If someone offered you an extra $500 or $1,000 or even more that was legally obtained, I bet you’d have a hard time turning it down. While you might think true windfalls are only seen on board games like LIFE, the truth is, you can often create your own personal windfall. All it takes is a bit of perseverance and sleuthing.
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Retirement Funds
If you leave a job, do you always take your retirement savings with you?
If you’ve been at a job for several years and have tens of thousands of dollars invested, you probably are well aware of your retirement fund. However, if you worked somewhere when you were 19 that automatically deducted money for your retirement, did you keep track of that money when you left your job? If not, you may be able to find it now and give yourself a surprise windfall.
Within the United States, you may need to use a site like unclaimed.org to help you find your missing funds. In Australia, you can find your lost super with the help of a company like Suncorp.
You never know, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you have money waiting for you.
Old Savings Accounts
Old savings and checking accounts are another place where you may find unexpected money. Particularly if you open up a savings and checking account while you’re in college and then leave town for a job or to move closer to home, you may forget that you had any money in your old college town.
If you’re someone who saves by opening several different savings accounts, losing track of where your money is and how much you have is very easy to do.
Old Tax Returns
If you’ve gone through a period of moving frequently as likely happens in college and your early twenties, losing track of your tax return is easy to do. Also, sometimes the government determines that you’ve overpaid on your taxes (yes, it really does happen sometimes!), and if you’ve moved, you may miss out on that unexpected return.
Again, a site like unclaimed.org can help you find your missing money whether it be from retirement savings, checking and savings accounts, or tax returns.
Other Tips for Finding Lost Money
If you’re female, make sure to search for your missing money both by your maiden name and your married name. Also, you’ll likely need all of your previous addresses.
While you’re at it, you may want to search for friends and family members who may also have some lost money that needs to be found. If you’re lucky, they may even offer you a founder’s reward.
Not everyone who searches for money finds it, but what a pleasant surprise if you do!
Do you have any tricks for finding extra money?
About Carson Derrow
