It's your money; check it out

Do you think forgetting where you left your keys makes you absent-minded?

Bet you wouldn't forget where you left $300.

But that's exactly what thousands of people and businesses who live in, or used to live in, Cape Girardeau and Scott counties have done.

In fact, 15,115 people have collectively abandoned $758,682 in unclaimed assets in varying amounts.

The average amount is $300. Statewide, there is about $220 million unclaimed by 1.6 million people.

The Missouri state treasurer's office collects such unclaimed property, such as cash, checks, stocks, dividends or safe deposit boxes that have been left, either by changing jobs or residences.

The state treasurer's office tries to locate the owners by sending postcards to the owners' last-known Missouri address and running ads once a year in each of the state's 114 counties.

The state holds the money and other items forever. You ought to check out the state's Web site to see if you have a few bucks coming: www.showmemoney.com.

It's a strange world when the state has to work so hard to get people to take money.