2011 Found Money

[phred52]

DH found a wallet full of cash/credit cards/drivers license in the local grocery store parking lot in the child seat of a cart. He waited by that cart for a while but eventually went home with the wallet to google the name. He called. Got the wife as her DH was still shopping, didn't realize he'd lost his wallet. They met up back in that parking lot 20 minutes later. Turned out the wallet belonged to an absentminded local policeman.

Years ago at Christmas time I went to the bank and cashed a 2 week paycheck putting ALL that cash into a recycled envelope which had my DM's name and address on it. I proceeded to drop the stuffed envelope and kept going, never realizing I'd lost all my money. Meanwhile my DM got a phone call, the envelope with her name/address on it including ALL THE $$$ was turned into the bank !!! I never did find out the name of the good Samaritan who turned it in.

 

[QVCshopper]

I think this thread has turned into a moral debate. Pretty sure the OP and I were talking about finding loose change on the ground (found 2 dimes and 5 pennies today, btw, and picked it all up... heads or tails, most in parking lots as I walked inside). And all money is filthy, and no, you don't know where it's been. I even tracked everything I found one month on the no-buy thread, and usually average about $5 in small change every month.

Of course most people would turned money in with names attached, in wallets, etc. My dad and I used to go metal detecting and returned lost wedding rings and such years after the person lost it swimming in a lake (we went when it was dredged). We even returned a wallet we found at the high school, and the mother of the girl acted like we had stolen it.

For the few times I've found dollar bills, yes, I've kept them if no one was around... I have handed many things back to people if they dropped it. Maybe next time I will give my name to the closest place found, but I won't be handing over the amount. And believe me, we are talking about maybe $50 in my 35 years of life.

 

[Swmr359]

I find money a lot while I'm out running, usually just one coin at a time. A few months ago I found 50 pennies while I was adding air to my tires at the gas station!
It all adds up.

 

[cats mom]

Cats Mom, not sure what you mean about unclaimed money after 30 days having to be processed through the registers with a certain code, but that's all the more reason that I would report the found money w/contact phone # and keep it myself until----- Why should it go in the coffers of the store?? I would absolutely return it to the person that it belonged to because I am honest, but only to them - just my take. Now, of course, as a PP said, if it were a very large amount, would take it to the police station and leave my contact info.

Yes, UNCLAIMED money was processed through the registers. But if the person who found and turned the money/item in asked to be notified if the original owner never claimed it, and if they wanted to come back and pick it up after the 30 day waiting period, that was fine too. We would gladly give it to them... in which case it wouldn't be unclaimed.

I just think it's probably easier for the person who lost the money/item if it's kept in the same general location that they lost it, especially if it's at a business so they can pick it up at their leisure instead of trying to track down the person who found it, set up a meeting time and place, worry about offering a reward, etc. JMHO

QVCshopper, this is the Dis boards... threads take all kinds of turns, both expected and unexpected.

 

[MineMail]

Yes, UNCLAIMED money was processed through the registers. But if the person who found and turned the money/item in asked to be notified if the original owner never claimed it, and if they wanted to come back and pick it up after the 30 day waiting period, that was fine too. We would gladly give it to them... in which case it wouldn't be unclaimed.

I've worked in retail operations for years and that's the standard procedure: log it, get the finder's name & address. If no one claims it and the finder doesn't want it (we called after the 30 days were up), it had to be rung through the register.

I just think it's probably easier for the person who lost the money/item if it's kept in the same general location that they lost it, especially if it's at a business so they can pick it up at their leisure instead of trying to track down the person who found it, set up a meeting time and place, worry about offering a reward, etc. JMHO

ITA

I think the OP's idea is interesting and harmless; no criticism about salvaging lost coins. I was just expressing MHO about pocketing $20's and $50's.

 

[Lucky4me]

Some of these replies are reminding me of the time I lost 3-$100 bills.

It was 28 years ago, the week before Christmas. I had a great night waiting tables and walked out with about $400, including the 3 bills.

The next day, I left the house in a pretty bad snow storm to go toy shopping for the kids and grocery shopping for the week. I hit Toys R Us and shopped for an hour. Got to the check out and went to get the money from my purse. Some of it was there, but the $100's? GONE.

I freaked out and left everything there. Drove home and couldn't face going in the house. I sat in my car and cried because I knew I had those bills in my purse when I walked out of the house. I figured I lost it in the parking lot at the store and someone must have picked it up. Merry Christmas to them.

All of a sudden, I look over a few back yards away from ours and spotted something dark against the snow on a chain link fence. I saw THREE dark green things plastered and fluttering against the fence! I stumbled through the snow and sure as s***, there they were. One more inch, they would have been over the fence and I would not have seen them.

It was a dang Christmas miracle and still strikes terror in my heart when I think about it. That money was not only our Christmas, but our heat bill for the month and groceries too.

I learned my lesson that day and I never leave cash in my purse unless it's in a wallet and also zippered in several compartments.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Not only found money but found coupons as well. DH laughed at me this past week because I picked up a coupon in the Home Depot parking lot. It was a catalina from Meijer for $20 off a new prescription. DH was just at the doctor the week before Christmas and got the new prescriptions for his blood pressure medication. After I asked him if he'd pass up a $20 bill laying in the street, he admitted that I wasn't so crazy after all.

I just found $45 in coupons someone left in at the self check register Catalina at Meijer. I was a happy, happy girl.

