From refunds to reimbursements, from lost wages to monetary settlements—all that unclaimed cash can really add up. Follow our five steps to find money with your name on it, wherever it may be. How does your money end up in the hands of the government? Well, banks, insurance companies, medical offices, and even credit card companies may have tried to refund you for an overpayment but, if you moved or closed a bank account, they might not know how to find you. To search multiple states at the same time, try running your name through Missingmoney.com. If you have foreign property or have lived abroad, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has your back. Don’t forget to check for spouses and dependent kids, or anyone for whom you are an executor of estate. In many cases, you have to buy the goods upfront and submit the receipt for a claim. Take photos of your paper receipts or email digital statements to make online reimbursement requests even easier. If you’re eligible for a Flex Spending Account, consider how you might reap tax benefits for health and childcare expenses. Those pay-now-save-later health plans generate lots of refunds each year. There are closing costs associated with refinancing a home loan, and there’s usually a fee to transfer a balance, so do your homework to confirm the fees are worth it. Also, make sure you can pay off any loans before introductory rates expire. Last, if student-loan debt is weighing you down, don’t give up hope. Check the Federal Student Aid site to see if your loan qualifies for forgiveness, cancellation, or discharge. Youth discounts pale in comparison to the slashed rates offered to seniors. An AARP membership offers cut-rate deals, and sites like the Senior List and Senior Living post retail savings on food, retail, entertainment, and more. The only catch is that many stores and vendors don’t offer these deals upfront—you have to tell them that you qualify. Keep photo IDs with birthdates handy so you can keep more of your hard-earned cash in your own pocket. Check with your company’s HR team to see if, instead of a one-for-one hourly swap, you can get cash in hand. Sometimes, supervisors prefer payment, because it lowers the risk that you’ll take compensatory time off during peak seasons. Don’t talk yourself out of claiming hard-earned employee benefits. Remember that if you don’t know your worth, no one else will either.
