What is the proper way to gift money?

A check or money order provides a secure way to give money. Your gift can be tracked and voided if lost or stolen, which offers an added layer of safety. Another benefit is the convenience.

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.

What is the best way to gift money to relatives?

Giving cash is the easiest and most straightforward way to accomplish gifting money to family members. You can write a check, wire money, transfer between bank accounts, or even give actual cash.

How do you say money instead of gifts nicely?

“ The best gift is having you share in our special day, Should you wish to contribute in some other way, We would love a few pennies to put in our pot, For our honeymoon trip after tying the knot. ”

What is proper gift etiquette?

You always want to make sure a gift is nicely wrapped, placed in a gift bag with tissue, or has a ribbon wrapped around it . It should also include a card or gift tag, and a gift receipt if appropriate. One other thing to note: if you're not sure of someone's size, you should not give a gift that is size dependent.

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.

Can creativity be a gift?

Well, the good news is that creativity is not a gift , but a skill that can be learned by the school kids to the old people and the timing is only better because in the competitive world today, the creative juices are welcomed at the every level in the organizations.

What is a monetary gift?

It's a monetary gift that is given freely — it isn't payment for something else, and it's money that never has to be paid back. But there are limits on how much you can give without involving Uncle Sam.

How do you tactfully ask for money instead of gifts?

Simply stating that you would prefer monetary gifts is enough . Don't make guests feel uncomfortable or judged for giving a physical gift. While you may prefer cash gifts, it's important to remember that some guests may still want to give a traditional gift.

How to gift money without offending?

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

How do you say you want money instead of gifts?

Should you wish to honor us with a gift, a contribution towards our future together would be sincerely appreciated . As we embark on this incredible journey together, your love and support mean the world to us. If you'd like to contribute to our dreams, a monetary gift would be cherished as we build our life together.

How do you say no gifts just cash?

a gift of money in a card would really make our day! We would prefer your presence rather than your presents! As we are so lucky to have a home together, we have decided not to request wedding gifts.

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.

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

Fact checked by

Danielle Slauter

Fact checked byDanielle Slauter

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23 Creative Ways to Give Money

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.

Everyone You Should Remember to Tip Over the Holidays (and How Much to Give)

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

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Include a Heartfelt Note

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (3)

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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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Disguise Your Money Gift

8 Creative (and Totally Appropriate) Ways to Give Money as a Gift (9)

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

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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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