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Are You Growing Trees in the Attic?

Imagine for a minute that it is fifty years from today. If you had planted some trees in the attic on today's date, those trees would certainly be quite large now. In fact, they would've gone through the roof many decades before.

Now imagine that instead of trees you had decided to accumulate something of value in the attic, starting on today's date. Fifty years from now, those things you chose to accumulate could be worth a considerable amount of money to yourself and your family.

Trees are often used as an analogy for investing: "Plant" an investment today, and over time it can grow quite large. It doesn't have to be stocks, bonds or digital currency. It can be something tangible. Something stored in an attic, or a basement, or a storage unit. Anywhere you feel confident that your tangible/collectible investment will be more-or-less safe.

What Would You Plant in the Attic?

That's where your own personal creativity comes into play, and a thought experiment might help you to figure out just what that item is. Maybe even a bunch of them.

So, imagine again that it is fifty years from today. You're are standing at the door to your attic, but someone is with you. It's your first grandchild who is now fifteen years old. All these years have passed and at times you even forgot what you put up there, or even that you had put anything up there at all. You ask your grandchild to follow you upstairs into the attic because you want to show her something. You both enter the attic, and then ask her to get the large plastic storage container in the far corner. Your grandchild gets it, and then you both open it.

What's in Your Box?

What did you save from all those years ago? What did you invest in? If there isn't some thought poking at your gut right now, soon enough there will be. Let the question linger. Imagine the "which" and "what" of today that will have much value in the eyes of a collector fifty years from now.

Whatever things you decide to include, make sure you get items that are brand new and unopened (whenever possible). Get the best ones you can for the collector of tomorrow. Collectors love uniqueness. If one out of many just seems better to you or just slightly different, think about getting that one. For one, maybe the packaging is slightly different. This is just one example.

Example Collectibles

Here are some example ideas. For your convenience, each link goes to the current listing of available products on eBay. Using a site like that is generally the best way to acquire such items. Each listing was created using the collective wisdom of the internet.

Example 1: The Top Holiday Toy Each Year For 10 Years

This type of collection is for the investor who wants to spend around $100 a year. Many of these items are already up in value from just several or more years ago.

2017: Wowee Fingerlings
2016: NES Classic Mini
2015: Hatchimals
2014: Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa
2013: Furby Boom
2012: Skylanders Giants
2011: Leapfrogs LeapPad Explorer Tablet
2010: Toy Story 3 DVD
2009: Zhu Zhu Pets
2008: High School Musical Dance Pad

Example 2: The Top Album Each Year For 10 Years

This type of collection is for the investor who wants to spend around $20 a year.

2017: "/ (Divide)" by Ed Sheeran

2016: "25" by Adele

2015: "1989" by Taylor Swift

2014: "X" by Ed Sheeran

2013: "The 20/20 Experience" by Justin Timberlake

2012: "21" by Adele

2011: "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga

2010: "Recovery" by Eminem

2009: "Fearless" by Taylor Swift

2008: "Tha Carter III" by Lil Wayne

Example 3: The Top Novel Each Year For 10 Years

This type of collection is for the investor who wants to spend around $20 a year. First edition hardcover is the most likely recommended form of the medium to acquire.

2017: "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio
2016: "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah
2015: "All the Light We Cannot See" Anthony Doerr
2014: "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
2013: "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn
2012: "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James
2011: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
2010: "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larson
2009: "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
2008: "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer

How Many Can You Fit in a Bin?

Diversifying your collectibles investment is easier to accomplish when the items are small. It would be quite plausible that you could fit the top movie, book, and album of each year for the last ten years into a single plastic storage bin. Over time, the bin becomes a pop culture and technology time capsule for a decade long gone in the past...

Good Luck Planting Your Attic!

We hope you found this investment idea helpful. What you read today is an example of legacy investing. This is the practice where parents intentionally save and invest for the benefit of their heirs. In some cases, legacy investing takes generations to show a reward. Other times, it can happen more quickly. For example, a first generation iPhone in an unopened box (factory sealed) goes for thousands of dollars today.

Don't forget to bookmark this page so you can share it and refer to it in the future. Please consider sharing this idea with your friends. The idea of "tangible" investing makes sense to many people. It's also enjoyable in the near term.

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