In the dim ancient past, corner stores would give you a nickel for recycled drink bottles, so you could get your wagon, prowl the ditches, and end up with maybe a whole dollar for half a day's work. The tough choice was then whether to buy a drink with actual drink in it and a candy bar or two, a pack or two of cards, a comic book, or usually a little of all of the above.
I still have some cards pulled out of those packs. Much loved and survived many travels and shoe boxes and even a house fire.