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Ready to hit pay dirt? Here are a few places to start digging:

1. In your pockets, between the sofa cushions, underneath your car seat, in old purses. It's just spare change, but the average American handles $600 in loose change a year, according to statistics from the U.S. Mint and Coinstar Inc. (makers of those coin-counting machines at supermarkets that made the tiresome chore of counting and rolling spare change obsolete). If you emptied your pockets faithfully into a container each night for a year, that's about what you'd have--enough for a weekend getaway. Coinstar also estimates that $7.7 billion worth of coins are out of circulation, collecting dust in coffee cans and giant Coke bottles. So if you can spare upwards of $600, just leave it them. If not, call supermarkets around town or click on to www.coinstar.com to find a counting machine near you.

2. In your closet or attic. Bored with that bureau? Finished with that Fendi bag? Cash in on your castoffs by selling them through a consignment or resale shop. There are more than 21,000 such stores nationwide. Many specialize, selling only clothing, juvenile items, furniture or home accessories, for example. Understand the stores' policies before doing business with them. Consignment stores contract with you to sell your clothing in return for 20-50 percent of the profit. Generally, you must pick up what doesn't sell within a certain period, or it will be dumped or donated. Resale shops, in contrast, purchase your goods directly. Look in the phone book (try under "resale shops," "consignment service," "clothing bought and sold," "thrift shops" and "vintage clothing stores") for those near you. Then check out the merchandise at several--the store that sells clothing you'd wear is the place to recycle that wardrobe. To make sure your merchandise moves, select items that are seasonally appropriate (holiday things will sell now, for example), clean and in very good condition. Also brand names tend to do better. Confer with shop staff about realistic pricing--generally about 25-50 percent of retail for designer clothing if in perfect condition.

3. In your mortgage. Savvy homeowners who took advantage of historically low interest rates a couple years ago by refinancing are set to save a bundle. However, with rates climbing back toward 9 percent, you may be reluctant to refinance now if you missed out. The good news: There's another often overlooked way to reduce the interest on your home mortgage--and that's by reducing what you owe. Paying a little extra against the principal each year will cut the long-term costs of your loan. You'll pay your mortgage off sooner, saving you thousands in interest--similar to what you'd save if your interest were a percentage point or two lower.

Biweekly mortgage plans, available through most mortgage lenders, are a popular way of doing this. These require the borrower to make a payment every two weeks for a total of 26 payments a year. Total payments are therefore equal to 13 monthly payments, or an additional one each year. Before you sign up, however, be aware that banks usually charge stiff up-front fees as well as service charges for these plans. You can achieve the same goal more cheaply by simply sending in an extra month's payment each year. Be sure to instruct your lender to pay down the principal with this money, and keep a record of the extra payment. To calculate how much you'll save over the life of the loan, talk to your lender.

A couple more points to keep in mind: If you're willing to assume a little more risk for a potentially bigger payoff, consider putting that extra mortgage payment into a good growth mutual fund instead. You're likely to realize a greater return over time than the interest will cost you. Consult with a financial planner or investment adviser to come up with a strategy that makes sense for you. And keep an eye on those interest rates--you don't want to miss your next opportunity to refinance.

4. In your driveway, You held on to your rusty old ride until it died. Now it may cost you more to tow it to the junkyard than it's actually worth in scrap metal. Take heart: You may get some extra mileage out of that hoopty yet in the form of a tax deduction if you donate it to charity. Auto-donation programs, where car owners give vehicles to charities, who in turn sell them to dealers of spare parts, are a booming fund-raising trend. Donating saves you the trouble of finding a buyer for the car and, in the case of an inoperable vehicle, the cost and trouble of towing it: Many charities will pick up the autos.

Before you decide to ditch that Dodge or give your Honda the heave-ho, observe a few caveats. Unless you want to run afoul of Uncle Sam (and risk an audit, loss of the deduction and even penalties), you first need to make sure that the charity is legit. Charity watchdog groups include the National Charities Information Bureau ([212] 929-6300 or www.give.org), The Council of Better Business Bureau's Philanthropic Advisory Service ([703] 276-0100 or www.bbb.org/about/pas.html) and the American Institute of Philanthropy ([301] 913-5200 or www.charitywatch.org).

Also be realistic about the size of the tax deduction you can take. Some solicitors may claim they'll give you a receipt for the full blue-book value of the car, regardless of its condition. But the IRS allows you only the fair market value, so it's up to you--not the charity--to determine what that is and be prepared to document it. In addition to the receipt provided by the charity, it's a good idea to keep a copy of the blue-book value (available at your library) and evidence of the car's condition, such as repair records. If you're claiming a deduction greater than $5,000, be prepared to back that up with a written appraisal.

5. In government coffers. Your state keeps records of "abandoned property"--bank accounts, shares of stock and other assets neglected by their owners, says Mark Tofal, author of Unclaimed Assets: Money the Government Owes You. Nationwide these assets total $300 billion, and some of it may be waiting for you to reclaim it. Sound preposterous? It's easier to lose track of money than you think. People move and forget to notify banks, previous employers, insurance companies, brokerages. Financial records are sometimes lost or destroyed in a fire or flood. You can contact the unclaimed property agency in your state and any other state in which you've lived or worked. Most states have databases you can search on-line--see www.unclaimedassets.com for a link to your state's agency. Be sure to try different versions of your name--your maiden name, married name, with and without middle name or initial and so on--for best results.

6. In your garage. Summer's over--and so is garage-sale season. But now is the perfect time to begin planning yours for next spring. You've got to put away the patio furniture and take the winter clothes out of the attic anyway. So why not begin surveying, selecting and pricing merchandise? Now's also a good time to enlist the neighbors (multifamily sales generate more traffic and income, plus ensure that there are enough workers to handle customers and deter theft). For more planning tips, check out a copy of The Backyard Money Machine by Les R. Schmeltz (Silver Streak). Come spring you'll be busy enough advertising, arranging and selling your merchandise, and best of all--counting your money.