Bostonians Are Loving This Quick and Simple Maneuver to Save Money on Holiday Shopping This Year

Buying gifts for our loved ones during the holidays can be even more irresistible than buying things for ourselves. But the spending of it all can add stress to an otherwise joyful time—we may even find ourselves dreaming of an easy way to get extra cash for the season of giving.

Thanks to findmassmoney.gov, that dream can become a reality this year. The website is part of Massachusetts State Treasury’s effort to return unclaimed property—money that belongs to you that never made it into your pocket. 

All you have to do is enter your name and see if there’s a match to your name and address. Then, if you have unclaimed property in Massachusetts, you can look forward to a check in the mail and feel the stress of holiday spending melt away. “It’s like coming across a bill on the sidewalk,” says unclaimed property claimant Adele M. 

We’re sure you have questions about unclaimed property (is it too good to be true?), so here are some fast facts you may be wondering about.

Here’s where unclaimed money comes from.

Unclaimed property can come from a number of unexpected places. In 2023, people in Massachusetts claimed money most commonly from dividend checks, refunds, and credit balances. If you have unclaimed property, findmassmoney.gov will tell you where it came from. 

MA residents also claim checks from unpaid wages, forgotten savings accounts, and life insurance proceeds. Kathleen S, for example, claimed money from the life insurance property of her great aunt who died in 1981, while others claimed money from an old cash back rewards program, and even a final uncashed paycheck from a high school job.

How that money ended up in the state treasury.

So, how did these mysterious funds go from dormant bank accounts and old pay stubs to the Massachusetts State Treasury? If your money is with the state, it’s because the bank, insurance company, business, or other holder tried to reunite you with it after three years of inactivity. Business are required to report money to the state you live in. Now, it’s their job to reunite you with it.

Getting your money is simple, secure, and efficient.

“It is extremely easy to find unclaimed money and all you have to do is verify your identity and you’re on your way,” says claimant Marissa P. The process is also free when you use findmassmoney.gov, and only takes a few minutes.

If your name is on the list, you’ll have a few questions to answer in order to verify your identity and claim the money. You can expect to receive a check in the mail anywhere from a few days to a few weeks later. 

In the past five years, the State Treasury has reunited owners with more than 787 million dollars worth of unclaimed property. Why not see if you’re one of those lucky people? Then of course, you can use that newly claimed money for whatever will show your loved ones how much you appreciate them this season.