First, couple things:

1. Yes, I'm at the age now where I read Redbook. I am becoming my mother, and I'm quite ok with it.

2. It sounds like a creepy, weird, cheesy horror movie - "The dollars... are hiding... in your house..." <insert creepy dramatic music>

Anyway, turns out if you need an extra few thousand dollars, it's in your couch cushions. And file cabinet. And refrigerator. Here's where to find it:

Loose change, $90: Nickels in the couch cushions? A few quarters fell in the laundry? Dimes and pennies in the junk drawer?  That adds up!

Tax paperwork, $400:  If you're like me, you don't even think about your taxes until April 14th, but save important papers and receipts all year to maximize your return!

Storage unit, $480-1,800 a year:  I know a guy who's paying for a storage unit to keep.... his baseball cards. Seriously. Do some spring cleaning, find storage space in your apartment, and get rid of the rent-a-garage!

Wasted food, $43 a month: Bananas. Leftovers. Bread.  How often have you thrown out those items because they went bad right away?? Buy only what you'll eat, and put the extra grocery money toward savings! Or, ya know, shoes.

Missing receipts, $100 a year:  You know those jeans that made your butt look like you're wearing a diaper, and you swore you'd return them this weekend but they're still crumpled in the bag in your trunk? Yeah... return them.

Credit card bills, $1,116 a year: Honey. I know it's SO easy to just charge your spontaneous Target splurge and say you'll have the money to pay it off next month, and then next month comes and you don't have the money... but don't do this! The interest and late fees add up FAST (trust me, I learned this the hard way when I was 18).

Unused gift cards, $39 each: Aunt Sally picked you for Secret Santa last year, but she only sees you once a year and had NO idea what you'd like, so she panicked and went straight for the gift card rack at Walgreens. You, then, tucked it in a random hidden pocket in your purse and forgot all about it. SPEND IT!  Or I can spend it for you, I'm willing to do that.

My first copy of Redbook! I kind of love it. I'm upgrading from Cosmo!