Home > Newsroom > Newsletters > 11/29/2010

Holiday shopping season is in full swing and the Pennsylvania Treasury is here to help with meaningful gestures and convenient gift options.

Give the children in your life the gift that last a lifetime – financial help with future higher education.  Or shop from the comfort of your own home and browse Treasury’s eBay auction for unclaimed property at www.patreasury.gov. 

A gift they won’t outgrow
Toy catalogs may be glossy and tempting, but this holiday season I urge families to open or contribute to a Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program account for their children.

Research shows that children who have a savings account in their name are seven times more likely to attend college.  This year, show your children how much you believe in them by investing in their future – start or contribute to a Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program account.

And it’s not just parents that can give the gift of education.  Invite family members and friends to contribute to your child’s PA 529 account and they’ll receive great tax benefits like a state tax deduction for contributions and gift tax exclusion. 

Visit PA529.com for more information on how to open or contribute to an account.

Direct from Treasury’s Vault
Each year, Treasury receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property – things like abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, contents of safe deposit boxes.  The tangible property items – jewelry, collectible coins, and medals – are kept in Treasury’s Vault.   If numerous attempts to locate the owner prove futile, the items are appraised and then auctioned on eBay.  The proceeds of the auction are then maintained for the owner to claim. 

Pennsylvania is the only state to have a continuous eBay unclaimed property auction – good news for online shoppers because we are constantly adding new property. The jewelry items and interesting collectibles on our eBay auction make great holiday gifts.  So instead of battling swarms of shoppers or standing in long lines – shop Treasury’s auction and your purchases will come straight from Treasury’s Vault to your front door.

After you shop our holiday eBay collection, find out if you have unclaimed property waiting for you – search our free database also located at www.patreasury.gov.   Roughly one in ten Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property – who knows, a little extra holiday spending money might be waiting for you!

The holidays are certainly a hectic time of year – but Treasury can help you make an investment in your child’s future and cross some holiday shopping off your list.  After all, less time spent on holiday preparation means more treasured time with those we love.