8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (2024)

  • The Best Gift Ideas of 2024

Cash is a welcome gift, whether you decide to offer crisp bills, a check, a Visa gift card, or send it via an electronic transfer.

By

Lisa Milbrand

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (1)

Lisa Milbrand

Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications.

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Updated on August 17, 2022

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Danielle Slauter

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (2)

Highlights: * Has worked as a fact checker for Real Simple since 2022 * Worked as a staff writer for Mochi Magazine * Currently runs and operates the United States blog for Student Beans

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Giving money as a gift—or even asking for money as a gift—used to be considered tacky. But not anymore. "Money is an appropriate gift," says etiquette expert Elaine Swann, founder of The Swann School of Protocol. "Studies say that it is the most welcomed gift—the one gift that most people want."

But gifting money has a lot of questions around it. How much money can you gift to your family? How do you gift money to a child? Is just adding money to a Visa gift card a great gift? And how do you ask for money as a gift?

According to Swann, the amount of money you gift depends on your budget, your relationship with the giftee, and the type of occasion. (You'll probably be more generous with a beloved niece or nephew who's graduating from college than you would be for an occasional babysitter at Christmas.) And if you're wondering how much money you can give—without tax implications—you can currently give $16,000 per person ($32,000 per person if it's you and your spouse giving the financial gift), before you have to file a gift tax return with the IRS.

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As for asking for money as a gift, it's more acceptable than it was in the past. But rather than saying "Money only, please," explain how the money might be used. "Make your request specific and purposeful," Swann says. "You might say, 'We're getting married, have everything we need, however, we're going to do renovations on our home.' Or for your birthday, you could make a request and say, 'I'm working hard to pay off the rest of my student loans!' Make it meaningful—not just a money grab."

How to Gift Money Creatively

Using Venmo, Zelle, or other electronic ways to gift cash is perfectly acceptable now, Swann says. (And if you're the recipient of a money gift delivered electronically, it's also perfectly acceptable to send a thank-you note via email.) "Show your gratitude with a meaningful email—a text may be a little too brief, and an emoji is not the best form of thank you," Swann recommends.

Here are a few more of our favorite ways to give money as a gift.

How to Budget for the Holidays

01of 08

Include a Heartfelt Note

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No matter how you gift money—even if it's just a Venmo—make sure your recipient knows just how much they're loved and appreciated. "Include a note to the person that shows that you've given this some thought, and that there's meaning behind it," Swann says. "If they're an avid gardener or into sports, you could say, 'Here's to your next golf game,' or 'Here's a little something to help you as you expand your garden.'" Just like any other gift, it's the thought that counts.

02of 08

Fold It Beautifully

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (4)

Origami tricks are a great way to gift money creatively—fold your dollar bills into hearts to show your love, or a bouquet of flowers for a wedding gift.

Attach It to Another Gift

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (5)

While money may be the centerpiece of the gift, it doesn't have to be the only item you give—you can nestle the cash inside a basket with candy, beauty products, or other treats your recipient would love. Or go one step further and use money as gift wrap for another gift.

04of 08

Create a Money Tree

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (6)

We all know money doesn't grow on trees, but you can make it seem like it. There are a few different options for how to make a money tree gift basket. You can either attach bills to a styrofoam topiary form (make it easy to remove them without damaging the money by using easy-lift scotch tape), or attach gift cards or money to a branch or a living plant (our money's on a money plant).

05of 08

Add It to a Surprise Ball

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (7)

If you haven't seen a surprise ball, it's a large ball of crepe paper that the recipient unravels, finding trinkets (and in this case, cash) along the way. All you need is a nice-sized roll of crepe paper, your money gift, and a few other fun objects (think tiny figurines, bracelets, or pieces of candy).

06of 08

Play On the Idea of "Dough"

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (8)

Wrap your cash gift in with a loaf of bread, a rolling pin, or even inside an (empty!) jar of Play-Doh.

07of 08

Disguise Your Money Gift

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Use packaging from another desired gift—a box of chocolates, a tin of tea, or a jewelry box might do the trick.

08of 08

Suit the Season

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (10)

You can roll up the cash and put it into a clear ornament to put on your Christmas tree, or place it inside plastic Easter eggs and let your recipient hunt for their treasure.

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8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (2024)

FAQs

How to give someone money as a gift? ›

Creative Ways to Give Money as a Gift
  1. Include a heartfelt note.
  2. Fold money creatively.
  3. Attach money to another gift.
  4. Create a money tree.
  5. Add money to a personalized gift.
  6. Use a puzzle box for the recipient to solve with the money inside.
  7. Create a scavenger hunt game with the money as a prize.

What would you do if you were given a lot of money as gift answer? ›

I would write a lovely thank you note. I would explain how the gift will be used and appreciated. After using the money, I will thank them again. I would invite them to dinner at my new house I bought if I bought a house, or a ride on my boat if I bought a boat.

How to creatively wrap cash? ›

Cut a paper towel roll to size and place it in the center of a small jar. Fill the rest of the jar with the candy of your choice. Use the cubby the roll creates in the center to hide a wad of surprise cash.

How to wrap up cash as a gift? ›

A witty gift money wrapping idea that is sure to bring a smile to your face is to put the money in an elegant little box and decorative paper with a bow, and then put it in a larger cardboard box, equally beautifully wrapped in paper. In this way, we pack any number of cardboard boxes.

Is money an appropriate gift? ›

Key Takeaway: Cash is a great gift that allows recipients 100% freedom in how they spend it. But it's not appropriate for every recipient on every gift giving occasion. You must consider several factors about the occasion and recipient to determine what type of gift will be most appreciated.

How to make a roll of bills? ›

Get plenty of bills from the bank, straighten them out so they look crisp, and turn your bills so they're all face-up. Make sure your biggest bill is on top of your stack before you flatten out your crisp wad of bills. Tie your bankroll with a thick rubber band, and then you're ready show off your cash.

How to give a gift secretly? ›

Try putting something in a much larger box, or a box with oddly specific dimensions, like a poster tube or aluminum foil box. Surprise their senses. It's a rare present that you can hear, smell, or feel through the wrapping paper, so they'll focus on these senses if they can use them.

Why is money the best gift? ›

Cash may seem less personal than a tangible graduation gift like a watch or an experiential one like a trip to a special destination, but it can make a great alternative if you can't decide what to get your loved one or you know they need a monetary cushion as they get started in life.

How much money is a good gift? ›

Determining the appropriate amount of money for the guest of honor relates to how close your relationship is with them. The following cash amounts are generally acceptable: $20 to $25 for a co-worker or acquaintance, $50 for a close friend and upwards of $100 for a family member.

What to do when given a large amount of money? ›

What to do with a large sum of money
  1. Step 1: Don't feel like you have to rush. ...
  2. Step 2: It's OK to spend a little. ...
  3. Step 3: Pay off high-interest debt. ...
  4. Step 4: Build up your emergency fund. ...
  5. Step 5: Save for short-term goals. ...
  6. Step 6: Invest it.
Jan 19, 2024

How to gift money without offending? ›

DO:
  1. Give anonymously. ...
  2. Be clear about financial expectations when you're going out. ...
  3. Be casual about giving them things. ...
  4. Invite them over for dinner. ...
  5. Think of ways to barter. ...
  6. Don't make a loan. ...
  7. Don't give with strings attached. ...
  8. Don't give more than you should.

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