14 Things You Could Buy for $1 in the ’80s
These are the fun, tasty, and surprising things you could get for just one dollar back in the 1980s.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
A single dollar used to go a long way in the 1980s. Kids could grab snacks, toys, or even a movie ticket without digging deep into their pockets. This list brings back the items you could easily afford with just four quarters. Some are gone, some have changed, but all of them made that buck feel like magic.
1. Candy Bars That Felt Giant
Anthony Easton from Montreal, canada on Wikimedia Commons
In the ’80s, full-sized candy bars only cost about 25 to 50 cents. That meant you could grab two and still have change from a dollar. Snickers, Milky Way, or Butterfinger? Take your pick.
2. A Movie Ticket (Matinee, Of Course)
Monikaa Baskar on Wikimedia Commons
One dollar could get you a matinee ticket to the latest blockbuster. You could sit in a sticky seat and watch E.T. or Back to the Future on the big screen. No assigned seating, just first come, first served.
3. A Big Slice of Pizza
Sydney Troxell on Pexels
A buck could land you a cheesy, greasy slice from the corner pizza place. Sometimes, it was even served on a paper plate that stuck to the cheese. It was fast, hot, and perfect after school.
4. A Bunch of Stickers from Lisa Frank
Javon Swaby on Pexels
Bright, sparkly, and totally outrageous, Lisa Frank stickers often sold for less than a dollar per sheet. You could grab several sheets and decorate your binder like a rainbow explosion. They were the ultimate school flex.
5. A New 45 RPM Record Single
™/®Red Hat, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
If you had a dollar and a record store nearby, you could pick up a 45 single of your favorite song. It came in a little paper sleeve and played on repeat until it scratched. It was the cheapest way to own music back then.
6. A Pack of Garbage Pail Kids Cards
Javier Perez Montes on Wikimedia Commons
Trading cards with gross-out art were all the rage. For around 25 cents, you got a pack of Garbage Pail Kids plus a stick of gum that broke your teeth. A dollar meant four packs and hours of trading.
7. A Bottle of Clearly Canadian or New York Seltzer
Clear glass bottle on a white surface on Wikimedia Commons
These fizzy drinks were trendy and cost about a dollar per bottle. The flavors were wild like blackberry and cherry cola. You drank it because it felt fancy, even if it just tasted like sugar water.
8. Temporary Tattoos from a Vending Machine
Eva Rinaldi on Wikimedia Commons
Put in a coin, turn the knob, and get a temporary tattoo wrapped in cardboard. They never stuck for long, but you felt like a rebel for wearing one. A dollar gave you four chances at the coolest design.
9. A Plastic Water Gun from the Toy Aisle
Pinktigra TADOU on Wikimedia Commons
It leaked and barely shot water, but it only cost a dollar and kept you busy all afternoon. You probably got soaked while refilling it. Still, it was a summer must-have.
10. A McDonald’s Cheeseburger and Maybe a Small Fry
Mac Markers on Wikimedia Commons
Back then, a cheeseburger was around 50 cents. Toss in another 50, and you could get fries to go with it. It was the perfect after-school treat if your parents said yes.
11. An Archie Comic from the Grocery Store Rack
Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit, John L. Goldwater Uploaded by Hope(N Forever) at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
You could find an Archie comic sitting near the checkout for less than a buck. Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and Archie were always getting into something. You read it once, then passed it to a friend.
12. A Pair of Neon Shoelaces or Bangles
Magic Madzik on Wikimedia Commons
If you wanted to add flair to your outfit, a dollar was enough. Neon shoelaces or jelly bangles came in packs at the dollar store. The brighter, the better.
13. A Bottle of Bubble Solution and Wand
U.S. Army photo by Capt. Sara Berner on Wikimedia Commons
Bubbles never go out of style. A dollar gave you a bottle and a wand that made giant bubbles in the sun. You chased them until the soap ran out or spilled everywhere.
14. A Happy Meal Toy (Sometimes Without the Meal)
Judgefloro on Wikimedia Commons
In some McDonald’s locations, you could buy just the toy for a dollar. It felt like getting a secret prize, and the toys were themed after cartoons, movies, or even Hot Wheels. If you had a dollar, you had a piece of happiness.