In this harsh economic times, most of us try to save a penny here and there. I am no different. I have students loans to pay, a mortgage, car payments…you name it. The list goes on and on, and so to me every penny counts. I have taken a recent interest in coupons. I clip them, I collect them, I print them, I charge them to my several rewards cards, I email show my coupons and codes off on my smart phone/saves on printers-and a lot of retailers will accept it. I share a Sams Club membership with my in-laws, and so this way we too can enjoy buying bulk.
The purpose of this blog post, is not to tell you the thousands of ways in which you can save money… there are plenty of tips for that going around. My point is to share with you what I just learned about half hour ago. My mother who resides in the state of New York, whom herself learned from another family member… whom I am guessing learned from another family member, friend or neighbor… or who knows. Anyways, here is the deal there is tons of money out-there on unclaimed property, and some of it might be yours!
You read right. Some of this unclaimed money might be yours. Why give/leave your hard-earned money in the hands of the state, especially during this economic crisis? Exactly, you shouldn’t, because chances are you might find any cash useful. I know I do!
So, like I mentioned at the beginning of this post: Harsh Economic Times. Guess what? I just found out I am owed money, not a lot but hey! every penny counts. It so happens that every state in the US has a state comptroller and Iowa is not different ( I live in Iowa ). If you are in the state of Iowa simply go to this link and enter your name and click search and see if the state has any property or money that belongs to you. https://
Here is your state by state search. Simply click on the map with your state name on it, or any other state where you might have lived. 
Go directly to a government unclaimed property program by clicking on a state, territory, or province from the map or drop box below. You should search in every state where you have lived. NAUPA http://www.unclaimed.org/
If you live in the state of New York here is where you can go to claim your property/money https://ouf.osc.state.ny.us/ Good luck to you all 
Here is a general Federal Website with many links to claim forgotten money/property http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Government-Unclaimed-Money.shtml
Here are some tips to help you keep your money as published by the State of New York Comptroller. Make Sure Your Money Isn’t Abandoned!
Here are some tips to help you make sure that your money isn’t turned over to the State.
- Keep your accounts active. More than half of unclaimed accounts are dormant savings accounts — accounts that have had no activity for three years. Make a small deposit or withdrawal every year.
- Cash all checks promptly for utility deposits, dividends, insurance premiums, wages and any other refunds you received.
- Keep accurate financial records. Record all bank accounts, stock certificates, insurance policies, utility and rent deposits, and your safe deposit number.
- Notify all your financial institutions when you move.
- Tell a family member or trusted friend or advisor where you store your financial records.
Additional websites and information on how to claim money, property etc.
The following information has been gathered from ABC written by ELISABETH LEAMY http://abcnews.go.com/Business/unclaimed-money-lying-tips-finding/story?id=13207837 on March 24, 2011.
Web-Extra Tips
There are billions of dollars waiting to be claimed. Fortunately, searching to see if some of that money belongs to you is easy, thanks to the Internet. Most unclaimed money is held by the states but some is housed with federal agencies. In both instances, the government is earning interest on your money. Here’s how you can search to claim what’s rightfully yours:
Miscellaneous MoneyIf you are searching for things such as forgotten apartment security deposits, uncashed overtime checks, lost insurance refunds or abandoned safe deposit boxes, your first stop is the states. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) has set up a free website at www.unclaimed.org that will link you to the appropriate department in your state that holds the funds.
Unclaimed Savings BondsIt’s easy for savings bonds to go unclaimed because they take 30 to 40 years to mature. That’s why the Treasury Department has set up a simple search website, available HERE, where you can find forgotten bonds by typing in your social security number. Certain bonds are not listed online and require a hand search. You can read about them at the same Treasury link.
Federal Tax Refunds
Everybody looks forward to getting an income tax refund check, but if yours didn’t arrive, what do you do? The IRS now provides a “Where’s my Refund?” feature on its website. You can look up your missing check by entering the amount you are owed, plus your social security number. CLICK HERE.
Life Insurance Policies
The proceeds of lost life insurance policies may turn up in your state search. If not, and you suspect you are the beneficiary of a loved one’s lost life insurance policy, you can hire a company called MIB Solutions to search for you. MIB is a private company that houses life insurance application information for much of the industry. It costs $75 to search. Go to www.policylocator.com for more information.
Failed Bank Accounts
If you didn’t collect your money when your bank went under, chances are your account was insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The good news, in that case, is the FDIC is holding your money, and you can find out HERE.
Failed Accounts In a Credit Union
If your money was in a credit union as it failed, visit the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) HERE to track down your money.
Misplaced Pensions
If your company still exists, or has been bought out, you need to approach the company directly. If you are owed a pension from a company that went under, there is a federal agency, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), that safeguards private pensions. You can track down your pension HERE on the PBGC website.
Retirement Money
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), is the Federal agency charged with making sure retirement money is reunited with its rightful owners. The EBSA sometimes even sues to seize retirement money. You can utilize the agency’s services by clicking HERE.
Lost 401(k)s
Sometimes when people leave a job, they leave behind a 401(k) as well. If the company goes out of business, that only compounds the confusion. Fortunately, companies that administer 401(k) plans have teamed up to create a search engine you can use to track down your 401(k).
Let me know how this blog post helped you re-claim your money and or property, feel free to leave any suggestions.
~Country Chic
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..so maybe my next craft will be to refinish it and find some other work space :/ )
