He treated it like a treasure hunt—and found $6,500 in unclaimed money

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Unclaimed Money Guy Newsletter

Where smart money doesn’t leave money (lost or otherwise) on the table.

Let’s dive right in…

🏦 Money Story: The Treasure Hunter

He treated it like a treasure hunt—and found $6,500 in unclaimed money

For some people, searching for unclaimed property isn’t just about the money—it’s about the thrill of the hunt.

Meet Jake Reynolds, a 34-year-old hobbyist from Colorado. Jake is the kind of guy who loves puzzles, geocaching, and weekend flea market hunts. When he heard a radio spot about unclaimed money, he thought, why not add this to my list of “hunts”?

One evening, Jake poured himself a cup of coffee, fired up his laptop, and started searching through his state’s unclaimed property website. His approach was methodical—like piecing together a mystery. He didn’t just search for himself; he typed in old addresses, variations of his name, even the name of a small side business he once ran.

At first, nothing major turned up. A few dollars here and there. But then came the big surprise: an unclaimed paycheck and a utility deposit refund that together totaled more than $6,500.

Jake was stunned. “It felt like digging through sand and suddenly hitting something solid,” he said. “Like, wait a minute—this isn’t just a game. This is real money.”

What made it sweeter was how personal the discovery felt. Unlike a lottery win, Jake realized this was his money all along, waiting to be reclaimed. He used part of it to upgrade his camping gear and tucked the rest into savings for his next big adventure.

💵 What to Do with Found Money:

🏦 Reward yourself – Upgrade your hobby gear or fund that next adventure.
💰 Invest smarter – Funnel part of it into a side-hustle or long-term savings.
✈️ Travel better – Use cash plus rewards to fund your bucket list trip.
🏧 Save smarter – Build a “treasure chest” emergency fund that keeps you secure.

📣 My Take…

A Treasure Hunter like James realizes that the journey is half the fun. Searching state databases can feel like a modern-day scavenger hunt—with the potential for a real payout at the end.

The truth is, many people dismiss unclaimed property searches as “not worth the time.” But as Jake’s story shows, persistence pays off. And the more you dig—using old addresses, nicknames, or even business names—the better your odds of finding something surprising.

🗞️ In The News…

Colorado’s Treasurer’s Office reports it has returned more than $500 million in unclaimed property over the past decade. Nationally, there’s over $70 billion waiting to be claimed. Some of it is small checks, but some are massive payouts—stocks, insurance policies, and forgotten accounts.

The hunt is real, and the treasure is out there.

Click here to get details about the Colorado unclaimed money program

💵 This Week’s Personal Finance Hack: Credit Cards for Adventurers

Treasure hunters aren’t just about finding money—they’re about making the most of it. That’s where the right credit card comes in:

• Travel rewards cards – Turn every purchase into miles or hotel points for your next adventure.

• Cashback cards – Fund your treasure hunts with 2–5% back on everyday spending.

• Protection perks – Cover gear purchases with extended warranties or purchase protection.

Why stop at finding treasure when you can make your money work harder every time you spend it?

👉 Reader Challenge: Think like a Treasure Hunter. Search every state you’ve ever lived in, under every name or address you’ve ever used. You might be sitting on hidden treasure without even knowing it.