 

[bpesch]

I started saving my quarters for our upcoming Disney trip. Anytime I had a quarter it went right into the piggy bank. I never missed them and after 8 months I had over $120. That's $120 from money I never even noticed I was saving. I'm still in the habit of putting the quarters in the piggy, it's an easy habit to get into and it sure does add up!

 

[rosanne91]

went to the bank on Wednesday. Cashed in all of my change from the past year. Total: 282.80

 

[daughtersrus]

I just found $45 in coupons someone left in at the self check register Catalina at Meijer. I was a happy, happy girl.

WOW! That must have been one of the "rebate" coupons for buying an Ipod, Wii or something else. I often find other coupons at the self check out but nothing that large. The funny thing about the Rx coupon was that it was in the parking lot at Home Depot. Same side of the street but a few blocks down.

 

[DisMN]

I am curious. Do you live or work in a city? Do you walk to work or walk to lunch? Is this just from parking lots walking into stores? How about in the winter? Still walking & still finding?

I have to drive everywhere because we live in the country. Only walking is from car to store. And I don't do all that much shopping.

Inspiring though. I think I will start doing this. Sounds fun!
I did find $12 on the ground at a State Fair one time. No one around. I looked around. No one looking for anything. We sat nearby to eat & never saw anyone come back to look for any lost items. So I kept it.

You know that was a good question and I sat on it for a while thinking about the difference it would make if I didn't walk walk walk...I walk several miles a day, when I can outdoors and when it's crappy out I mall-walk. I find coinage everywhere I go!
Today for example I was buying a few groceries at Target, and in the checkout line I found 2 pennies just laying there. Then a man standing right next to me in line dropped a dime and two more pennies...and left them laying there!!
Got a bit more exercise and bent down to pick those up. In the exit area there was a quarter just laying there with people walking over it again and again. Picked that one up too.

Now with the 1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s I've found it depends where I find them what I do with them. I generally hold the money openly in my hand and keep an eye out for someone who seems to be lost and looking for something. It's pretty obvious when it's bigger bills. LOL
I've returned plenty of money to it's rightful owner but if I don't find the owner I don't stew about it and I sleep ok at night.

Anything bigger than a $5 I write down my name and phone number and give it to whomever seems to be in charge wherever I am. I don't say how much I found but just that I found money and if someone reports that they lost money they can contact me. I've returned a $50 and a $100 bill this way. I love doing that, the people are always so grateful!

 

[Lily & Giny's Mom]

Sometimes I even say it outloud and hold it up for anyone w/ me to see. It's as if I really think it will bring luck. Silly, I know. But, I only pick it up if it's heads up. If it's tails up I turn it over so the next silly person who comes along has good luck.

As for being able to tell if someone is shifty just by looking at them (as in the quote below) I hope I am misunderstanding your quote.

I've worked in Retail for many years and most good stores like JC Penney have honest employees who wouldn't steal the money. Would I turn it in at a seedy place with shifty-looking employees? Probably not - I'd look for another business. I worked for a dry cleaner who was as honest as the day is long and that really helped me become more honest.

If you really feel so distrustful of stores, turn it in at a police station. They have to log it, give you a receipt and handle the "how much was it? What did the bracelet look like?" questioning. If no one claims it, it's yours after x number of days.

I don't think the "give this note to someone who comes looking for money" approach works at all. You make it inconvenient for the Loser (no insult intended) to get their money back on a timely basis. Store clerks aren't known for being communication specialists. As soon as the shift changes, no one would know anything about someone having found money. The note is probably tossed within a day and you're probably counting on it so you can keep the money.

I don't think God would want you to keep $1200 cash or the $20 you found on the ground outside the ATM. That's my opinion, but if you're going to play the religion card, the door swings both ways. No coveting or stealing allowed.

By the same token, people who carry thousands of dollars in brown bags and accidentally throw away/lose them should reconsider their options. There are much better ways to manage money.

 

[gator75]

I found a dime yesterday in a parking lot. We save our change so it's better then nothing

 

[MineMail]

As for being able to tell if someone is shifty just by looking at them (as in the quote below) I hope I am misunderstanding your quote.

It depends - if your definition of "shifty" is racist or discriminatory, then you are absolutely off-base. I've come across shifty people from all walks of life. If you feel like the person would cheat you and not lose sleep over it, that's my definition.

 

[beaucoup]

You know that was a good question and I sat on it for a while thinking about the difference it would make if I didn't walk walk walk...I walk several miles a day, when I can outdoors and when it's crappy out I mall-walk. I find coinage everywhere I go!
Today for example I was buying a few groceries at Target, and in the checkout line I found 2 pennies just laying there. Then a man standing right next to me in line dropped a dime and two more pennies...and left them laying there!!
Got a bit more exercise and bent down to pick those up. In the exit area there was a quarter just laying there with people walking over it again and again. Picked that one up too.

Now with the 1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s I've found it depends where I find them what I do with them. I generally hold the money openly in my hand and keep an eye out for someone who seems to be lost and looking for something. It's pretty obvious when it's bigger bills. LOL
I've returned plenty of money to it's rightful owner but if I don't find the owner I don't stew about it and I sleep ok at night.

Anything bigger than a $5 I write down my name and phone number and give it to whomever seems to be in charge wherever I am. I don't say how much I found but just that I found money and if someone reports that they lost money they can contact me. I've returned a $50 and a $100 bill this way. I love doing that, the people are always so grateful!

Thanks for replying. Perhaps I need to start doing more shopping to start finding more.