I remember the first time I tried to give money as a gift. I was unsure, thinking it might come off as impersonal or lazy. But then I realized, almost everyone I know loves money and would prefer it to most other types of gifts.
I’ve been there, reaching into my wallet, pulling out a couple of bills, and feeling that pang of guilt – is this too impersonal? Too easy? But over time, I’ve learned that it’s not about just handing over the cash, it’s about the thought and creativity behind it.
Tips on How to Give Friends and Family Money as a Gift
Here are some fun and creative ways to give money as a gift that will not only leave the recipient mesmerized by the gift money but also happy that they have some extra cash.
The Money Pull
One of my favorite methods is the ‘Money Pull.’ I remember the first time I tried it, I was a bit nervous about my arts and crafts skills. But trust me, it’s easier than it sounds, and the result is worth it.
Here’s what you’ll need: A ruler, tape, craft knife, gift bag, tissue or some kind of fun stuffing, cutting mat, mini card (specific to the occasion), and, of course, your cash.
This will call for a bit of arts and crafts knowledge. To create a money pull, you are going to need a few things:
- A ruler
- Tape
- Craft knife
- Gift bag
- Tissue or some kind of fun stuffing
- Cutting mat
- Mini card (specific to the occasion)
- Ward of cash
Here’s what you do:
Step 1: Tape the cash together
Start by taping the cash together. Attach the short ends to one another using the tape so you have something that looks like a string of cash. Once that is done, fill out the mini card with a sweet message, seal the envelope, and add something nice on the front. You could say, “Pull for a pleasant surprise.”
Step 2: Tape the cash to the envelope
Now, tape one end of the “string of cash” to one short end of the envelope. Then, roll up the cash so it looks like a string of cash or a toilet paper roll.
Step 3: Make a slit in the gift bag
Using your ruler and craft knife, cut a slit on the side of the gift bag the size of the envelope’s width. The idea is to have the envelope stick out of that slit without it actually falling out. Be sure not to cut through the gift bag. You can use a cutting mat for this part.
Step 4: The presentation
Once you have made the slit and verified that the envelope fits through it perfectly, it’s time for the presentation. Place your roll of cash (attached to the envelope) in the gift bag. Slip half of the envelope through the slit so that the envelope and cash look like a toilet paper roll on the holder.
Test it to see if it works. Pull the envelope through the slit to see if the string of cash follows through seamlessly. If it works, perfect! Put it all back in and finish the presentation by adding some ribbons or decorated tissue paper.
Now, all you have to do is present your gift bag full of cash to the recipient! See, nice, creative, and even fun for you!
The Money Balloon
There are lots of things you can do with balloons to make them a bit more fun. In our case, one of the best and most fun and creative ways to give money as a gift to a loved one is to hide the cash inside balloons. Here are the steps for creating your own money balloons:
- You can get a big gift box and fill it up with beautifully designed balloons.
- Roll up a bill and put one in each balloon.
- Blow up the balloons with the bills inside them.
- Put the balloons in the gift box.
- Wrap it all up in a nice bow.
On the card of your money balloon, leave a loving message, and at the bottom, say, “PS: Pop balloons for a surprise!”
Hopefully, the recipient isn’t freaked out by the loud popping sounds.
The Money Bouquet
Now, I am going to start this off by saying something that might sound a little odd or slightly controversial: this kind of gift is best for the people in your life who love to post things on Instagram or TikTok.
The Money Bouquet is quite simple; it’s like a flower bouquet but laced with money. Here’s what you do:
- Get a flower bouquet (anything from roses to lilies).
- Fill that bouquet out with bills folded like funnels.
That’s it! That’s the money bouquet. The beauty of this is that if you want the bouquet to appear bigger than it really is, you don’t have to put in more bills (unless you want to). All you have to do is put in more flowers!
It’s a sweet way to give money to a loved one, especially if the relationship is romantic. Not a fan of the money bouquet? You can apply the same concepts and create a money wreath or money rosette.
