c/hidden-cash-hunts

Six months of searching for hidden cash finally paid off at a park bench

I've been doing this hidden cash thing for like three years now on and off, mostly just finding crumpled dollar bills or the occasional Starbucks gift card with like a buck left. But last Tuesday I was walking through that little park near Oak and 5th, the one with the duck pond, and I saw a corner of a ziploc bag poking out from under a bench. I almost didn't bother because it looked like trash, but I pulled it out and there was a crisp $50 bill inside with a note that just said 'keep looking up'. $50 is the biggest single find I've ever had and it's got me hooked all over again. Has anyone else stumbled on a bigger amount like that just sitting out in plain sight?

That $50 gift card I found in a park bench turned out to be empty

I found a Starbucks gift card tucked under the armrest of a bench at Riverside Park last Tuesday, looked untouched. Got all excited, went to load it into my app at the counter, and it came back with a zero balance. Anyone else run into fake cards left as a trick or something?

I finally swapped between two hiding spots after a bad streak

So I've been doing the hidden cash thing for about 8 months now in Portland. I used to always stash envelopes under the same park bench near the river because it was easy to remember. But I kept hearing on this forum that people were getting wise to the usual spots. Last week I made myself change it up and put one behind a loose brick in the wall by the old library instead. I was nervous nobody would look there since it's a bit off the path. Turns out a mom and her kid found it within 2 hours and posted a thank you note. Now I'm second guessing my old bench spot completely. Has anyone else had luck switching to a more hidden location even when the old one seemed fine?

Saw a $50 bill taped to a park bench at noon in Denver...

By the time I walked back from grabbing coffee 5 minutes later, someone had already snagged it. How fast do you guys usually move on these finds?

Snagged a $50 bill at Target only to have some guy try to claim it was his

I found a $50 bill tucked under a bag of dog food at the Target on Main Street last Tuesday. This guy in a blue polo walks up and says, "Oh hey, I think that fell out of my pocket." I looked at him and asked what he dropped it for, and he just shrugged. I told him the bill was still crisp and folded, no way it was on the floor long. He just walked off without another word. Has anyone else had someone try to pull a fast one on a find like that?

My big change with hunting hidden cash since last summer

Used to check under benches and planters near the mall entrance. Always found coins, maybe a dollar. But last August I started checking behind trash cans and under parked cars by the bus station. Found a $50 gift card to a diner tucked under a soda machine. Now I focus on less obvious spots where people drop stuff by accident. Anyone else change where they look and get better results?

The difference between finding cash in a park vs a parking lot is night and day

I used to hunt for hidden cash in parks all the time, and I'd maybe score $5 or a Starbucks card every few weeks if I was lucky. Then I switched to checking parking lots at strip malls near the dumpsters and under shopping carts, and suddenly I'm finding $20 bills and unopened gift cards like every other Tuesday morning. The change happened over about 3 months when I realized people toss stuff out their car windows or drop things in parking lots way more than they hide it in grass or bushes. Last week alone I pulled a $50 Target card from under a cart at the Home Depot lot near me. Has anyone else noticed a spot that's way better than the usual hiding places?

Wasted $40 chasing a fake 'cash drop' tip

Saw a post about hidden cash at a park near downtown. Drove 20 minutes, parking cost $8. Searched for over an hour under benches and by the fountain. Nothing. Turns out the original poster was just trolling. Anyone else follow a lead that was totally fake?

Is it ethical to keep cash you find in a store parking lot vs turning it in? Let me explain what happened to me last Thursday.

That one guy who left a $50 bill in a library book

Honestly, back in 2018 I was browsing the free book shelf at the downtown public library in Austin. I picked up this old copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and a $50 bill fell out. There was a note tucked inside that said 'Pass this on to someone who needs it more than me.' I never found out who left it, but it stuck with me. I ended up giving it to a homeless guy sleeping near the library entrance the next day. He smiled and said 'God bless you, I can get a hot meal now.' That moment felt more valuable than the cash itself. Has anyone else found money hidden in something weird like a book or a park bench?

The weirdest thing I learned about finding free gift cards at grocery stores

So I was digging around on a forum about receipt scanning apps last week and stumbled on this stat that blew my mind. Apparently something like 60% of those Visa gift cards people buy as presents never get fully used up because they lose the card or forget the balance. I started checking the little kiosk near the checkout at my local Publix in Marietta where people dump their old cards. Last Tuesday I found one with $12.47 still on it just sitting in the slot. Has anyone else tried looking through those card drop boxes?

Finally cracked the code on those sidewalk taped envelopes downtown

I kept seeing people walk right past the obvious spots like park benches or light poles. Last week some guy missed a $5 taped under a mailbox because he was too busy checking behind a trash can. I noticed the patterns the local hider uses, they always pick spots with a clear sight line from the bus stop. Found three envelopes in one afternoon once I figured that out. Anyone else notice a specific hiding style in their neighborhood?

Found a $50 bill inside a library book and almost got accused of stealing it

I was at the public library in Portland last Thursday, just flipping through an old gardening guide for fun. When I opened it up, a crisp $50 bill fell right out onto the table. I was so stoked I almost yelled, but then this older librarian walked over and said 'that belongs to the library, you know.' I was like, what? She said any cash found in library property goes to their donation fund. I told her I found it inside a book, not on the floor, so technically it was a gift from whoever left it there. We went back and forth for a solid 5 minutes until a younger librarian backed me up saying it's a common hidden cash thing. I ended up donating $10 of it to their summer reading program just to keep the peace. Has anyone else run into a situation where someone tried to claim your find was theirs?

Just realized those $20 bills in parking lots are usually fake

Was pumped when I spotted a $20 by a gas pump last week. Tried to use it at the store and the cashier pointed out the watermark was just printed on. Watch for the color shifting strip.

Scored $40 in a park bench cushion, but the guilt is eating me alive

Found two twenties stuffed in a ripped cushion at Jefferson Park last Saturday. Part of me thinks someone hid it and forgot, but another part keeps wondering if some broke mom lost her grocery money. You ever find cash and feel worse about it than if you'd found nothing at all?

Tried that $20 hidden cash magnet trick in Denver and it actually paid for itself in one afternoon

I was always skeptical about buying those strong magnets to check behind vending machines for dropped bills. Last week I finally grabbed a 50lb pull magnet from Harbor Freight for like $18 and hit up the Gas n Go on Colfax. Found two crumpled $5s and a soggy $20 in under an hour. Has anyone else tried this or is it just dumb luck in your experience?

I keep seeing people grab gift cards left under benches without checking the balance first

The last three posts in here showed someone finding a Starbucks or Amazon card, but they didn't actually verify if any money was left on it. I almost made the same mistake last week at a park in Austin until my buddy pulled out his phone and scanned the barcode to check first. How many of you actually test the balance before running to the store?

A stranger's note completely changed how I check for hidden cash

I was going through my usual routine of scanning park benches and payphone coin returns, but I kept coming up empty. Then I found a note taped to a library shelf that said 'Stop looking at the easy spots, check under loose bricks and behind drainpipes.' I figured it was a prank, but I tried their advice under a planter near the coffee shop and found a $5 bill rolled up tight. Now I focus on the places no one thinks to check, and I've pulled in about $30 in the last month. Anyone else ever get a tip from a random note that paid off?

Scored $50 in a park bathroom and everyone thinks I'm lying

Last Tuesday I found a $50 bill taped behind the toilet paper dispenser at Redwood City park restroom. People keep saying it's gross or fake but I bought lunch with it and the cashier took it no problem. Anyone else find cash in weird spots people think are made up?