Money gift ideas to make it memorable

Modak
September 30, 2025

Main takeaways

🎁 Creative twists like puzzle boxes, scavenger hunts, or balloon pops make gifting money exciting.

🎄 Holidays are the perfect time to turn cash gifts into fun surprises like ornaments or advent calendars.

⭐ Reward systems such as chore wheels and star charts help kids connect money with effort and responsibility.

Gifting money can sometimes feel impersonal, but it doesn’t have to be! With a little creativity, you can turn a simple cash gift into a memorable and fun experience. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, holiday, or special occasion, finding fun ways to gift money can make it an exciting surprise for both kids and teens. 

In this guide, we’ll explore some creative and enjoyable ways to give cash as a gift, while keeping it engaging and personal.

Stick around to the end for a bonus tip on how the Modak app can help kids earn money while learning valuable financial literacy skills!

Why gifting money can be fun

Money is a practical and appreciated gift, especially for teens who may be saving up for something special. But simply handing over an envelope of cash can feel a bit flat. The goal is to make the experience of receiving money as exciting as the gift itself! Whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, or any other celebration, you can make gifting cash more interactive and thoughtful by getting creative.

Money gift in an envelope

How to make money gifting more fun?đŸ€”

The key to turning a cash gift into something fun is to think outside the box, literally! Instead of just handing over a card with money, consider ways to make your recipient work for or uniquely discover their gift.

Creative ways to give cash as a gift

If you want to keep your money gifts exciting, here are some fun and inventive ideas that can add a layer of intrigue and joy to your gift-giving:

1. The money puzzle box

Instead of simply handing over cash, why not turn it into a game? A money puzzle box makes the recipient solve a puzzle before they can access the cash. You can purchase these boxes online, where the person has to unlock the compartments or solve riddles to get their gift. It’s a cool way to get teens thinking while rewarding them with a fun surprise!

2. Money balloon pop

For a more playful approach, consider putting bills inside balloons. Blow them up and have the recipient pop the balloons to collect the money inside. This method can be especially fun for teens and even kids during birthday parties or Christmas. Just imagine popping balloons with excitement to uncover your gift!

3. Cash in a tissue box

This is one of the most creative ways to give cash. Roll up bills and hide them in an empty tissue box. When the recipient pulls out what looks like tissues, they’ll keep finding money instead! It’s a fun and unexpected twist that adds a bit of humor to the experience.

4. Money scavenger hunt

Turn the gift of money into a treasure hunt! Create a scavenger hunt where the recipient has to solve clues to find the hidden cash. This is perfect for holidays like Christmas or birthdays, where you want to make the gift-giving experience more interactive. Each clue can lead to a different location around the house or yard until they finally find their money prize.

5. Money maze

Another fun way to give money is through a money maze box. These are puzzle boxes where the recipient has to navigate a small ball through a maze to unlock the cash. It's a cool challenge, and the reward at the end is the cash prize! These boxes can be easily found online and are perfect for making the gift experience more entertaining.

6. Christmas-themed money gifts

During the holiday season, giving money can take on a festive twist. You can fold bills into fun holiday shapes like trees, stars, or snowflakes and tuck them into ornaments. This is a fun way to give money for Christmas, as it makes the gift both decorative and exciting. Place the ornament on the tree, and let the recipient discover their surprise during Christmas celebrations!

money gift christmas themed

7. Cash in a jar of candy

If you’re giving cash to someone with a sweet tooth, fill a jar with their favorite candy and hide cash inside. As they dig through the candy, they’ll find the money hidden at the bottom. It’s a sweet surprise that combines two gifts in one: treats and cash!

8. Hidden money book

This is a clever and subtle idea for teens who love to read. Hollow out a small section of a book (one they’ve already read, of course) and place the money inside. This fun way to give cash feels like they’re discovering a hidden treasure within the pages of a favorite story.

9. Cash-filled surprise eggs

For a playful twist, especially around Easter or during a themed party, hide cash inside plastic eggs. This works well for both kids and teens, making the hunt for eggs an exciting event. You can fill some eggs with candy and others with money, so they get a mix of both surprises.

10. Gift cards with a twist

If you’re giving a gift card or cash in a digital format (like through PayPal or another app), present it in a fun way by wrapping it up in multiple layers of boxes or envelopes. The recipient has to unwrap several layers before they get to their gift, adding anticipation and excitement to the experience.

How Modak makes money more rewarding

💳 Teens get a free Modak debit card to spend or save their cash gifts safely, with no monthly fees.

