You have been invited to a child’s birthday party and wonder what the birthday child would really like to receive as a gift. The answer: money.
It is a very familiar situation. Especially as children get older, it becomes more difficult to find a gift they are genuinely excited about. Giving money is therefore a practical solution, but simply putting a few banknotes into an envelope can feel a little boring.
Fortunately, it can be done differently. With creative packaging, a small puzzle or a surprising challenge, giving money can still become a real gift moment.
Below you will find several original and fun ways to give money as a gift to a child.
1. Crack the code and open the money gift
Opening an envelope takes only a few seconds. But what if the birthday child first has to discover how the gift can be opened?
Put the money in a small box with a combination lock. To find the correct code, the child has to solve several riddles and challenges. Each correct answer reveals one digit. Only after all digits have been found can the secret code be formed and the lock opened.
This way, you are not only giving money, but also a small challenge and an exciting moment during the party.
Free Crack the Code worksheet
To make it easy, we created a free worksheet with several challenges that you can download and print.
The birthday child solves the tasks one by one, discovers the digits of the secret code and can eventually use them to open the money gift.
Please note: the downloadable worksheet is currently available in Dutch only.
Download the free Crack the Code worksheet (PDF)
2. Give money inside a balloon
Want to package money in a fun way without spending much time on it? Hide it inside a balloon.
Carefully roll up the banknotes and put them inside the balloon before inflating it. You can also add some confetti and attach a small card with a short instruction, for example: “Pop me!”
The birthday child can see that something is hidden inside the balloon, but first has to pop it to reach the money.
It is a simple way to turn an ordinary money gift into a funny surprise.
3. Create a mini treasure hunt for the money
Why give the money immediately when you can let the birthday child search for it first?
Start with a small card containing a riddle or clue. The answer leads to the next location, where another clue is waiting. After several tasks, the child finally discovers the place where the money has been hidden.
For younger children, you can use simple pictures and search tasks. For older children, riddles, rebuses and codes are usually more interesting.
This turns giving money into a small treasure hunt instead of simply handing over an envelope.
[A FREE MINI TREASURE HUNT CAN BE ADDED HERE LATER]
4. Hide money in a candy jar
A jar filled with sweets already looks like a gift on its own. But it is easy to hide a second surprise inside.
Place a small tube or box containing the money in the middle of a transparent jar. Fill the space around it with sweets until the money is completely hidden from view.
Put on the lid, add a ribbon or small card, and the money gift is ready.
The birthday child not only receives something tasty, but also discovers the real gift hidden among the sweets.
5. Turn the money gift into a puzzle
Another fun way to give money is to let the birthday child solve a puzzle first.
For example, create an image or secret message, print it and cut it into several pieces. Only when all puzzle pieces are placed correctly does the clue to the money appear.
It can be something simple such as:
“Look under the chair.”
Or make it more difficult and let the puzzle reveal a code, rebus or riddle.
This way, you can decide for yourself how easy or challenging the money gift should be.
6. Make a surprise box with money
You do not need complicated puzzles for this idea.
Put the money in a small box and place that box inside a larger one. Then place that box inside another package. Repeat this several times.
Between the different layers, you can add funny notes, small challenges or something sweet.
Each time, the birthday child thinks the gift has finally been found, only to discover yet another box.
It is a simple way to make a money gift much more fun to unwrap.
Fun text ideas for a surprising money gift
Do you want to avoid revealing immediately that there is money inside the gift? Choose a message that makes the birthday child curious. This keeps the contents a surprise until the very end.
Here are a few fun texts you can put on a card:
“There is something for you inside… but you are not getting it that easily.”
“Your gift is locked. Can you open it?”
“Crack the code and discover your surprise.”
“Solve the puzzle first… then you may open your gift.”
“Think carefully. The solution will bring you closer to your gift.”
“What is inside? You will only find out when you discover the correct code.”
“No key needed. Just a clever mind.”
What is a fun way to give money as a gift?
The best idea mainly depends on the age and interests of the child.
For younger children, simply searching, unwrapping or popping a balloon may already be exciting enough. Older children can be challenged more with a secret code, puzzles or a small treasure hunt.
The most important thing is that the money itself is not the only gift, but that discovering it becomes part of the surprise.
Would you like to try it yourself? Download our free Crack the Code worksheet, place the money in a box with a combination lock and let the birthday child discover how to open the gift.
The downloadable worksheet is currently available in Dutch only.
Download the free Crack the Code worksheet (PDF)
