Best way to gift cash?

[kimblebee]

Let me start off by saying that this is not a brag and I'm not a troll..you guys know that lol

My husband applied for permanent disability months ago. He has major diabetes issues and will probably wear two casts on his feet for the rest of his life. Anyway, he was approved and on our taxes we get a deduction for his disability now and it can be backdated. We waited and waited and waited. (Sorry, getting long winded here). He just got his refund and it's enough to get all bills to zero and then some.

Now to the question. My daughter is the best. She knows we've been pretty dire lately and she's been buying her own clothes and makeup and stuff like that for about a year without complaining. I'd like to give her $1000 for Christmas but I'd like to do it in a fun way. I'm thinking a scavenger search, but we won't be in our house when she opens it. Sooooooo...

How can I wrap up the cash to make it fun? I don't want to just wrap a box with cash in it..I want a little zip.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've alway been fond of the "nested present" for things like cash or gift cards - you wrap it in a small box, put that in a bigger one and wrap that, etc.

Another great way is to get one of those photo trees - they have a bunch of wires going in different directions with curls on the end like round paper clips. You spread the money out where the pictures would go.

I've wrapped books with cash slipped between various pages.

And I saw one on Pinterest where you slide a cardboard tube into the middle of a candy jar, and put the money in the center. You fill around the tube with the candy to hide it until they open the lid.

 

[Lori74]

one year for my nephews bday, I took an emty tissue box and taped bills together end to end and put in the tissue box with a bit sticking out of the top like tissues, then he had to pull and pull and pull to get it all out. it was cute, got a laugh at least.

 

[design_mom]

We make a "money tree" for my dad each year. We start with a foam cone from the craft store, then pin the cash all over the outside to make it green. Then we wrap some cute garland around it (can purchase or make) and put a star on top. It looks like a Christmas tree.

 

[kimblebee]

We make a "money tree" for my dad each year. We start with a foam cone from the craft store, then pin the cash all over the outside to make it green. Then we wrap some cute garland around it (can purchase or make) and put a star on top. It looks like a Christmas tree.

Oh, that's really cute..I may do this. We don't have green money but I could get all denominations and make it a colourful tree. Thank you for the idea.

 

[sam_gordon]

On my 21st birthday, my aunt sent me a "money tree". Green pipe cleaners stuck in Styrofoam in a small pot. There were 21 $1 bills taped to the pipe cleaners.

There were also 21 condoms taped to the tree. It was a "rubber money tree".

 

[AppleDumpling]

I have an artistic friend who's very good at making money origami. He folds bills into hearts, stars, butterflies, sailboats, bows, birds, and many different animals and other objects. They are so cute and creative.

Look online for examples. There are numerous websites with instructions and videos showing how to do it. You could do a bunch of different flowers and make a bouquet. I've also seen flowers tied together with ribbons into a beautiful Hawaiian money lei.

 

[ronandannette]

I have an artistic friend who's very good at making money origami. He folds bills into hearts, stars, butterflies, sailboats, bows, birds, and many different animals and other objects. They are so cute and creative.

Look online for examples. There are numerous websites with instructions and videos showing how to do it. You could do a bunch of different flowers and make a bouquet. I've also seen flowers tied together with ribbons into a beautiful Hawaiian money lei.

LOVE this; I've seen some of these creations and they're amazing. Sadly, here in Canada our bills are now all made out of polymer and it doesn't fold.

 

[lanejudy]

One year my dad gave mom several "bookmarks" -- I don't recall the denomination, but it started with a bill stuck into a book (hence bookmarks). Then each gift she opened had another bill tucked into it. The gifts weren't of particular value (a book, socks, oven mitt, little stuff), but something and then a bill tucked into it. So essentially the excitement grew as she opened multiple packages.

 

[Canooknic]

There's ton of ideas on Pinterest.

I give cash to my nephews every year, one year I froze it in an ice block (the joy of being in Canada - it didn't melt on the trip to their house!!)....or.....
* Put it in a ziplock bag and then wrapped an entire roll of packing tape around it,
* Roll the notes and put them in a Christmas bauble,
* Fill a big mason jar with their favourite candies and put the money in the middle
in a cardboard tube.

I would have loved to fold a graduation cap when they finished Uni, but as you know the darn things don't fold!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

One year my dad gave mom several "bookmarks" -- I don't recall the denomination, but it started with a bill stuck into a book (hence bookmarks). Then each gift she opened had another bill tucked into it. The gifts weren't of particular value (a book, socks, oven mitt, little stuff), but something and then a bill tucked into it. So essentially the excitement grew as she opened multiple packages.

I'm thinking of doing something like this with "gift certificates" for DS. He wants credit in an on-line video game network, but I don't want to just stick it in a card.

 

[TeresaBelle]

I have an artistic friend who's very good at making money origami. He folds bills into hearts, stars, butterflies, sailboats, bows, birds, and many different animals and other objects. They are so cute and creative.

Look online for examples. There are numerous websites with instructions and videos showing how to do it. You could do a bunch of different flowers and make a bouquet. I've also seen flowers tied together with ribbons into a beautiful Hawaiian money lei.

I did this for my nephew last year! I watched a 'how to' video on Youtube. I tried posting a picture but it says file is too big.

 

[Vijoge]

I made one of these for my BFF's mother for her 50th birthday.

 

[soccerdad72]

My sister-in-law gave my older son a Saran Wrap ball with money and assorted candy in it for his birthday this year. It was a cute idea.

 

[Poohforyou]

Real Simple magazine has a cute way to give money. Line a box with paper muffin baking cups. Put money in some of them and trinkets/candy/nail polish etc in the others.

I saw another idea that I did for my 17 year old for her birthday. She was getting mainly money so I gave her 17 bills of different denominations and put the money in pairs of crazy socks along with some candy and trinkets. I then tied them ribbon and nestled them in a cute basket.