Whether you’re living comfortably or working hard to make ends meet, it’s always nice to find some extra cash. And many people are totally unaware that they’re sitting on one or more sources of hidden cash as we speak!
Related: 11 Practical Ways To Save Money When Times Are Tough
In this post, we’ll look at seven of those unexpected sources of cash! By the end of this list, you’ll know exactly where to look to uncover a few extra bucks — or if you’re really lucky, a few hundred bucks!
1. Search For Loose Change
Comb through your house (in drawers, pockets, closets, etc.) to search for loose change—you might be amazed at what you can come up with! Don’t forget to check less obvious places too, like underneath furniture, inside old purses, in coat pockets, under cushions, or even the filter in your washing machine.
2. Sell Your Extra Stuff
Do a detailed inventory of your home and make a list of anything you’re not using or would be willing to sell. There are likely a number of items around your house that someone would be happy to buy from you!
Your attic could be a treasure trove, because that’s where many people store things like vintage clothing, retro toys, classic books, and old vinyl records. There’s a market for all of these items as long as they’re in fairly good condition!
Once you have an inventory of stuff you can sell, you can decide on the best place to sell them. A yard sale is always an option, or you can cast a wider net using an online platform like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or local classifieds.
And even if you don’t have anything in good condition you can sell, you may be able to take old appliances or scrap metal to a local scrap yard and turn it them in for cash. Just make sure to call ahead to find out what types of metals and/or appliances they accept.
3. Find Unclaimed Or Forgotten Funds
There could be money out there with your name on it in the form of uncashed checks, stocks, insurance policies, and other unclaimed property.
Whether it’s an old paycheck from a previous job, an old life insurance benefit, or a forgotten savings account, you may be able to find and reclaim it with the help of sites like Unclaimed.org , TreasuryDirect.gov, or MissingMoney.com.
You may be able to find forgotten funds right in your own home in the form of savings bonds. Savings bonds are a common baby gift, but they take so long to mature that they often get filed away and forgotten about. According to the Department of the Treasury, as of December 2021, the combined value of matured, unredeemed savings bonds was just over $30 billion. Check your files for old savings bonds to find out if some of that money could belong to you!
4. Put Services On Hold
If you’re strapped for cash due to an unexpected car repair, job loss, etc., suspending some of the monthly services you pay for can free up the cash necessary to cover your immediate need. Companies that allow customers to temporarily suspend service typically include cable, wireless, and internet service providers. Contact your service providers to find out if they offer this option.
5. Return Forgotten Clothes
Let’s be honest—who hasn’t had an item of clothing they were planning to return, only for it to remain in the closet or the trunk of the car for several months? But the good news for us procrastinators is that a surprising number of retailers don’t put a time limit on returns.
And even if you’re missing the receipt, many retailers can verify the purchase as long as you have the card you used to buy the item with originally. Now there’s some motivation to finally take those returns in! :-)
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6. Forage For Gift Cards
Fun Fact: Most gift cards never expire! That means that all those gift cards you’ve had sitting around for years are likely still valid, so why not use them instead of spending your hard-earned cash? (I recently found six gift cards I had completely forgotten that I had just by going through some old purses!)
7. Rent Out Extra Space
If you’re a homeowner and have a spare bedroom that’s not being used, or even a basem*nt closet (or any other type of storage space) you’re not using, there’s probably someone out there willing to rent it from you! To rent out a spare room, list it on Airbnb, and for those with unused storage space, list that on Neighbor.
Have you found any hidden treasures or valuable items around your home?
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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)
Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!
About Jillee
Jill Nystul
Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.
About Jillee
Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)
Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!
About Jillee
Jill Nystul
Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.
About Jillee