Birthday Bills Bonanza
If you have a loved one’s birthday coming up and you have no idea what to get them, you can take advantage of this trick and just give the gift recipient some cold hard cash. Here’s what you’ll need for this monetary gift:
- Birthday card
- Money
- Ribbons
Find them a nice birthday card and write something sweet on it. Take the dollar bills, roll them up so they look like little candles, and then tape them to the back of the birthday card. Use the ribbon to cover the tape. Tie it all up in a nice little bow and present it to the birthday boy or girl.
Money Photo Album
This works if the person you are gifting is a close friend with whom you share lots of memories and, most importantly, pictures. Print out a few of your most iconic or epic pictures together and put them all in a physical album (Google Photos won’t work here).
Now, instead of filling up all the album slots with pictures of you guys (no matter how awesome they are), put folded bills in some of them. You can alternate them as often as you want, depending on how much you want to spend.
Money Grows on Trees
There’s one way to prove that “money grows on trees” while giving your loved ones the chance to believe that money really does grow on trees. The trick is to get them a houseplant. Something nice, like a spider plant or a pathos. Better yet, get them one of those Japanese bonsai trees (although they do require a bit of work).
Now, the trick is to turn some of those leaves into money by wrapping a few banknotes around them. It’s a money tree! It’s sort of like the money bouquet but with a houseplant.
A Piggy Bank
Yes, I’m talking about an actual piggy bank. If you are gifting a child, money is always an excellent option. Not only does it make them feel a bit grown up, but it also gives them the freedom to buy whatever they want. It’s also a great incentive to save up money for something big they want later.
Anyway, a good way to gift a child money is to give them an actual piggy bank. The difference here is that you will have already put some money inside the piggy bank to get them started on their savings journey.
Note: This gift works best with children, and it is a fun way to teach them how to save money.
A Crypto Gift Card
This is probably the simplest and least controversial way to give someone money as a gift. Several cryptocurrency websites have gift cards you can actually buy and send to someone. The best part about this is that you can pass it off as an investment. You would have to choose the right cryptocurrency, though.
Most of them increase and decrease in value almost at random, but if you choose the right one and your loved one keeps the cryptocurrency you gift them for some time, that gift card could actually increase in value.
Besides, it’s a nice way to introduce your loved ones to cryptocurrency and the immense opportunities that space presents.
Want to give regular gift cards instead of crypto or cash? We have a bunch of creative ways to give gift cards for Christmas and other special occasions.
Factors to Consider Before Giving Money as a Gift
Even though giving a loved one money as a gift makes all the sense in the world, the social conventions surrounding it are still quite unclear. Yes, gifting money often feels impersonal, and like you didn’t put much thought into it, or worse yet, you forgot to get them a present and just resorted to money.
But if you think about it, money is one of the most thoughtful gifts out there. Do you know that 34% of Americans return gifts every year? These are all people who probably didn’t like what someone put some thought into getting them as a gift or simply preferred something else.
You see, had you simply given them the money, they would have just spent it on something they actually wanted. Doesn’t that just make life simpler?
Most of us can agree that gifting money should be the go-to option on a special occasion. As such, let’s look at the acceptable etiquette surrounding the idea of money gifts.
- Don’t overspend: Only give what you can comfortably afford. You don’t have to “make it rain” $100 bills if your bank account or conscience doesn’t allow it.
- Consider the relationship: Not everyone is going to appreciate receiving cash as a gift. The kind of people who love cash as a gift are either young people who love the freedom it gives them or people who are still paying off huge debts like student loans. Your spouse won’t appreciate receiving an envelope full of $20 bills on her birthday. Your 10- to 19-year-old niece or nephew definitely would!
- Be considerate: When it comes to gifting money, discretion is almost always the rule of thumb. Showing off and announcing how much you have given to everyone and anyone who cares to listen is a bit tacky.
Note: Gifting money is tax-free as long as it’s under $14,000 or $28,000 if you tag-team with your spouse.
Finally, it’s important to be creative with your presentation. Just handing out cash is a no-no! That’s why you have me!
The ideas shared above should help make this easier to do!