25 Genius Money Gifts for Christmas That They’ll Never Forget
This holiday, turn your Christmas money gifts into something clever, creative, and totally unforgettable. Sure, sticking cash in cards might be easy. But it’s also not very fun.
From playful presentations to gifts that double as surprises, these ideas prove that giving cash can be just as exciting as unwrapping a present under the tree.
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Pro tip: For the ideas below, I used things I already had at home. You don’t need to buy anything expensive to make these cash gifts amazing!
Exciting Money Gifts For Christmas
Everyone will love these cute and clever ways to give cash!
1. Christmas Ornament Cash Gift
Create a fun money gift by placing cash inside a clear ornament! Simply roll up the bills, slip them into the ornament, and hang it on the tree for a sparkling surprise.
Bonus: Glitter, paint, or fake snow add a magical touch. It’s a creative way to gift money while adding a touch of holiday cheer!
2. Money Grows on Trees After All
Give your recipient a note that says “Money doesn’t grow on trees…or does it?” When your recipient reads the note, they’ll realize they need to search for money growing on a tree or plant.
3. Christmas Cash Bottle
This Christmas money gift from It’s Written on the Wall is cheerful and adorable.
Just load up a clean soda bottle with cash and watch them try and figure out how to get the money out. The site will send you a tutorial along with the printables.
4. Festive Mug With Cash
It doesn’t get much easier than this! Find a cute festive mug. Then, load it up with candy canes, candy, and cash. I folded the cash lengthwise accordian style to get it to stand up.
5. Life Savers Storybook
This playful money gift is inspired by the classic Christmas tradition of receiving a Life Savers Storybook in your stocking!
Wrap the candy rolls in cash to add an extra element of surprise to this sweet gift. It’s a perfect idea for nephews and nieces!
6. Cash Wreath Christmas Money Gift
Fold bills into leaf shapes and attach them to a mini wreath form for a festive decoration they can later “pick” from.
7. Cash in a Can Surprise
From It’s Always Autumn, this idea is mischevious and wonderful! You hide a roll of cash inside a can of pears, or green beans, (or whatever canned good your teenager hates most), and then wrap it up like a Christmas present. Since the can looks completely normal, no one’s going to expect it has anything inside it other than what’s on the label.
8. Gloves Stocking Stuffer
A nice pair of gloves is always useful in the winter, but it might not be the most thrilling holiday gift. Unless you roll up cash and slip it into each finger! If you roll the bills tightly, the recipient won’t even notice the surprise until they try on the gloves for the first time.
9. Secret Stash Book Gift Idea
Inspire your recipient, while giving them what they really want. Gift a holiday book or your favorite book with cash hidden between the pages.
Attach a note that says, “Knowledge is priceless, but here’s a little extra!”
10. Cash Advent Calendar
Create a DIY advent calendar with envelopes, items (like this small Christmas tin), or small bags. Then, hide bills (or a mix of cash and little treats) for each day leading up to Christmas.
You can do this for all of December or make it a 12 days of Christmas gift.
11. Balloon Pop Surprise
Put rolled-up cash and confetti inside of green and red balloons for a fun twist!
Place the bills inside, inflate the balloons, and pack them into a giant box. Add a note that tells the recipient they must pop the balloons without using their hands. Get ready for some laughs as they try to burst them open!
Pro Tip: It helps stretch out the balloon first, before trying to put in the cash.
Related:
- Cheap Secret Santa Gift Ideas
- Best Gift Card Presentation Ideas for Christmas
- Budget-Friendly Mason Jar Gifts
12. Clever Treasure Hunt For giving Money as a Gift
Use this free elf on the shelf scavenger hunt to lead your recipient to their cash gift! You’ll love watching them scramble to find their prize!
13. Break in Case of Emergency
This cute In Case of Emergency Break Glass money gift is so fun! It’s the kind of present that guarantees a smile. And maybe even saves the day.
14. Candy Wrapped in a Festive Bow
Simple and effective! For this gift, I used higher end chocolate that any adult would love. All you need is a big bow or ribbon to tie it together.
15. Holiday Dough in a Box
This pizza box from Thirty Handmade Days has a fun holiday twist!
Related:
- Cheap But Awesome Birthday Gifts
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16. A Box of Chocolates
Surprise someone with a sweet twist on a money gift by hiding cash inside a box of chocolates. Simply tuck the bills between the chocolates or inside the empty wrapper for a fun and unexpected treat!
17. Santa’s Emergency Fund
*A clever way to hide money!
It appears to be a mason jar filled with candy. But inside, there’s a roll of cash in the middle. I used a rubber band to keep it together, but a clip also works. Make sure the candy covers the cash and you’ll be giving your recipient a super sweet surprise!
To make this for Christmas use: red and green m&ms, holiday chocolates, or mini candy canes.
18. Food Surprise French Fries
*Great for teens and kids!
This crazy easy idea only needs an empty fry container. Fill it with cash and see how long it takes for your teen to ask who got to eat the french fries!
19. Play Doh Money Christmas Gift
Play-Doh may not seem like the most exciting gift. Until the recipient opens the container to discover a roll of cash inside!
Attach a tag that says “Thought you’d like some extra dough at Christmas” and fill the container with rolled-up ones or even a few larger bills.
20. Holiday Dough (Oops, Forgot The Cookies!)
From Tessie Fay, this cute gift comes with a custom poem you can grab right on the site.
Related: Inexpensive Gifts for Coworkers
21. Box of Rocks (Or Is It?)
Next, prank the kid who likes to shake the Christmas presents! Place money inside a giant box filled with rocks, wrapped within layers of wrapping paper, or inside a pack of gum for a funny reveal.
Games That Make It Fun to Give Money
Next, these games are downright hilarious and make giving money an adventure all by itself.
22. Christmas Punch Game
This Money Christmas Tree Punch Game is the perfect mix of laughs, surprises, and a touch of chaos. It’s the Naughty vs nice edition!
Fill each punch cup with cash or gift cards (nice) or a silly gag gift (naughty), and let players test their luck to see which list they land on. It’s fast, funny, and guaranteed to be a crowd favorite at any holiday gathering!
23. Let’s Make a Deal
It’s time to play Let’s Make a Deal: Christmas Edition!
This festive twist on the classic game show brings out everyone’s competitive side. Will you stick with what’s in your hands or take a gamble on the next round? Perhaps there’s gold in that small mystery box!
24. Blindfold Cash Grab
The Blindfold Bank Grab spatula game might be the easiest and funniest money game our family has ever played.
Blindfold one player, hand them a spatula, and scatter dollar bills and gift cards across the table. They get one minute to scoop up as much cash as possible. Whatever they grab, they keep!
25. Dollar Dodge: The Ultimate Chasing Game
Dollar Dodge turns pocket change into party gold with a money game that’s equal parts suspense, sabotage, and silliness.
Everyone starts with a dollar pinned to their clothes, and there’s just one rule: don’t say the forbidden word. Slip up? Cha-ching! Another player snatches your bill.
Your mission? Outsmart, outlast, and out-dodge your way to collecting the most dollars before the party ends.
26. Frozen Fortune
The Frozen Fortune Money Game takes your holiday gift exchange to the next level by locking money or gift cards inside blocks of ice. Players race to melt their treasure free using only spoons, warm hands, or whatever clever tricks they can come up with.
See more fun money games to play at Christmas >>
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