Wouldn’t it be nice if we suddenly found enough cash on the sidewalk to pay our expenses or pay off a bill? Chances are, you won’t find enough pennies on the ground, but if you look elsewhere you may find some cash you didn’t think you had.

While the government does a good job of taking our money, it also is fair enough to offer to give some back. One way is available online to search for any cash you may be owed.

If you, your parents or grandparents ever invested in U.S. savings bonds, those bonds may have gotten lost or destroyed and no one knows the cash value is sitting unclaimed. Series E savings bonds issued between 1941 and 1979 are now worth a minimum of four times their face value. Plus, they are no longer collecting interest, which means they’re prime for withdrawal. If the bonds were issued in 1974 or later, all one needs is a Social Security number of the purchaser to try to find a bond.

Start at http://www.treasuryhunt.gov/ and enter the Social Security number of a relative, or yourself, to see if an old bond is waiting to be redeemed. This website is run by the U.S. Treasury Department. If a bond is found and it is of a deceased relative, the heir can contact the Treasury Department and file a form to claim it.

The downside of claiming the bond is whoever does so will have to pay the tax in the accrued interest.

For individuals who own active bonds still accumulating interest, it would be wise to indicate somewhere in personal files that they exist so heirs know to claim them.

With banks tightening their grip on loans, getting one is requiring more work and vigilance on the borrower’s part. Even people with excellent credit are jumping through hoops to verify everything and avoiding nicks that could give the appearance of being a risky borrower. There are a few strategies to employ that could improve the chances of not only getting a loan but getting a better rate.

One of the obvious ones, beyond paying bills on time, is to not be overextended on credit. Lenders look at how credit is managed, so someone with $10,000 credit limit but owes $9,000 won’t appear as good a borrower as someone who owes only $1,000 of the $10,000 limit. Therefore, it is important to pay down credit before applying for a loan. This can help raise your credit score and get a better rate.

When you do pay down the debt, such as on a credit card, keep the account open to show lenders you have a long credit history and you are responsible by not maxing out every loan you get. Be wary, however, of some creditors who have started reducing credit limits as amounts are paid off. You may need to ask for the limit to be raised, or switch to a new credit card.

Next, verify your credit score every year, or right before you apply for a large loan such as a mortgage, to make sure there is nothing on the report that is inaccurate. While other credit report requests could harm your score, because it indicates you are looking for help often, requesting your own report does no damage to your record. There are three credit bureaus that maintain reports. Request them all through www.annualcreditreport.com. Reports are free once a year. Nearly eight in 10 reports have an error, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups. Be wary of firms that offer free credit reports only after you sign up for another service with a monthly fee.

If you do see a mistake, follow the instructions to dispute the charge. If the mistake was caused by a certain circumstance you feel was not common, also dispute it.

The importance of good credit in our changing economy cannot be overemphasized. Those neglecting their credit are positioning themselves to be shut out of the economy, and at risk of not having a lifeline when times are tough. In addition, those with poor credit also face higher expenses as interest rates, insurance premiums, and rental rates can be higher for those without excellent credit, not to mention employers may shun applicants that do not demonstrate responsible money management.

Make it a point to audit your credit, or hire a financial planner to do so, at least once a year and make managing it a priority in your life. Doing so will eliminate chances of financial disasters.