The older my kids get, the more they ask for cold hard greenbacks as gifts. But I don't just want to hand them an envelope on Christmas morning! I would at least like to make it festive and fun, and give them something “real” to open! So here are 6 ways to give cash as a gift at the holidays!
I love an element of surprise when planning ways to give cash as a gift! Let them think that they are just opening a box of candy and then allow them to discover what's hidden inside!
Creative Ways to Give Cash as a Gift
Inside a Pez Dispenser
My kids loved discovering that cash inside when they went to fill their new Pez dispensers with candy!
Each white cardboard gift box This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. was filled with green tissue paper This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , three Christmas Pez dispensers This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , and a big assortment of Pez candy refills This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. for the dispensers! And of course, each Pez dispenser had a rolled-up bill inside!
A Cash Box Full of Candy
When the kids first open the box, they'll think they are just getting a bunch of sugary goodness… until they glance up and read the label on the inside of the lid- and wonder where the “dough” is!
In this case, I filled a brown Kraft box This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. with a layer of crinkle cut shredded paper filler, This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and then nestled the cash inside. I covered the cash with more filler before placing the candy on top!
I created three different versions of this idea: a box filled with Hershey's Kisses with a label that says “Merry Kissmas”, a box filled with Swedish Fish with a label that talks about “Swimming in dough”, and a box filled with licorice candies and a label that wishes them holiday gifts that are “Good and Plenty”!
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Cash in Santa's Belt Box
This adorable cash box was created by Jaime from C.R.A.F.T. and her post includes a free printable gift box that you print out on white cardstock This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and cut out. Tuck the cash inside and you're all set!
Looking for holiday gift ideas?
Then be sure to check out these lists of Best Gift Ideas for Tween Girls This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , Tween Boys This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , Teen Girls This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , Teen Boys This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , Men This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , and Busy Moms This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !
You Want Fries with That?
Go pick up a French Fry box from you-know-where and fill it with cash french fries! Originally created by Create It. Go (but the post is no longer available).
In Case You Get Crap…
A cute idea for giving cash is to hide it in the center of a toilet paper roll! Lucy from Fly Away Home actually used her sewing machine to embroider her gift- but you handwrite the sentiment or even create a label for the outside of the package!
Cash as a Gift Tucked Into a Fortune Cookie
It's super easy to create fortune cookies out of decorative scrapbook paper This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , tuck a bill inside and place a few inside of a Chinese food take-out box This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. . You can find the tutorial on how to fold and tape them over on BuzzFeed!
Looking for Some More Holiday Ideas?
- 50 Christmas “Would You Rather” Questions for families (free printable game)
- 3 Printable Christmas Mad Libs (free printables)
- Free Christmas Photo Scavenger Hunt Game!
- Christmas Charades Game (free printables!)
- The 10 Best Christmas Countdown Calendars!
- 10 Great Stocking Stuffers for Busy Moms!
- 15 Gift Ideas for the Organized Mom
- 10 Great Travel Gifts for Road Trip Warriors!
Joanie says
These are really imaginative ideas! Can’t wait to do them !
Debby B says
I gave my older teen and adult grandkids their $$$ in a Pez container. I put the container in a small Christmas bag and added a bunch of extra Pez candies on the bottom. The kids had so much fun, they didn’t care about the A$$$ and traded flavors of candies. It was so much fun! Best idea EVER!
Sharon Rowley says
I LOVE reading this! Thanks for letting me know!
Jamie Lewis says
I am so excited!!! Can’t wait to try some of these. My oldest granddaughter will be 13 this year so I am going to do the swimming in the dough. I got some play money and ran it through the shredder to put as the filler. Thanks for the ideas!!!
Sharon Rowley says
You are so welcome! Love the idea of shredded play money!
Jean says
Love your ideas. Going to do both the Pez Dispenser and the Roll of Toilet Paper for Gifts this year.
Thanks
Sharon Rowley says
Love it!!
Diana says
Such great Ideas I’m going to do the pez dispenser I usually get them for my grandchildren.this year I’m going to gift some cash to my oldest grandson..This will be a big hit.Thank you so much for sharing..
Nancy Traas says
I did the McDonald’s French fry thing for a 16th birthday because the kid is always doing McDonald’s
He never expected it , I do something fun for each grandkids 16th birthday
Sharon Rowley says
It’s such a great idea for giving cash!
Krista says
Thank you! I give cash to my nieces and nephew every year, so I’m always looking for new, fresh ways to package it. Totally going to do the Pez dispensers this year.
Sharon Rowley says
My kids loved them! I hope your nieces and nephew do too!
Pixie B says
OMG I’m SO excited!! My 17 year old grandson has been giving me absolutely NO ideas for Christmas so I thought I would check out creative ways to give cash. He just got a job at a place called “Frys Electronics” I am SO going to give him a card that says congratulations on your new job at Frys and in the box will be the McDonalds Fries box with money it!! AHHHH!! Thanks for the idea!!!
Sharon Rowley says
That’s a fantastic twist on his employer’s name! I hope he loves it!