When it comes to Christmas gifts, there are some people that are great at giving gifts and then there are some people that need a little help. There’s nothing wrong with that. And that’s where giving money as a present comes in.
For a lot of people, picking out gift cards or even cash is easier than going to the mall or online to shop. The trouble is, it’s tough to give a gift without it seeming tacky.
Ways to Give Money as a Christmas Present
Giving money as a Christmas present doesn’t always have to be a card with cash falling out of it. There are ways to give money with a little extra flare.
In Case of Emergency Break Glass
Add a little humor to your gift of cash with this box. Just replace the candy with the money. It comes with a hammer just in case you need to break the glass.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Money Candle
If you feel like taking a gamble, then think about buying a money candle as a gift. Each candle has money in it, though the denomination varies depending on the candle. Money value ranges from $2 to $100.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Money Clip
A money clip doesn’t have to be empty when you give it to someone. The clip makes a great gift in and of itself, but add a little cash to it and it becomes a Christmas favorite.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Personalized Money Bank
A bank is a great way to start kids (or adults) out with saving money. Why not snag a personalized money bank here on Etsy and then add a little cash to it to sweeten the deal?
Personalized Money Envelope
Make the one you love feel like their gift came direct from Santa himself. This personalized money envelope includes the name of the receiver. Order one or order multiple so everyone in your life feels special.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Creative Ways to Give Money
Sometimes it’s too much to spend on a gift and the money itself, so consider getting a little creative. The following ideas fall into the do-it-yourself category.
Box of Chocolates
This box of chocolates isn’t sweet, but it will still bring a smile to someone’s face. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but Life as Mom walks you through it.
Cash Rose
Everyone loves the idea of receiving a dozen roses or even half a dozen roses, but imagine if those roses were made out of cash? This is the kind of gift that will bring a smile to someone’s face.
Spruce Crafts shows you how to make a cash rose here.
Green Salad
It’s cheesy, but I like it. Give someone you love a little green salad this holiday season. Thank you A Girl and A Glue Gun for the tip.
Money Lei
A money lei is usually used to give money at graduations, but who says you can’t do it at Christmas too? The site Guide Patterns has a whole write up on the different kinds of money leis you can make. Some are strictly cash, while others are cash and trinkets.
Play-Dough
Give someone some Play-Dough this holiday season. Just buy a pack and take out the Play-Doh. To avoid waste, hand the Play-Doh off to your kids.
You can find a whole 10-pack here on Amazon.
Tear Off Money Pad
It’s silly, impractical and so much fun. This tear-off money pad is easy to make and one of those gifts that will make your friend’s eyes pop out. Just let them know it’s real money when they open the gift so there are no mix-ups.
Instructables has the instructions here.
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Gift Card Ideas
Gift Card Chalkboard
If you have a lot of gift cards to hand out, then a gift card chalkboard may be the best way to do it. The Merry Little Christmas Project suggests that you let people choose which gift card they like the best. It’s a great way to ensure that everyone will be happy with the gift that they get.
Gift Card Puzzle Box
One holiday season my mom bought two or three of these and then handed them off to the kids. It kept them busy and quiet for at least an hour. The cool thing about a gift card puzzle box is you can’t get the gift card until you win the game. It also works with cash.
Plus, if you they’re the gift that keeps on giving. Use it again and again with no problem.
You can find one here on Amazon.
Holly Jolly Gift Card
Wish someone a holly jolly Christmas with this homemade gift card holder. As the blog Creating Real Awesome Fun Things explains, all you need is a mason jar and a handful of Jolly Ranchers.
Mason Jar Gift Card Holder
Speaking of mason jars, you can make another really cute gift card holder with a pair of mason jars and a glue gun. Something Turquoise shows you how to turn these everyday items into a really cool gift.
If you need a larger mason jar there’s one here on Amazon, and you can find a matching smaller one here on Amazon.
Pop-Up Gift Card Holder
These are handmade with lots of glitter, just my style! I like these because when you open up the card, the gift card pops up as if to say, “Here I am!”
You can find them here on Etsy.
Gift Card Wrapping Ideas
When you buy a gift card, you usually don’t get anything fancy to wrap it in and wrapping a flat piece of plastic just seems impractical. Instead, try some of these cute containers for gift cards.
Cassette Tape Gift Card Box
Cassette tapes may be a thing of the past, but I doubt anyone will be upset if you give them something vintage!
You can find this gift card box here on Etsy.
Cash-Card Combo
I call this the cash-card combo because you’re wrapping the gift card in cash. Crafty Journal shows you how to make the gift card envelope with two one-dollar bills and a little folding.
Cash Register Gift Card Box
It’s cute and easy to use. Put a bow on top and your Christmas wrapping is done! Best of all, but a dozen of these and finish all your Christmas shopping at once.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Holiday Gift Card Boxes
If you find yourself in need of giving out a lot of gift cards around the holidays (maybe $5 gift cards to Starbucks for all your co-workers), then think about buying a collection of pillow gift card boxes.
You can find them here on Amazon.
And if you’re headed to Starbucks, make sure you use our tips and tricks so that you get free Starbucks for yourself too.
Leather Card Wallet
Elegant in its simplicity, this leather card wallet is a great way to give a small gift and a gift card at the same time.
You can find it here on Etsy.
Christmas Origami
I like Christmas Origami because it’s a way to show you put thought into your gift even though you’re giving cash. The person receiving the money will feel cared for and appreciated.
I put some of the best ideas below, but if you need more, there’s a whole book for money origami. You can find it here on Amazon.
Origami Box
Why give someone one gift when you can give them a dozen. The site Wonder How To shows you how to make a gift box out of a dollar bill. Make a bunch and give your friend a handful of presents! Plus, if you buy some nice yarn, you can add a bow and make the gift extra festive.
Origami Christmas Tree
I like this one because it’s something that you can stick to the front of a card and give as a gift. The origami Christmas tree is fairly simple to fold and extremely festive. The Spruce has step-by-step instructions here.
Origami Heart
An origami heart is a great way to show your loved one you love them. Snap Guide has great instructions here.
Origami Elf Shoe
Origami Instructions calls it a pixie shoe, but I’ll call this an elf shoe. Add it to the front of a card or maybe an Elf on the Shelf.
Origami Santa
If you’d like to get a little more festive, consider folding the bill into the shape of Santa Clause. The Way Back Machine has step-by-step instructions here.
Origami Star
I like this one because you can link together a bunch of bills into one gift. The modular star is made up of five different bills. Homemade Gifts Made Easy shows you how it’s done.
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Wow, all of these ideas are so clever! Never would have thought to stick money in a box of chocolates! Just wanted to share a saving tip for any fellow millennials looking for a deal on transportation. I was complaining about how much money I’ve been spending on Uber’s and a friend recommended saferides; it’s a non-profit and very affordable. You can book rides in advance and great for large groups. Just in case anyone else is tired of draining their funds with ride-sharing apps.