Many people look forward to this time of year because they’re in line to get a tax refund. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to enjoy a personal financial windfall, either right now or almost any time of the year.
If you like to save money (and who doesn’t?!), take advantage of discounts through organizations such as AAA and AARP. AAA describes itself as “North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization (that) provides its members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services.” AARP, formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons, is the largest membership club for retired people in the United States.
Both national organizations are known for offering their members access to discounts on a variety of services and products. These money-off deals range from cell phone service plans to life insurance policies and price breaks on tickets to entertainment attractions. You can learn more by going to www.aaa.com and www.aarp.com.
And with St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, who says there couldn’t be a pot of gold waiting for you if you do a little searching? In this case, we suggest checking out the Unclaimed Property division of the Massachusetts Office of the State Treasurer. According to this department, it’s estimated that 1 out of every 10 people have unclaimed property, also known as abandoned property. The agency reports that it currently oversees $2.4 billion in unclaimed money, securities and tangible properties.
The Office has an Unclaimed Property section on its website where you can see if you have unclaimed property that you’re entitled to. All you have to do is type in your name in a search box.
Here’s the link to the section: http://www.mass.gov/treasury/unclaimed-prop/.
The section also has lots of other useful information and includes a series of Frequently Asked Questions. It also lets you check the status of your abandoned property claim.
Please note – The Massachusetts Office of the State Treasurer reports that illegitimate letters from a Massachusetts address are being sent to the state’s citizens claiming “unclaimed property winnings.” These letters are not being sent by the Treasurer’s Office.
“Official unclaimed property notices will never direct owners to pay money, whether for processing fees, tax payments, or otherwise, when searching unclaimed property or filing a claim,” the Treasurer’s Office states.
Another potential pot of gold could be right under your nose. If you’re like many, you probably have a “junk drawer” at home where you toss items that were cleared from countertops or unloaded from your pockets. Oftentimes those drawers are mini treasure chests that hold forgotten gift cards and coupons and, if you’re really lucky, some cold cash.
So if your tax refund isn’t going to be as much as you hoped for this year, consider these alternatives to fill your wallet with more money.