👟 With Walk to Earn, kids can collect MBX points by reaching 5,000 daily steps — turning activity into pocket money.

đŸ“± The Modak app gamifies money management through chores, challenges, and rewards that build financial literacy.

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Everything you need, fast, safe and simple.

How to reward kids with money: Fun and creative ideas

Parents often look for ways to tie money rewards to their children’s behaviors and responsibilities, like completing chores. While giving money for chores can be straightforward, it doesn’t have to be boring. Here are some ideas to add a little fun to how you reward kids for tasks:

1. Reward rules for kids

If you want to establish reward rules for kids, make a chart or system that they can follow to earn money. For instance, completing specific chores could earn them points, which they can later trade for cash or other rewards. You could even create a small “store” where they can use points to “buy” treats, toys, or cash.

Rules for kids

2. Chore wheel with cash rewards

Create a chore wheel where each section lists a household chore and its corresponding cash reward. Spin the wheel, and whatever task it lands on becomes the chore of the day! This is a great way to keep chores interesting and unpredictable while tying it into their allowance system.

3. Star chart behavior with ,oney

Using a star chart behavior system can make rewarding kids both fun and educational. Each time they complete a task or display good behavior, they earn a star. Once they reach a certain number of stars, they can trade them for cash or other rewards. This method helps teach responsibility while making it easy to track their progress.

Fun ways to give money for Christmas

The holidays are a perfect time to think creatively about cash gifts. Here are some additional ideas for fun ways to give money as a gift on Christmas:

1. Cash advent calendar

For a Christmas countdown with a twist, create an advent calendar where each day has a small amount of cash or a fun money-related surprise. It’s a great way to spread out the excitement of a cash gift over the holiday season.

2. Stocking stuffer cash

Hide rolled-up bills in their Christmas stockings along with small treats. It’s a simple yet fun way to give money during the holidays and adds an element of surprise as they dig through their stocking.

Money gift christmas

3. Money ornament hunt

Similar to an Easter egg hunt, hide small amounts of money in Christmas ornaments around the house. Have the recipient search for the ornaments on Christmas morning, making it a fun and festive way to discover their cash gift.

FAQs

How do you give cash as a gift creatively?

To give cash creatively, consider incorporating it into something fun, like a puzzle box, scavenger hunt, or hiding it inside a book or jar. This turns the simple act of giving money into an exciting experience.

How do you give someone money in a cool way?

You can give money in a cool way by creating a challenge for them to unlock or discover it. Money mazes, scavenger hunts, and balloon pops are all cool ways to make the process engaging.

How to give currency as a gift?

To give currency as a gift, consider folding bills into shapes or hiding them inside objects like books, jars, or even Christmas ornaments. You can also use creative wrapping techniques to make unwrapping the gift part of the fun.

How do you gift money to a friend?

For friends, giving money can be done in a fun and personal way by attaching it to something they love, like a hobby or interest. For example, hide cash in a favorite book or place it in a themed jar based on their favorite candy or snacks.

How to gift cash to someone?

Gifting cash can be more thoughtful by adding a twist. Consider a puzzle or a scavenger hunt that makes them “work” for the cash or present it unexpectedly, like hidden inside a gift box or rolled into a tissue box for them to discover.

Girl holds visa debit card for kids

Modak, a fun way to earn money

While gifting money in fun ways is exciting, helping teens earn and manage money is even more rewarding. The Modak app allows teens to track their chores, complete challenges, and earn real money through the unique MBX point system.

With Modak’s Walk to Earn feature, teens can earn MBX points just by reaching their daily walking goals of 5,000. By walking, they can earn up to 70 MBX per week, the equivalent of approximately $36.4 extra per year. MBX points can be converted directly into dollars, which teens can then spend using their Modak debit card(2)(3).

By using Modak, teens not only earn money but also develop important financial literacy skills, giving them a head start in managing their finances.

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  1. Deposit account and the Modak VisaÂź debit card issued by Legend Bank, N.A., FDIC-Insured. Modak is a financial technology company and not a FDIC insured financial institution. Funds deposited into a Deposit Account may be eligible for up to $250,000 of FDIC insurance.
  2. 100 MBX = $1(as of June 2025). This is an approximation and not a guaranteed result. For more information on MBX, click here for more information on MBX‍
  3. Walking 5,000 steps a day gives users 10MBX (as of June 2025). This is subject to change at Modak’s discretion
  4. Fees for expedited or premium services may apply. Find out more in our Cardholder agreement.

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