Find lost money that’s already yours — it might be hiding in a drawer, sitting in an old PayPal account, or waiting for you in a government database. You’d be surprised how much forgotten cash you could recover with just a little effort.
In fact, in our home alone, we recently found four separate sources of money we had forgotten or lost — all within a few weeks!
This blog walks you through real-life places to check, along with simple ways to recover unclaimed funds, no matter how small (or large). These tips will especially help you if you are looking to find more money in your already tight budget.
Check That Drawer — Literally
Old checks can slide into the back of drawers or get buried in paper piles. We once found an uncashed $800 paycheck — two years old — that the company reissued. That’s grocery money, bill money, or even emergency savings waiting to be discovered.
Every few months, it “pays” (sometimes literally) to pull out drawers completely and check underneath or behind them.
Forgotten Gift Cards
If you’ve been given gift cards (holidays, birthdays, work bonuses), there’s a chance a few are still lurking in your “gift stash.” We found ten restaurant gift cards we hadn’t used. After calling to check balances, 90% still had a full balance on them.
Rebate Cards from Retailers (e.g., Menards)
When it comes to useful freebies, rebates should not be overlooked. Stores like Menards send rebate checks or cards, often after promotions. We recently discovered three forgotten Menards rebates (some were over two years old!).
Even if they are crumpled on the edges or been shoved in your car or home for a long period of time, check with the store. We asked and found out that they don’t expire! They were worth a combined total of $35, enough to fully pay for a new shower curtain – with money left over!
An easy way to avoid losing money like this is to keep a labeled folder or specific location for rebates.
Unclaimed Property From Your State
One of the most overlooked ways to find lost money is through your state’s unclaimed property division. If a company owes you money (a paycheck, refund, deposit) and can’t reach you, they turn the funds over to the state.
- Go directly to your state’s .gov website
- Search your name (maiden names too), and old addresses
- You can also check for deceased relatives’ unclaimed funds
Some accounts are worth over $500, so it’s definitely worth the search.
Class Action Settlements
These often arrive via snail mail and can be easy to miss. We’ve gotten anywhere from $5 to $40 in payouts. It takes time, but the money does eventually show up.
Be sure to watch for scams.
If it’s a real class action lawsuit, you should be able to find legit sources which verify the impending suit along with deadlines and information on adding your name. You should never have to pay or provide your SSN to join a class action.
Look for official websites only. Here’s a great article from Experian that tells you what to look for.
Warranties You Forgot to Use
Big-ticket items (like a roof or appliances) often have warranties. We once successfully claimed several hundred dollars when our roof failed prematurely.
Tips to make this work:
- Register items immediately. Sometimes this is paperwork to mail, but, these days, more often an on-line form to fill out. Print the email verifying the company received your digital warranty card.
- Keep original boxes and packing, if possible, until after the warranty has expired.
- Keep receipts and warranty info (print digital receipts too).
Closed Bank Accounts
You may have small balances left in old or forgotten accounts. Even if it’s just $10 or $25, that’s your money.
Search for:
- Closed savings/checking accounts
- Digital banks or fintech apps you no longer use
It’s another easy win when you’re trying to find lost money in unexpected places.
Leftover Credit Card Rewards
If you’ve changed credit cards, don’t forget about any leftover points or cashback. You may still be able to redeem them even after the account is closed.
PayPal & Venmo Balances
It’s easy to overlook money sitting in peer-to-peer payment apps. Rediscovering a few bucks in and old PayPal or Venmo account can add up quickly.
Insurance Refunds or Overpayments
Health insurance companies may owe you for overpayments or adjustments. Don’t assume they always notify you — be proactive.
Set a yearly “Money Sweep” Date
Make it a yearly habit to find lost money by running through a checklist of places to look. Many people do this in January or around tax season — it only takes a few minutes to search each source, and the rewards can be huge.
Your Turn!
Have you ever found money using one of these strategies? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
I was looking thru some old papers and found a check that was still good bc fhe company who issued it was still in Biz. So fhey issued another check. And so I was able to cash it thru my bank….
That is awesome!
I have used class action lawsuit and state website to locate money.
Wonderful!