Every February, I send out one of my favorite reminders of the year—and without fail, someone writes back to say they found real money they didn’t know existed. In fact, several someones!
So here we are again. Same message, new year, new chance at buried treasure.
February 1st is National Unclaimed Property Day, which feels like a made-up holiday until you realize how much money is quietly waiting to be reunited with its rightful owner.
According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, 1 in 7 Americans has unclaimed property, and nationwide there’s more than $49 billion sitting on the sidelines.
Yes. Billion. With a B.
So what exactly is “unclaimed property”?
It’s money or assets that belong to you but lost touch along the way—often because life happened. This can include uncashed paychecks, forgotten savings or checking accounts, insurance payouts, utility deposits, old investment dividends, or even the contents of a safe deposit box. When companies can’t reach you after a period of inactivity, they’re required to turn those assets over to the state for safekeeping.
And if you’ve lived through any kind of transition—job changes, name changes, moves, military PCS orders, marriage, divorce, widowhood—it’s surprisingly easy for accounts to slip through the cracks.
The good news? Checking is easy, free, and takes just a few minutes.
Here’s how to do it:
Start at unclaimed.org, the official site that links to every state’s unclaimed property database.
Search your name (and city/state if prompted).
Follow your state’s instructions to file a claim—usually just proof of identity.
Then search again: other states you’ve lived in, maiden names, and even family members (kids and parents included).
A few fun facts to keep this interesting:
The average claim is about $1,000, though some are much smaller—and some are life-changing.
States return billions of dollars every year (over $3 billion last year alone; I like to think it’s because of my annual reminders).
There’s no expiration date. Even if decades have passed, the money is still yours.
And my favorite part: the stories.
A veteran once emailed me after finding $12,000 from a long-forgotten account tied to multiple relocations. A widow discovered $5,000 in life insurance proceeds she didn’t know were outstanding. Every year, someone finds something—and it never gets old.
So consider this your annual nudge. Take five minutes. Search your name. See what turns up.
And if you strike gold? Please tell me. I love celebrating a good find. 💛
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