23 Things That Were Ridiculously Valuable At School But Are Worthless Now

    Bless the school playground economy.

    Sophie Gadd
    by Sophie Gadd

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    1. Sticker albums.

    Sophie Gadd/BuzzFeed
    Sophie Gadd/BuzzFeed

    So many hours spent collecting and arranging, so meaningless now.

    2. Marbles.

    Joe Mabel / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Pretty much got banned from every school because of some sort of marble-related violence.

    3. "Shag" bands.

    tinaforyou / Via ebay.co.uk

    Nobody ever knew what the colours "meant," but it was definitely something grown-up and rude.

    4. Beyblades.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fusion-Top-Metal-Master-Rapidity-Fight-Rare-Beyblade-4D-Launcher-Grip-Set-/261913717744
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fusion-Top-Metal-Master-Rapidity-Fight-Rare-Beyblade-4D-Launcher-Grip-Set-/261913717744

    Responsible for so many lunchtime tears.

    5. Toxic Waste sweets.

    kimsboutique2012 / Via ebay.com

    Definitely sold on the playground black market. Every school had that one kid who would eat five at once for a dare.

    6. Pogs.

    mvosshi / Via ebay.com

    You hoarded these for no particular reason.

    7. Pokémon cards.

    shine1br / Via ebay.com

    TBH finding a shiny Charizard on the street right now would be v exciting.

    8. Followed by Digimon cards.

    tnskikr003 / Via ebay.com

    After Pokémon cards got banned.

    9. Shiny/fuzzy stickers.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/CATERPILLARS-1-Glittery-Sandylion-Stickers-FREE-SHIPPING-OFFER-/311400973354?hash=item4880f1c42a:g:n3sAAOSw~gRVrJUQ
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-Sandylion-Fuzzy-Sticker-Mod-Scrapbook-Animals-/391308667068?hash=item5b1bd068bc:g:aVwAAOSw6EhUTeiq

    So sofftttttt.

    10. Football stickers.

    Merlin/Topps

    "Need Ryan Giggs, got 15 Shay Givens for swapsies."

    11. Baby aliens.

    toyland-1 / Via ebay.co.uk

    THEY NEVER HAD BABIES.

    12. Trolls.

    hughespartytoys / Via ebay.co.uk

    Creepy bastards.

    13. Beanie Babies.

    vivienne2772 / Via ebay.co.uk

    Not valuable, it turns out.

    14. These weird monster head things.

    wowtastic_uk / Via ebay.co.uk

    Cheeky fuckers.

    15. Edible necklaces.

    tyrosupplies / Via ebay.co.uk

    Not to eat, to ping at people, obviously.

    16. Conkers.

    XCalPab / Via en.wikipedia.org

    The most violent sport in the playground, after British Bulldog.

    17. Livestrong wristbands.

    tom_uncle / Via ebay.co.uk

    Awkward.

    18. Box tops book tokens.

    Howard Lake / Via Flickr: howardlake

    Throwback to when you had to eat loads of cereal so your school could get books.

    19. Pez dispensers.

    Party2u / Via amazon.co.uk

    Or you could just cut out the middleman and eat the sweets straight out the packet.

    20. Hama bead crafts

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handmade-HAMA-BEADS-STAR-COASTER-/371483863029?hash=item567e29e7f5:m:m4Pw4KpQQSSD3aglptJeyrA
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handmade-HAMA-BEADS-LION-COASTER-/252170501257?hash=item3ab6887c89:m:m6BTGEcK2VP4TfKvXu-dEMA

    There was actually a limit to the number of fiddly custom coasters you needed.

    21. Blue Peter badges.

    enamels1974 / Via ebay.co.uk

    Turns out you can get them on eBay now :(

    22. Sweatbands.

    Sophie Gadd/BuzzFeed

    Only for wearing when not doing sport, obviously.

    23. And these things.

    TheBendster / Via en.wikipedia.org

    There was always that one girl running a playground racket selling these.