Discovering the Cash Hidden in Your Home

This is not about finding a spare $100 bill in your couch cushions (although that would be great!). Instead, this article is about looking at your home in a new way and discovering the potential income and money you could make from what is already yours. We’re also going to talk about how to recover money you may have forgotten about over the years. From saving tips to hot-selling items, here are some suggestions for discovering the cash hidden in your home.

1. Missing Money
Depending on your age, number of relatives, and how many times you’ve changed locations, you could have money being kept by the state or the federal government. Simply type “missing money” into your search engine to find guidelines on how to track this hidden money down. It could be something as simple as an account you opened when you were in gradeschool and you had some birthday money, or it could be something more involved like stock shares you lost track of.

2. Unclaimed Tax Returns
It’s surprisingly easy to recover missing income tax returns. Many times, you miss out on this money because you change locations. If you file tax form 8822, this updates the IRS as to your current location, and they will send you any money you are owed.

3. Framed Prints
Check your attic and basement for wall art. There’s a market these days for unusual framed prints, whether prints of paintings or photos of various scenes. You might even have some spare child’s artwork around that you could quickly frame and sell online. Sources say these framed prints fetch around $30 apiece.

4. Mirrors
While we’re on the subject of framed things, mirrors are a hot item as more decorators are using them to create the illusion of space. Antique mirrors with attractive frames are especially popular, and sometimes you can sell them for $200 or more.

5. Eat No-Cook Meals Regularly
Swap out 2 or 3 meals a week that you normally cook with no-cook meals like chicken salad, dips and crackers, or sandwiches. (There are lots of good ideas online.) You’ll save a tremendous amount on energy costs if you don’t use your oven. When you do cook, use a microwave wherever you can and avoid the oven and stovetop as much as possible.

6. Forgotten Deposits
Have you changed apartments frequently? Have you sold, bought, or rented property often over the years? If so, you might have unclaimed deposit money that’s owed to you. Whether it was a deposit on the rental property or a pre-payment on utilities, contact prior landlords and utility companies to see if you are owed money from past deposits.

It’s pretty amazing what cash can be hiding right under your nose. Go looking for it!