Are you looking for creative ideas for gifting cash to avoid the old money in an envelope cliche? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together our top 9 ideas for gifting cash and fun ways to present money as a gift. Whether you’re looking to surprise a family member, a friend, a partner, or whoever, check out our top guide for our most creative ways to gift money.
9 Creative Ideas for Gifting Cash
Whether you’re good at arts and crafts, love DIY, or are looking for something easy and quick to put together, our recommendations will surely help you with your creative block.
#1 Money Notepad
If you’re good at DIY and have time to devote to a project, consider making a money notepad. To make one, you’ll need a few materials, including:
- Stack of bills
- A piece of cardboard
- Small glue brush and padding compound
- Paper trimmer
- Two small binder clips
For this project, make sure you’re using crisp dollar bills and cutting out the cardboard backing to fit their size. Then, line the bills precisely, ensuring none are crooked or stick out, and clamp the left side of the stack with your binder clips.
For the padding compound, you’ll need to add a thin first coat, after which you’ll have to add at least five more. Once that’s done, allow the compound to dry out totally and that’s pretty much it.
These cash notepads can make great gifts for any occasion and any person in your life, but tweens and teens seem to love them most.
#2 Secret Book Money
Depending on the person you’re gifting the money to, their age, and interests, find a good book for them. If you’re hoping the money gift will spark an interest in finance, we recommend picking up a good investing book for kids and teens.
Once you have the book you want, hide a crisp bill or a few somewhere inside it. You don’t have to tell the recipient what it’s inside, so once they get to the page with the money on it, it’ll be a great little surprise.
#3 Cash-Filled Tissue Box
Another one of our ideas for gifting cash is hiding it inside a tissue box. For this particular project, you won’t need many materials. All you need is a tissue box, some painter’s tape, and a few dollar bills.
Then, take out all the tissues from the box, stick the dollar bills together with painter’s tape, and gently fold them in. Once the recipient goes for a tissue, they’ll be in for quite a shock.
#4 First-Aid Emergency Cash Kit
The first-aid emergency cash kit is an excellent gift for the teenager or student in your life. All you need to do is get an emergency first-aid kit, empty it out, and fill it with cash or gift cards. Of course, you don’t have to take all of the contents out, as the first aid kit might actually be useful to them, too.
#5 Confetti Money Balloons
If you’re looking for creative ideas for gifting cash that are charming and whimsical – almost nothing beats confetti money balloons. For your supplies, you’ll need clear, 16-inch balloons, light confetti, a funnel, a helium tank, and the money you plan on gifting.
The first thing to do is loosely roll the dollar bills and put three or four inside the clear balloon. Then, using the funnel, add confetti to the balloon, and fill the balloon with helium. However, when you’re doing this, make sure to fill it to the max with helium so that it can still fly with the money inside.
Then, tie all the balloons up, and a string and watch the joy on people’s faces when they get a balloon filled with cash.
#6 Personalized Cash Box
If you’re looking for creative cash gift ideas, a personalized cash box might just be what you’re looking for. Putting cash, coins, and even gift cards inside a cash box or piggy bank is a tried and true gift idea that works for all ages.
However, if you want to go one step further, you can make or purchase a personalized box in the shape of the recipient’s initials with a see-through front. You can fill it with candy, dollar bills, gift cards, and much more.
#7 Money Tree
A great birthday gift or wedding gift idea is getting someone a money tree. There are a few ways you can go about it, depending on whether you want to make it or buy it. If you’re going the DIY route, just get a small, plastic tree, roll up a few dollar bills, and place them around the tree.
On the other hand, you can also get a money tree holder with lights and different features. On that money tree, you’ll be able to clip dollar bills, gift cards, and more.
#8 Cash in a Can
If you’re looking for a fun little gag gift and an amusing way to surprise your loved ones with cash – consider something as simple as a can. Get a pop-top can and open it from the bottom, ensuring you’re not leaving any sharp edges. Pour the contents of the can into a different container and carefully rinse it without getting the label wet.
Then, tape your dollar bills together in a row using removable double-sided tape, and tape a tag on them that says “Pull.” You can add more things into the can in addition to the cash, but some ribbon or tissue paper might do the trick.
Once you’ve put all the dollar bills or gift cards inside, place the bottom piece of the can back on and secure it with hot glue or superglue. That’s pretty much it, your gag gift is all ready to go!
#9 The Gift of an Investment
For a gift that keeps on giving, you can consider making more out of your cash with an investment. It’s one of the most unique ideas for gifting cash and it’s a present that can have a long-lasting impact.
Of course, choosing the type of investment you make and the amount you want to invest are all up to your personal preferences. However, it’s a gift idea that can gain value in time, not lose it, as most regular presents do.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s a birthday gift, a wedding gift, an anniversary present, or a fun pick-me-up you’re looking for – any of these ideas for gifting cash should do. When thinking of creative ways to give money as a present, make sure to do something that reflects the recipient’s personality, age, and interests.
If you’re looking for gift ideas for a child, consider giving the best gift of them all – financial literacy. With BusyKid, kids can learn, grow, and enjoy the best financial lessons in an engaging and fun way.
With many useful features and the BusyKid Spend Card* to boot, giving your kids the gift of the BusyKid app is something that they’ll never forget.
To get started and explore all the features, download the BusyKid app!
* BusyKid Debit Card is issued by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa®️ USA Inc. Cliq® is registered ISO/MSP of MVB Bank, Inc. All cardholders funds are insured by the FDIC in accordance with the FDIC’s applicable terms and conditions. For more information about your card terms and conditions including the VISA Zero Liability policy go here. Cliq®️️ is registered ISO/MSP of MVB Bank, Inc.
