It’s a great feeling when you find lost money in your pocket or in the couch. You may be able to find lost money for free in other places as well. You just need to know where to look and make sure you are getting as much of it back as possible.
There are so many ways that we leave money on the table: employee benefits, not using cashback rebates, not using discounts, etc.
I wanted to share some quick ways you can find lost money for free and start putting it back in your wallet.
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Find Unclaimed Money
When people move or pass away, they may leave some unclaimed money in the state treasury, utility company deposits or overpaid medical expenses.
You can check out sites like missingmoney.com and unclaimed.org to search to see if you are owed any money from the state or other companies. You can also check your local state’s treasury website for any unclaimed assets.
When you are doing the searches, make sure to check all of the names you have gone by including maiden and married names. Check each state you have every resided in just to make sure you aren’t leaving any money just sitting there.
I did a quick search for my mom’s name and found around $70 from an old telephone company that we had over 20 years ago!
Find Lost Money with Employee Benefits
You may be missing out on free money if you aren’t taking advantage of all of your employee benefits. You want to make sure you are getting all of the contributions to your 401K that your company will match. You will be basically be doubling your contributions each pay period when you do so.
A lot of companies will match up to 5 or 6% so make sure you are putting in at least that much.
You may even be able to get money through flexible spending accounts for your healthcare or get gym membership reimbursements! Make sure you know ALL of your employer’s benefits so you won’t miss out.
Check out How to get the Most out of your Employee Benefits.
Health Insurance Rebates
Some health insurance companies will give you rebates for taking care of yourself. My insurance company will send a prepaid debit card and will add money to it when I do things like: get a flu shot, get a yearly physical, and even create an account on their website.
I can earn up to $90 a year just by doing things I would have done anyway. I am able to spend that money on copays and any other healthcare needs.
If your insurance company offers this, make sure you are signed up for it and not missing out on free money.
Cashback and Rebates
If you aren’t using cashback apps and rebates when you shop, you are missing out on free money! You can get 10-20 cents every single time you shop with the Ibotta app. That’s not even including all of the specific rebates they offer. My favorite cash back apps are:
If you are a member of the military, a first responder, student, nurse, or a senior you can get discounts on a variety of things. Make sure you are taking advantage of all of these discounts.
If you are a senior, check the AARP website. You normally just have to show an ID or work badge to get the discount. They are mainly at movie theaters, restaurants, and various retail stores.
Credit Card Rewards
See what kind of benefits your credit card offers, even if it isn’t a specific rewards card. You may be able to get free travel insurance, rental cars, mobile phone insurance, and discounts at select stores.
If you do have a rewards card, make sure you are not letting those rewards expire and that you are using the card to pay for everything that will give you points (as long as you remember to pay it off each month).
Take the Right Tax Deductions
You may be missing out on lost money by not taking the right tax deductions. It is important to sit down with an accountant to make sure you are getting the most money possible on your tax returns.
You can check this list of smart money tips for the end of the year to help you lower your tax bill each year.
By doing a few of these tips to find lost money for free, you can add hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars back in your pocket.
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