6 Ways to Find Money You Didn't Even Know You Had (2024)

Why it's hidden: You empty your pockets here, your wallet there, toss change from the delivery guy someplace else. A stray quarter here or there may not seem like much, but all those scattered cents can quickly add up. The average U.S. household harbors more than $60 in change!

Uncover your cash: Clean out your junk drawer, laundry room, car, and other hidden nooks. The best way to transform coins into bills is to take them to the bank. But if you have at least five dollars in coins and your bank won't exchange them for free, drop them into a Coinstar machine at the grocery store. When you opt for a gift card (to places like Starbucks or iTunes), the coin-counting machine waives the usual fee.

Why it's hidden:Even if a deceased relative leaves you everything in her will, you may not know you're entitled to certain funds if she didn't list all of her bank accounts, stocks, or safe-deposit boxes. And if your loved one passes away without a will, odds are slim that you'll know about every financial account you should claim.

Uncover your cash: If the death is recent, ask your relative's insurance agent or financial planner to see if a life insurance policy was in place, and look through her files for any mention of financial holdings. If your relative is long-deceased, visit the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators' website,unclaimed.orgor search

Why it's hidden: Savings bonds are a common baby gift, but they can take decades to mature—meaning they're easily misplaced. The Department of the Treasury estimates that billions of dollars in savings bonds have stopped earning interest but haven't yet been cashed in. And each year, more than 25,000 bond payments are returned to the Treasury as undeliverable.

Uncover your cash: To see if you own a long-forgotten bond, type in your social security number on the Bureau of Public Debt's Treasury Hunt page atteasuryhunt.gov. The database searches a list of all mature savings bonds issued since 1974. Submit form 1048 on the site to make a claim. Think you might be missing a pre-1974 bond? You can use the same form.

Why it's hidden: Many retailers have tightened their return policies in recent years, so you might assume you're stuck with a $20 handbag just because you can't find the original receipt or more than 30 days have passed.

Uncover your cash: Nordstrom, Kohl's, and L.L.Bean have no time limit for returns—and if you're missing the receipt, the retailers can verify your purchase with your credit card. Bed Bath & Beyond also has unlimited returns, though the retailer will deduct 20 percent of the purchase price if you can't show a receipt. Zappos offers a full year to change your mind on unworn shoes, as long as you keep the original packaging.

Why it's hidden: Many baby boomers have worked more than 10 jobs by age 48, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But if you don't diligently roll over your retirement savings every time you leave a job, you may have money sitting in forgotten accounts.

Uncover your cash: If you were once employed by a company that offered a pension, start by contacting your old employer. If it doesn't have a record for you, look yourself up in the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporations database at pbgc.gov—this is a federal agency that insures private pensions. For plans not covered by the PBGC, like 401(k) accounts, try a free search a the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits at unclaimedretirementbenefits.com.

Why it's hidden: If you bought a product that turns out to be defective and the manufacturer is sued, you could be part of a class action lawsuit withoutrealizing it, but you have to register a claim to collect cash.

Uncover your cash: Topclassactions.comis the largest database of pending class action suits. If you use one of the listed products or services, you can fill out an online form to stake a claim in the settlement. Jessica Ivy, from Brigham City, UT, checks the site every other week and regularly scores $10. Her record? $4,000 for a faulty air conditioner.