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Family Spent $100,000 On Beanie Babies Thinking 'Investment' Would Put Kids Through College (VIDEO)

Family Spent $100K On Beanie Babies
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Multimedia Journalist

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Remember Beanie Babies? Those cute, lovable, bean-filled stuffed animals that every kid just had to have in 1996? One family remembers them all too well.

In a short documentary entitled "Bankrupt By Beanies," Chris Robinson, the film's director, details his family’s regret after sinking about $100,000 into the Beanie Babies craze. His father maintained five separate collections, hoping the "investment" would put his kids through college.

Unfortunately, that never happened. The Beanie Babies bubble, like so many fads before it, ultimately burst, leaving the family in financial ruin.

The reflections are moving reminders as to why investors should be wary of fads of the moment (we're looking at you, bitcoin.)

You can watch the video here:

(Hat tip: Gawker)

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Before You Go

11 Super Bizarre '90s Toy Fads
Beanie Babies(01 of11)
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Remember when you were told that these little things would be worth ridiculous amounts of money? How's that working out for you? (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34313239@N02/5163707572" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Dominique Godbout" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34313239@N02/5163707572" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">Dominique Godbout</a>)
Tickle Me Elmo(02 of11)
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The popularity of the toy led to a human stampede at a Walmart in Canada back in 1996. Pretty sure no amount of cute is worth that much. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87865112@N06/8050302390" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="toywhirl" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87865112@N06/8050302390" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">toywhirl</a>)
Gak(03 of11)
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Gak is gross. It's basically a ploy to get kids to stop playing with their boogers.
Furby(04 of11)
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Did anyone not lock their Furby in a closet after it wouldn't shut up for over a week? (credit:PA)
Bop It(05 of11)
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Bop It was made for kids who wished they had an older brother. It's loud, obnoxious and orders you around. (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://instagr.am/p/Ta-uuLhQ4h/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="bchambless via Instagram" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://instagr.am/p/Ta-uuLhQ4h/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">bchambless via Instagram</a>)
Pogs(06 of11)
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People collected hundreds of these cardboard circles, allegedly to play some kind of game. Never has anyone in the history of the world played that game. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Tamagotchi(07 of11)
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Parents who refused to get their kids a puppy said Tamagotchis were JUST like pets. Turns out they're more like boring pieces of plastic. Live and learn. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31451092@N07/3351466593" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="dolldalera" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31451092@N07/3351466593" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">dolldalera</a>)
Polly Pocket(08 of11)
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If your dad wasn't stepping on enough Legos with his bare feet, you could plant some of these babies in the living room carpet. (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://instagr.am/p/TYjKWli3HD/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="ayip1214 via Instagram" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://instagr.am/p/TYjKWli3HD/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">ayip1214 via Instagram</a>)
Crazy Bones(09 of11)
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The only thing crazy about Crazy Bones is that people paid money for them! (credit:WikiMedia:)
Koosh Ball(10 of11)
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Basically just a synthetic hair ball.
Pokemon(11 of11)
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Pokemon taught children to walk around the forrest and capture wild animals. Not a great hobby for a second grader. (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://instagr.am/p/TbnbO6KwV1/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="letyourkingdomcome via Instagram" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb2faa1e4b0480ca660290f" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://instagr.am/p/TbnbO6KwV1/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="3">letyourkingdomcome via Instagram</a>)
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