For years, birthdays and holidays meant scrambling to remember every grandchild’s fleeting interests – superhero obsessions, clothing sizes that changed in a blink, and the latest must-watch TV shows. Keeping up felt like a second job! Then, I had an epiphany: creative money gifts. Simply sticking cash in a store-bought card felt impersonal, but money was always a practical and appreciated gift. The challenge became making it feel special.
So, I embarked on a mission to discover fun ways to give money for my grandkids’ birthdays. I wanted gift-giving to be easier, but also more memorable and exciting than a plain envelope.
Below, I’m sharing 10 fun, creative ways to give money that I’ve used myself and have been a big hit with my grandkids!
#1 – Duct Tape Wallet
This idea tops the list because it’s my go-to for my grandsons this year. I crafted five duct tape wallets last Christmas, stuffing them with gift cards for my sons. It turned into a fun evening project with my husband while watching TV, and the boys absolutely loved them!
Duct tape wallet in vibrant colors, showcasing a fun and creative money gift idea
These wallets are surprisingly quick and easy to assemble. The biggest hurdle? Finding duct tape with cool designs! My local stores used to have a great selection, but it was limited during the holiday season. Perhaps duct tape trends are seasonal? Luckily, Amazon has a wide array of fun duct tape colors readily available.
I watched several tutorials to find one that was clear, concise, and didn’t drag on forever. This YouTube tutorial was my favorite – easy to follow and not at all annoying! A quick YouTube search for “duct tape wallet tutorial” will reveal many options.
Here’s a list of the supplies I used for this project:
Duct Tape Wallet Supplies:
- Duct tape (fun colors) – You’ll need two main colors and a neutral color for the inside. Basic grey or one of your main colors works for the inside.
- Cutting knife – A sharp craft knife is essential. This is the exact model I prefer.
- Cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter – Cutting mats can be pricey. If you don’t already own one, this set with a mat, ruler, and rotary cutter is a great value. (As a quilter, I already had these tools – staples in the quilting world, besides fabric, of course! 😉)
- Plastic (for ID slot) – A vinyl tablecloth like this one works perfectly. Alternatively, grab a small piece of clear vinyl from a fabric store – though the tablecloth is likely more economical.
- Clear packing tape – Unless you need a bulk pack, a single roll like this should suffice. Choose a good quality clear packing tape that’s reliably sticky, not a cheap one that loses its adhesive quickly.
#2 – Color Box Mailer
This is a fun and relatively simple way to send money, especially to grandkids who live far away. The genius of this gift is that the box itself acts as both the wrapping and the shipping container! It’s a perfect example of creative ways to gift money long distance.
Use a free USPS mailer box from the post office and wrap the inside of the box with vibrant wrapping paper. Fill it with items in your grandchild’s favorite color. The image below provides some visual instructions.
You can cleverly wrap money around or incorporate it into the items, or place it in an envelope taped to the inside of the box lid. While sticking to a favorite color theme is fun, you could also fill the box with their favorite candies, characters, or just a mix of things they love!
Mailer box decorated inside with colorful wrapping paper and gifts, a creative way to mail money as a present
#3 – Piggy Bank Surprise
Did you have a piggy bank growing up? I did, and predictably, it was shaped like a pig! These days, the variety of banks is amazing. While pig-shaped banks are still around, you can now find banks shaped like dinosaurs, unicorns, and popular superheroes. There are even banks that resemble safes, ATMs, and jars that automatically count coins.
Kids love the satisfying clink of coins dropping into a piggy bank. Imagine their excitement when a new bank arrives already filled with money! Just be sure to choose a bank that’s relatively easy to open when they’re ready to access their savings. 😉
Blue piggy bank with coins, a classic and fun way to gift money to children Photo by maitree rimthong from Pexels
#4 – Book with a Hidden Surprise
Select a beloved children’s book, or perhaps a favorite from your own childhood. Discreetly hide money between the pages. This is a personal and thoughtful way to give money for birthdays.
Young girl reading a book, a thoughtful way to gift money by hiding it within the pages
When I gifted books with hidden money to my grandkids, I chose page numbers that held significance, like numbers from their birthdates. Alternatively, you can select pages with inspiring passages that resonate with you and your grandchild.
#5 – Memory Jar of Money
Create a heartwarming memory jar filled with personalized messages and cash. Write down cherished memories of your grandchild on small slips of paper. Roll each memory slip with a dollar bill and secure it with a ribbon or a small hair tie, as I often do. Fill the jar with as many memory-money bundles as you like.
Decorate the jar with a tag that playfully says: “If I had a dollar for every memory of you, I’d be a millionaire!”
Glass jar filled with rolled dollar bills and colorful paper, a sentimental and creative money gift idea
Download a printable tag for your Memory Jar here!
Printable tag for memory jar gift, adding a personal touch to creative money giving
#6 – Photo Album with Cash Inserts
Similar to the book idea, create a personalized photo album with money tucked within its pages. Years ago, I would meticulously craft scrapbook-style albums with decorative paper and pens. These days, I prefer simpler methods!
My favorite way to create photo albums now is using online photo album makers. Mixbook is my go-to platform. You can easily create albums filled with favorite memories or photos of you and your grandchild. They are user-friendly, save time, and offer pre-designed page layouts – my kind of scrapbooking!
Mixbook photo album showcasing family photos, a personalized way to gift money within a photo keepsake
#7 – Origami Money Art
My son’s mother-in-law, Ruth, impressed me by folding dollar bills into origami shapes for her grandkids’ birthdays. I had seen origami money before but thought it was beyond my crafting abilities.
Dollar bill origami, showcasing intricate paper folding as a unique way to present a money gift
Another example of dollar bill origami, demonstrating creative and fun money gift presentation
When I asked Ruth about her origami expertise, her answer surprised me: YouTube! She learned everything from YouTube tutorials. I was amazed it could be so simple. Why not give it a try? There are countless tutorials online to guide you.
#8 – Candy Bar Surprise Wrapper
Dress up a Hershey’s candy bar with a festive birthday wrapper and hide some money inside. I found it best to tape the money directly to the candy bar before adding the wrapper to prevent it from slipping out.
I even created a generic “Happy Birthday” wrapper that you can use on a standard Hershey’s bar.
Download the Candy Bar Birthday Wrapper here!
Hershey's candy bar with a printable birthday wrapper, a sweet and simple way to gift money
#9 – Party Popper Money Explosion
These fun party poppers are simple to make and a blast to open! Fill an empty toilet paper roll with money, confetti, candy – the more, the merrier! Then, wrap it up like a cracker, securing the ends with pretty ties.
Kids will have a fantastic time popping open the wrapping and watching everything spill out. It might even turn into a mini treasure hunt as they search through the confetti and treats to find their money. Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need step-by-step instructions.
Confetti and ribbon, elements for creating fun party popper money gifts for birthdays Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels
#10 – Birthday Wishes & Kisses Jar
Fill a jar (or any decorative container) with Hershey’s Kisses. Roll up dollar bills and tuck them amongst the candies, hiding them within the sweet treats. Attach a tag to the jar that simply reads: “Birthday Wishes & Kisses for You!”
Jar of Hershey's Kisses with almonds, a sweet and subtly surprising way to gift money
There are countless more creative ways to give money as gifts, but these are just a few of my personal favorites.
If you have your own fun and creative money gift ideas for kids’ birthdays, please share them in the comments below!
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