In today’s post: Everyone loves receiving cash, but it can feel kind of boring to give. Make your gift more fun with these clever money gift ideas: some are sweet, some are hilarious, and a couple of them are downright devious!
If you’re looking for a unique way to gift money for Christmas, birthdays, or graduation, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve collected 29 creative money gift ideas you can easily put together to make your gift special. Some of these DIY money gift ideas are perfect for kids, and others are better for teens and adults. Enjoy!
Cold Hard Cash
This one is perfect for teens or anyone who could use a little pranking. Fill up a bowl with water and lay a bill on top, then pop it in the freezer for a day or two (layer more water on top if desired). Once it's completely frozen, run warm water over it until it slides out of the bowl, then place it a ziplock bag and store in the freezer until you're ready to gift some cold hard cash!
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Money Pizza
If you want your teenagers to be both excited and confused when they open their gift, give them a pizza! Instead of a real pizza, arrange money inside in the shape of a pizza and attach a note that says “here's some extra dough.” Use double sided tape to secure the bills and coins so they don't move around. PS – ask at your local pizza place to buy a pizza box, they might even give you one for free.
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Money Balloons
Tuck rolled up bills into balloons, then blow them up and wrap them inside a giant box. Make sure to include a note telling the recipient they have to pop the balloons without using their hands, and then get ready for funniest ten minutes you've ever seen.
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Money Christmas Trees
Aren't these money Christmas trees adorable? This is a great way to make a gift of cash feel a little more personal. Idea from Sunny Side Up.
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Punch Out Money Game
Make your own Christmas Punch Out game! Put different amounts of cash in each cup and let the kids take turns punching through to see what they get. Try putting coal in some of the cups instead of money if you're playing with teens or adults.
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Tissue Box Surprise
This gift looks like a plain old box of tissues, but when the recipient pulls the first one out a trail of bills follow! Just remove the tissues from the box and tape the first one to a dollar bill. Line up additional bills and tape them together (painter's tape works well and is easy to remove), then roll them up and place them back in the box. Add a tag saying “Don't blow it all in one place!”
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Puzzle Box
Hiding money inside a cool wooden box is a lot more fun than just handing over some cash. How long will it take the recipient to work out the puzzle and find the hidden treasure?
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Ex-Straw Special Gift
This hidden money gift is, well, a little devious. Does it take a little work to roll dollar bills up small enough for them to fit in straws? Yep. Does it take even more work to figure out how to get them out? Yep! (Pro tip: a wooden skewer makes it easy to push the bills back out of the straws, but you don't have to tell that to the person receiving this gift…)
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Save it for a Rainy Day
This is a cute, creative way to gift money: tape dollar bills to string, then tie the string to the insides of an umbrella. Close it up and add a tag that says: “Save it for a rainy day.” When the recipient opens the umbrella, money with rain down on her!
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Chocolate Box of Money
Replace the candy in a box of chocolate with cash! Fold up different denominations of bills to fit each section. It's fun to add dollar coins and quarters as well. Save the candy for yourself or gift it in a separate box.
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Gloves Surprise Gift
Everyone can use a nice pair of gloves in the winter, but it might not be the most exciting holiday gift…unless you roll up money to slide into each finger! If you roll the bills tightly the recipient won't even notice them until they wear the gloves for the first time.
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Fortune Cookie Money Gift
Grab a package of takeout containers from the craft store and fill them with fortune cookies full of cash! These fortune cookies look just like the real thing but they're made from paper. Idea from Tinged Blue.
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Life Savers Storybook
This fun money gift is based on a favorite Christmas tradition: getting a Life Savers Storybook in your stocking! Wrapping the rolls of candy in cash makes this sweet gift even more fun. Perfect gift idea for nephews and nieces.
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Emergency Cash
Everyone can use some emergency cash! Purchase a shadow box frame and fill it with bills in different denominations. Then add a tag that says: “In case of emergency, break glass.”
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Money Hidden in a Book
For this gift ask yourself: how hard do I want to make it for the recipient to find this money? If “very hard” is the answer, slide bills inside a giant book at random intervals and pretend the book itself is the gift. You might want to ask the person to call you when she finishes reading it!
