Unclaimed Funds: You Might Be Rich!

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

15 Jul 2008 04:24 AM

Sure being frugal means saving money. But what if you already have money that you aren't using and don't know about? It would be nice to get your hands on some of it, wouldn't it? Here is how.

Dateline MSNBC did a segment entitled, "You Might Be Rich!" In it they talk about the $30 billion dollars of unclaimed property and funds that belong to people all over the country. Apparently, through all sorts of circumstances, this property and money just sits around, orphaned.

You can go to a website for each state and put in your name to see if there is anything that might belong to you. If there is, you can print out an application which you fill out and mail to claim your stuff. You will have to prove who you are of course, and why you have a right to the money or property.

While I have heard of searching for unclaimed property before, I have never seen such a frenzy about it until now. I have done the state by state searches in the past and found $50 to claim. I'm pretty sure that there is nothing else there, but I can't help getting caught up in the "ooh I might be rich" game. However, right now it is more of a waiting game.

If you saw the segment or are interested in seeing if you are in fact rich, your best bet is to wait until tomorrow or even later in the week. Right now the websites are so tied up, that it may be a while before you can get anywhere with your search. You don't have to worry about searching now, since the unclaimed property will still be there for a long time. Meanwhile, you can search out any unclaimed property in your own home, such as change in the cushions and dollar bills left laying around. My favorite spot for unclaimed funds is the laundry room.

When you are ready to search the state, you can go to dateline.msnbc.com.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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