{"id":1741,"date":"2026-05-26T05:34:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T05:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1741"},"modified":"2026-05-26T05:34:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T05:34:59","slug":"is-the-trinket-trend-taking-over-your-house-and-your-wallet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1741","title":{"rendered":"Is the \u2018trinket trend\u2019 taking over your house (and your wallet)?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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by Lauren Schwahn, NerdWallet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you own an Owala or Stanley water bottle? How about a Labubu? Any Jellycat plushies or bag charms, or squishy toys like NeeDohs?<\/p>\n

Read more License to deliver: Some midwives break the law to assist with home births<\/a><\/p>\n

If so, you\u2019re a part of the \u201ctrinket trend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trinket trend, which involves collecting or trading small items such as toys and accessories, has exploded over the past few years. And it\u2019s hard to avoid.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t plan on joining. Yet these things keep showing up in my home anyway.<\/p>\n

My 6-year-old and 3-year-old have accumulated roughly a thousand squishy toys from birthday parties, dentist visits and museum trips (OK, it\u2019s probably closer to a dozen, but it feels like more). We\u2019ve got dinosaurs, rabbits, cats, Hulk, you name it.<\/p>\n

You might find, like I did, that these little objects can fill you with joy or regret. It\u2019s a fine line.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s with all the trinkets?<\/h4>\n

Gen Z is a major force behind the trinket trend.<\/p>\n

More than half of Gen Zers aren\u2019t confident that the economy will improve this year, said MaryLeigh Bliss, chief content officer at the youth research organization YPulse. She spoke during the National Retail Federation\u2019s State of Retail & the Consumer event in March.<\/p>\n

With high living costs and a tough job market, it\u2019s easy to understand why many people don\u2019t feel optimistic.<\/p>\n

Gen Z is also more likely than other age groups to say their top financial priority is buying the things they want, Bliss said. These factors are driving Gen Zers to seek out \u201clittle pieces of joy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily that huge splurge, but the more consistent purchases, that they can have that little dopamine hit to kind of get through the weeks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Trinkets scratch that itch: They\u2019re small and often affordable. Funko characters retail for about $15, and NeeDoh squeeze toys are around $5.<\/p>\n

Trinket culture is popular among other generations, too. Sensory toys are especially big with Gen Alpha right now, and many adults find trinkets cute or satisfying.<\/p>\n

More than 90,000 people search \u201cNeeDoh\u201d on Google monthly, and \u201csquishies\u201d and \u201csensory toy\u201d searches are hitting new highs as people look for products.<\/p>\n

This plays into the larger trend of \u201ckidulting,\u201d where adults engage in activities or collect toys that are traditionally designed for kids. It\u2019s a way to feel comforted from the daily grind and pressures of adult life, says Kiki Jacobson, a licensed mental health counselor in Wilmington, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

Fads and collectibles are nothing new. My fellow millennials might remember the craze surrounding Beanie Babies, troll dolls, Tamagotchis or jelly bracelets.<\/p>\n

Products like Sonny Angels, Funko POP! figures and Trader Joe\u2019s tote bags are just modern equivalents.<\/p>\n

Read more Brewers\u2019 Misiorowski sets record with 57 pitches of at least 100 mph<\/a><\/p>\n

But TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms can make today\u2019s trends feel more intense, says Jacobson, who specializes in financial therapy.<\/p>\n

Algorithms amplify what captures attention, she says. Surprise reveals, unboxings and product \u201cdrops\u201d create emotional hooks and a sense of scarcity.<\/p>\n

The feel-good power of tiny treasures<\/h4>\n

While I have my grievances \u2014 we\u2019ll get to those later \u2014 I can\u2019t say that trinkets don\u2019t spread joy.<\/p>\n

My kids love them. I can\u2019t help but smile when I catch my daughter tucking her squishy animal \u201cbabies\u201d into blankets and kissing them goodnight, or when my son involves his figures in epic battles between heroes and villains.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s more to these toys than entertainment.<\/p>\n

Trinkets can serve as tools for identity and self-expression, Jacobson says. Squishy toys in particular can help relieve stress for anyone, and provide sensory regulation for people with ADHD or autism, she says.<\/p>\n

Collecting trinkets can create a sense of community and belonging, too. I\u2019ve seen it firsthand \u2014 trading keychains has become a bonding ritual for my son and his classmates.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all fun and games, though<\/h4>\n

While spending money on trinkets probably won\u2019t keep you from buying a house, the costs can mount quickly. One purchase can easily turn into three or four.<\/p>\n

Low prices aren\u2019t always guaranteed, either. Demand for items like Labubu monsters, and more recently, NeeDoh toys, has sent them flying off shelves. Some of these hard-to-find trinkets have sold for hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on the resale market.<\/p>\n

Cost isn\u2019t the only possible downside to the trinket trend. Here are some of my biggest grievances:<\/p>\n