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Dollar Bill Bouquet
How gorgeous are these flowers made from dollar bills? Pair a couple with real greens for a beautiful bouquet anyone would love to receive. It's not nearly as hard to make as you'd think and it would be perfect for Mother's Day. Idea from LoMac on Instructables.
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Can of Peaches
I'm guessing none of your kids will be super thrilled to receive a can of peaches as a gift, until they pop the top and see what's actually inside. You can turn any pop top can into a fun way to gift cash with our step by step tutorial.
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Money Inside Bag of Candy
Everyone loves getting candy, but a bag of candy with money hidden inside is even more fun! Carefully pull apart one end of the candy bag, insert money, and glue the bag closed. (If there's a seam on the back of the bag, you can make a small slit under the seam and then glue it closed.) The recipient will love their sweets plus an extra treat!
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Money Rosette
Gifting cash just got a whole lot more creative with this money rosette. Give one to a graduate to wear while receiving her diploma, or place one on top of a baby shower gift. Each one takes seventeen dollar bills to make. Instructions from Cathe Holden.
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Play Doh Gift
Play Doh might not seem like the best gift – until the recipient looks inside the container to find a roll of cash! Add a tag that says “thought you'd like some extra dough” and fill the container with rolled up ones, or even a couple larger bills for extra excitement. Idea + tags from What Mommy Does.
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Money Christmas Ornament
Clear plastic ornaments are easy to find at just about any craft store, and they are perfect for holding cash! Add confetti, bells, or other decorations to make them look festive. Hang them up on the tree on Christmas Eve and see how long it takes the kids to notice. Idea from She's Crafty.
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Money DOES Grow on Trees
Fold dollar bills in half, then accordian fold them and tie them in the middle to look like bows. Then hide them all over the Christmas tree, and wrap up a note that says: “Money doesn't grow on trees…or does it?” When kids open the note, they'll figure out they should look for money growing on the Christmas tree.
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Coke + Cash Cake
This gift is perfect for anyone who can't get enough soda! Wrap their favorite cans with dollar bills, then stack them in the shape of a three tiered cake. This would be cute for a wedding gift! From Passion for Savings.
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Money Tree
This money tree is an attractive way to display different bills plus gift cards, notes, photos, or anything else you'd like to include in your gift. It even lights up.
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Hidden Money Gift Jars
Here's another fun way to hide money – it looks like you are giving a mason jar of candy, but there's actually money stashed in a toilet paper roll inside! Idea from My Home Based Life.
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Money Gift Boxes
You can turn dollar bills into adorable little gift boxes! This project is quite a bit simpler than most money origami, but still fun. You could even put more money or a small item like jewelry inside. Instructions from NProkuda Origami.
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Money Cake
Did you know you can buy a kit that lets you hide money inside a cake? This is such a fun money gift idea! Tell the recipient to take off the topper and they'll pull out a string of cash!
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Money Lei
Money Leis are a super fun tradition for graduation! If you use one dollar bills you can make this fun gift for around thirty bucks. Idea from Let's DIY It All.
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Money Wreath
Make giving cash feel more special with a money wreath. These are easy to put together but look so impressive – they even light up! Instructions from Stamp With Tami.
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Sheryl says
If you have the time…I bought a 4-pack of TP from the dollar store. I carefully opened package at the bottom and completely unrolled one roll. I taped $1s end to end and side by side (the width of the roll) I rolled those up and then re-rolled the TP on the roll, carefully placed it back in the package and used double sided tape to secure it, less obviously. It’s funny to see their faces when they open a package of TP. If they remember Covid, you can say you’re just helping them stock up…just in case!! I’ve done the pizza, in case of emergency, the kleenex and umbrella! My nephews have come to expect it from me!
ELIZABETH GIERMAN says
Beautiful and clever ideas! Thank you.
Lorraine says
Great Ideas – Thank You.
Kerra says
Love the umbrella one
Winnie says
these are really cute ideas. my grandchildren are all in their teens and just would like money for their gifts. I’ve run out of creative ideas to make them work for it…these ideas will help a lot. Thx for the help!