Mardi Gras 2009: Don't Miss Out on your Holiday Collectibles!

Although the next Fat Tuesday is over 9 months away, it can never hurt to plan ahead.

Since Mardi Gras is celebrated in only certain places of the world, with each their own tradition, many items or "take-aways" have and will become hot commodities for collectors.

The next time you visit New Orleans to catch beads, see parades, eat king cake and take in some culture, be mindful of the unique items you encounter. There are collectors who scour Ebay for particular year or parade doubloons, a gold Zulu coconut or an ornate flashing string of beads. At any time, there are framed posters or parade krewe memorabilia that go for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each.

It's the little things that come together to make Mardi Gras in New Orleans one of the best free shows on Earth, so if you find yourself in the Crescent City during carnival time, think twice about stepping over that plastic souvenir cup or trading some beads. Who knows? It could pay off. And in any case, you'll be left with a little piece of history.