In nearly every home in America, in some closet or the attic, there are older items that have been around for years, maybe even decades. It's these small things that we hold on to, maybe for sentimental reasons or for the hope that one day they'll become valuable. Great news! There's a good chance some of these things are worth a small fortune. Old toys, gadgets (like old cellphones), and vintage items like your grandma's old quilt can be incredibly valuable things in your home you; had probably no idea people collected — and are willing to pay thousands for — these things. Even if your old item is slightly damaged or out of the box, know that there's likely someone out there who will still want it. These surprising valuable things in your home could be just what some collector is in search of. If you have one of these vintage items and are looking to sell it, eBay is the best place to start selling. If that sounds too daunting, Craigslist allows you to post your item(s) for free. If someone you know has old vintage items, be sure to SHARE this with them. Maybe they'll give you a little piece of their small fortune for your troubles.

Musical instruments are some of those items that are always in demand, and you could likely resell anything you have, but vintage guitars are a different beast altogether. Check out VintageGuitar.com for specific pricing, but vintage guitars of all types from the '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s — famous names like Gibson, Fender, and Martin — can fetch tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Old comic books are tough because the condition of the book can drastically alter the value, but vintage comics from the 1970s and before usually range in the tens to hundreds to thousands. But don't despair if the books are from the '80s to present day, first appearances of characters (especially those making appearances in all the movies and TV shows), as well as books with low print runs, can fetch a pretty penny. And if you can hold on to those '80s comics for a few more years, they'll slowly accrue additional value.

When we think of antiques, cellphones don't usually come to mind, but sure enough, those big, bulky cellphones we so often berate can now be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars. People have sold old Modar Pulsar cellphones for more than $1,000 on eBay.

Yep, those old VHS tapes you have laying around in boxes or a tucked-away storage space could be worth hundreds of dollars apiece. As with comic books, VHS tapes with low manufacturing numbers can be highly sought after by collectors. Look for old B-movies or production companies that are little-known. The créme de la créme are the original Disney movies in their oversized "clam shell" white cases. Some of the classics will net you hundreds of dollars or more.

Vinyl records have always been a collector's item for many, but there are certain pressings that really get these collectors salivating. A copy of the Beatles' Please Please Me, the White Album, or singles from such classic bands as Queen can fetch hundreds. Then there's really special ones like the recalled original cover art for David Bowie's Diamond Dogs, where the bottom half of his face was replaced by a dog's genitals. One copy sold for more than $3,500.

While Pokémania comes and goes every couple years, the furor over some of the early collectible cards has never waned. The first-edition cards (denoted by a small first-edition symbol and/or without a drop shadow behind the art box) can fetch more than $100 today, especially the most-sought-after Charizard card.

Did you ever think your grandma's handmade quilt would be worth anything to anybody but yourself? Well, they are, and people will pay hundreds and even upwards of $5,000 for these homemade relics. Antique appraisers can help you date the fabric, and if you've got something from the 19th century, you could have yourself a small fortune.

If your parents were crazy enough to save old cereal boxes, then they weren't so crazy after all. Vintage cereal boxes (even opened ones) can score you hundreds of dollars on eBay. Some old Wheaties boxes featuring all those famous athletes, particularly a 1991 Air (Michael) Jordan Flight Club box can fetch $1,500 per box.

While it's unlikely any kid who received a video game system or game left it unopened, there's always a chance right? Classic consoles and games can bring a payday of hundreds. Even more recent games from Playstation 1 can be sold today at their original retail value, maybe meaning that $50 wasn't such a waste. For those lucky enough to come across one, an original 1992 Game Boy (especially one bundled with the Tetris) can be sold for around $1,500.

Full vintage Lego sets can net you hundreds of dollars, and even opened figurines can bring in a good sum (especially those old Star Wars ones), but there's even a website (BrickLink.com) where you can purchase individual pieces if you happen to be missing any from your set. These pieces can go for thousands at a time.

Yep, those old toys you were awarded for eating questionably healthy food can now help you pay for your medical bills. Complete sets can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, especially most of the vintage items (classic Disney) and unopened toys.

If you happen to stumble on old hard copies of books, you may want to research what edition it is. If it's a first edition, you might be sitting on some significant dough. First editions for The Wizard of Oz, Dracula, and Ernest Hemingway or Mark Twain books can net tens of thousands to millions of dollars.

We still don't really understand what these things do (you care for and raise a virtual pet?), but the original and rare Tamagotchi models can sell for hundreds, if not, thousands of dollars. Yeah, we can't believe it either.

While boys had Micro Machines, girls had Polly Pocket, and in the race of value, Polly Pocket is the clear winner. The original toys, ones made before being bought out by Mattel, sell for hundreds of dollars — either loose or in their original packaging. In a few more years time, that price will likely go way up.

Today, we're used to pop-ups (sorry...) telling us what we should buy, but in the olden days, tin signs were hung at gas stations and in restaurants and bars. Today, those tin signs can fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars if they've been well-preserved.

During the early 2000s, each state was minted its own state quarter. In Kansas' case, the coin presser wound up with something covering up the "T," so instead of "In God We Trust," the coins were printed with "In God We rust." Ignoring the theological implications of the phrase, the limited batch that were minted before the mistake was caught can now be sold for more than $100 each. We'll wait while you go check that change jar.

These days, action figures pop up for a wide variety of films and TV shows, but it may surprise you that when the first Star Wars movie hit theaters, there wasn't a substantial marketing blitz behind it. And there definitely was no line of toys depicting all the beloved characters. Sure enough, the movie premiered and became an instant phenomenon. Toy company Kenner frantically began production and released a toy line the next year. The toys didn't stay on the shelves long. Now, these 1978 toys fetch a small fortune. The original Luke Skywalker with telescoping lightsaber sold for $25,000 at auction. Most of the other figures easily sell for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Typing on your cellphone or computer has become completely natural for many, but for those old-school folks (or hipsters who drag them to coffee shops; we see you, and stop it), vintage typewriters will never go out of style. As long as it's working and in decent shape, you could be looking at $200 or more if you try to sell it. Ding!

For all you '80s kids out there, better check your old toy collection. Whether in the box or out, toys from He-Man, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Transformers can sell for way more than the $2.99 you paid for it back then. G.I. Joe and Transformers boast the highest prices with toys going for hundreds of dollars if all accessories are included.

Growing up, we all loved to compare lunch boxes at school. If you held on to yours, then you might be able to grab a couple hundred bucks today. Character lunch boxes from such TV shows as Bonanza or The Munsters might get you north of $100 apiece. A Beatles lunchbox could bring in a $400 haul. Superman lunch boxes with the thermos will net you at least $100.