Kind of depends on what they were. From the early 40's to the late 50's Comet produced a series of solid wood kits based on the goverment plans for 1/72 ID models used in WW II. You got a set of plans (three views and templates), a large block of balsa, rough sawed to side view, and a piece of balsa 1/8" x 3" x 6" with the outline of the wings, vertical stab/rudder, horizontal stab/elevators and prop blades printed in blue on it. They cost a dime at the local dime store and even as klutzy as I am at carving, I bought a bunch of them.
From the mid 50's to early 60's Comet and Lindbergh had a bunch of small kits (Scale? - we don't need no pocking scale!) which ran betwee 19 cents to 29 cents (had a whole bunch of them) Doesn't sound like much but to a kid at that time it was (A 3 bedroom house might cost $5000, a Vette cost $3000 and someone with a $4000 a year job was thought to be well off)
The best deal I was ever made was totally free (to me at least). About 25 years ago my best friend at the time, got divoriced and decided that his modeling had caused it. (it wasn't but you couldn't convince him of that) The upshot was that I ended up with all his modeling supplies, references and 350 models. Argued with him but was informed that it was going either to me or the city dump. Talked with him the other day and he hasn't built a model since. Oh well.