This post provided by SavingsAccounts.com.

When you need some quick cash, think twice about turning to payday lenders or booking a flight to Vegas to hit the craps table–neither offers a favorable rate of return.

But if holding a yard sale or getting a second job aren’t in the cards, consider these less conventional (but still legal) ways to rustle up extra cash and pay off your credit card or boost your emergency saving account.

1. Sell books on Amazon

Start with the books and DVDs you have around the house that you don’t want anymore, and list them for sale on Amazon.com. Once you’ve decluttered your own home, turn to other sources, such as family and friends who want to get rid of books, yard sales, thrift stores, and the clearance sections of both new and used bookstores and resell the books and videos on Amazon.

Quick tip: Make sure you know what an item will sell for before purchasing it. Familiarize yourself with the system and selling prices so that you don’t lose money by paying too much.

2. Claim your missing money

Unclaimed or abandoned property can include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, refunds, traveler’s checks, trust distributions, unredeemed money orders or gift certificates (in certain states), insurance payments or refunds and life insurance policies, annuities, certificates of deposit, customer overpayments, utility security deposits, mineral royalty payments, and contents of safe deposit boxes.

Each state has laws that require companies to release unclaimed property to a state official, where it’s held until the owner is located. To check to see if you have unclaimed property, contact your state’s unclaimed property office.

3. Sell your hair

Yes, it’s unusual, but it can be lucrative, as well, especially if you have long, untreated hair. The hair is used to make wigs or extensions. In a CNN interview, Marlys Fladeland of Hairwork.com said most hair is sold for about $300 to $900, though some have made more than $1,000 for their locks.....