23 of the Most Creative Ways to Give Money

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 for 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 (or faux book would be fun too!) 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 money gift box

Turn a Kleenex box into a money gift box and attach a note that reads, “Don’t blow it all in one place!” Get the free “Don’t blow it all in one place” printable at C.R.A.F.T.

15. Maze cube

This is not a DIY, but it’s fun! Grab a cube maze (or 6!) and fill with any amount of cash. The recipeient has to complete the maze to get the cash out. Here’s the best deal on puzzle gift boxes.

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, coins or gift cards inside:

• Coin counting jar (Love this idea for kids!)
•  Brain teaser gift card holder
• Dictionary safe with combination lock
• Insulated water bottle with secret compartment for money

Do you have any other ideas about how to give cash creatively? I’d love to hear…