Who doesn’t enjoy receiving money as a gift, but handing someone a card with a $20 dollar bill inside seems so… boring. With a little extra effort and a dose of creativity you can make giving cash fun again! Here are 23 creative ways to give money for Christmas, graduations, birthdays or any occasion. Many of these ideas can double as clever ways to give gift cards too!
23 Creative Ways to Give Money
Are you looking for cute ideas to giving money? You can turn almost any object into a creative way to give money with a little thought. Toilet paper, balloons, Play-Doh, and Pez dispensers are just a few fun ways to give money on this list. And everyone loves the gift of money!
1. Balloon pop
This creative cash giving method involves a wrapped gift and balloon popping, how much more fun does it get? Fill balloons with cash, notes, or even lottery tickets! Money balloons are the perfect gift for all ages and occasions! See all of the details on giving cash in balloons at C.R.A.F.T.
2. Toilet paper
This is the perfect cash giving option for 2020, ha! Bonus: it’s so easy to put together and useful! Add a twenty to the center of a toilet paper roll with a note that reads “Just in case you get crap for Christmas, use this!”
3. Play “Dough”
And some extra “Dough” to a container of Play Doh for a gift that is sure to be enjoyed! Check out this post on C.R.A.F.T. for more details on how to give cash in Play-Doh.
4. The best kind of Pez-ent
Cash and candy? Yes, please! Check out C.R.A.F.T. for more details about giving cash in a Pez Dispenser.
5. Jolly jar
For a creative way to gift cash or a gift card consider hiding it in a mason jar filled with red Jolly Ranchers. Simply fill a mason jar with candy and hide the gift card inside. Add a sweet handmade tag that says, Wishing you a holly jolly Christmas!
6. Embroider a canvas
Here’s another creative, not as simple way to hide a gift card. Embroider a canvas with a silly message and attach the gift card to the back side. For all of the details about how to embroider a canvas post.
7. Santa box
As long as you have access to a printer, this is a super cute money gift box! You can stuff Santa’s belly with money, gift card or even chocolate. Download and print the free printable pillow box here.
8. Box of chocolate
I want to be there when little Johnny opens this chocolate box! Fill each empty wrapper with coins or bills for a fun surprise. See all of the details on Life as a mom.
9. Holiday dough
10. Peppermint rolls
11. Scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts make any present or gift card way more fun to give and receive. I’ve created clue game scavenger hunts for kids and adults. For really young kids, I always make clues with pictures and for adults I make up silly rhymes. Here’s way to much information about preparing scavenger hunt clue games on C.R.A.F.T. (Here’s another post about scavenger hunt games for any age!)
12. Gingerbread dough
This gingerbread “dough” and poem are such a clever way to give cash. The poem reads:
Gingerbread man with yummy icing
are oh so good and extremely enticing.
I set out to make a dozen or two,
but ran out of time. Oh what do I do?
So instead of the cookies I tied a bow.
It’s your own personal serving of holiday dough!
(Oringially found on Heart and soul scrappers.)
13. Secret book money
Hide a crisp $20 bill in a good book. Freakanomics, C.R.A.F.T., Guns, Germs, and Steel, or Where the Crawdads Sing are a few good options. A cook book or an adult coloring book could be perfect for the right person too! The hard part is not telling the recipient. Just let the recipient find the hidden treasure as they flip through the book. I promise they will be excited. It is like finding hidden money in your winter coat pocket!
14. Tissue box
Turn an empty Kleenex box into a money box and attach a note that reads, “Don’t blow it all in one place!” Thanks for the genius idea Lovezilla.
15. Paper bag pocket
16. Emergency money
Here’s a funny way to wrap a gift card or cash, frame it in glass with an insert that says, “In an emergency break glass!” Image found via Create my Event.
17. Raining money
Who doesn’t love raining money? Whip up this clever way to make cash rain from an umbrella from The Seasonal Home.
18. Pizza “dough”
Pizza is always a good idea, especially when it involves dough!
Origami money
19. Money tree
Who doesn’t want a money tree? Find the complete tutorial over at Then She Made.
20. Origami Christmas tree
The iconic red truck carrying a Chrsitmas tree got a paint job and a grew an origami money tree! This is such a clever way to give money this holiday season. For more details, check out Jacolyn Murphy.
21. Origami money heart
This is a great way to give cash for a graduation. See how to make an origami heart at Homemade gifts.
22. Money lei
A money lei might be the most creative money gift idea I’ve seen! Hop on over to Lil Luna for a detailed tutorial.
23. Dollar bill wallet
Use 2 one dollar bills to create a holder for a gift card or more bacon! Complete tutorial at Crafty Journal.
With Christmas just around the corner, I know this list of creative ways to give money will be super helpful! If you’re looking for more ways to give the gift of cash, but don’t want to DIY, consider buying one of these fun items to hide cash or coins inside:
- Coin counting jar (Love this idea for kids!)
- Dictionary safe with combination lock
- Insulated water bottle with secret money compartment
Do you have any other ideas about how to give cash creatively? I’d love to hear…
Just in case you’re upset over not getting what you wanted for Christmas here’s a box of kleenexes. Love Mom
then I open the bottom of the kleenex box took out the stack up kleenexes and between each one I put a piece of money and then sealed the bottom of the kleenex box. The top had never been opened. When they opened the top there was a kleenex however every other pull was money, $1s, $5s, $2s, $10s, $20s, $50s and the last on was $100.
What a fun idea!!
One year my Dad gave my Mom a brick, the kind with the holes. She wasn’t very happy opening a brick but she also didn’t see the cash rolled up inside each hole. LOL! I’ve done the balloon gift for birthdays and money origami for Christmas and Weddings multiple times. I also made paper firecrackers with a pull here tab with cash. Being creative with a cash gift is always a hit!
This year I am giving the parents a toilet roll, with money in the hole and attached a sign SOUVENIR OF 2020!
Totally enjoyable one!! Thanks a lot!
These are all awesome ideas! Thanks for the inspiration! The one with the balloons is so fun!
Paige
When I became disabled I could not shop but I didn’t want to just hand the kids money I would give them a Christmas card with a clue such as Rudolph was Santa’s number one flyer go look in the washer and ————. When they get to the dryer there would be a card with some money and another clue. They continued to do that until they had found all their money. I used every rhyme I could find over the years. They really enjoyed the hunt!!
That is such an awesome idea! Thanks, I’m going to give it a go.
love the idea. can yo share more of your clues?