after 50 or so years, but even having to touch up a vintage blouse or suit will help it to retain a significant value.
Toys You Loved as a Kid
Do you still have toys you loved as a kid? If you do, dig them out, try to sort them into their original sets (and bonus points if you have the boxes too), and see what people are selling them for right now. You can do this simply by checking Ebay, and be sure to go through quite a few listings; you want to see a clear average here.
Nostalgia can be a big motivating factor in a buying decision. If you loved a set of toys as a kid, you can guarantee that various other people out there would have loved the same toys too. If you’ve got the goods, it’s just finding these buyers that’s the hard part!
Coins
This is a great choice for anyone who likes seeing the different designs and commemorations that are stamped onto coins these days. New ones can flood into the market on a regular basis, and keeping your eye on what’s circulating (and which ones are the rarest to see) can be quite a fun task.
And if it’s natural for you to check your change before you put it in your pocket, this won’t be too hard a step to take. Make sure you get yourself a proper coin portfolio to slip them all into; you can get these from various places, and many of them will provide a pre-printed guide that’ll help you sort your collection into the right slots. You can also ask loved ones to keep an eye out for you.
Investing Can Be Fun!
It really can – especially when you’re genuinely passionate about the items you’re investing in. Whether you like gaming or card collecting or even just putting stamps into seals in a collection book, a few more physical investments may be the best way forward for you.
Make sure you choose your investment wisely, and feel free to do more than one at once. Most people who like one form of physical investment usually like other related forms, such as those who love both vintage clothing and old jewellery pieces.
Collect them in tandem, make sure you store them somewhere they won’t be damaged, and keep an eye on resale prices as time goes on. But above all, collect only up to the point where your investments still feel enjoyable.
If the TCG world isn’t cutting it for you anymore, it may be to wrap things up and try something else. Remember, being an inactive collector won’t devalue the assortment you’ve put together already!
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