Getting or giving money as a gift is always a strange thing. 

On the one hand, who doesn't love some extra cash? 🤑

On the other, money often feels like some sort of half-assed gift.

Like,

"I didn't want to think a lot about what to give ya, so here are a few Benjamins. Go find yourself a gift, I did my part." 

That... Doesn't feel good. 😞

But sometimes you're just out of options, and even our amazing Gift Wizard doesn't help much (although that's hard to imagine).

For such cases, all you need to do is give your money gift presented in a fancy, thoughtful, or creative way. Then it feels like a gift!

Need some ideas? Well, here are our 10 favorite ways to give money as a gift in 2019!

1: Futurama Meme Money Gift Card

Because who doesn't love a good meme?

Not everyone likes Futurama, but everyone understands the awesome meme it created.

The SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY phrase has become legendary, and this makes it the perfect opportunity for you to level up your money gift.

Here's a detailed guide on how you can make your own Futurama Meme Gift Card!

Or, if you don't feel like getting craftsy, here's a similar card you can order right away:

• $10
  • Save
  • Buy

2: Emergency Money

Makes a cool DIY gift

The beauty of this gift is that it's a 2-in-1:

• Some money as a gift
• A cool DIY project to make, give, receive, and show off
• An in-built safety system to make the recipient a bit more conscious about how they will spend the money. After all, not everyone will be ready to break that glass for something simple as a cup of latte, right?

3: Money-filled umbrella

Make it rain!

We're used to the fact that umbrellas protect us from the rain, but how about giving a cool umbrella and secretly filling it with money?

Double pleasure for your recipient! First, they're happy to get a useful and handy thing and then... It's raining money, woah!

4: Money in a tissue box

Don't blow it all in one place!

Hands down, this is one of the most funny and witty ways to give money we found this year. Perfect for kids, teens, college students, close friends, and everyone with a good sense of humor.

Here's a nice video tutorial to get you started:

5: Money-filled balloons!

God, just don't let them fly away!

Pros: this approach will surely make a fabulous impression, especially if you give a huge bunch of balloons
Cons: it's bloody risky. Just imagine what would happen if you let your guard down for a moment and your grip fails you... Moral of the story: don't put too much money there. Just in case

6: Money pizza, anyone?

With coins for pepperoni pieces, yum

Just imagine this.

1. You say you got your recipient a pizza for his birthday, graduation, Christmas, or any other occasion.
2. Your recipient gets all down and disappointed. Everyone loves pizza as a food, but it still makes a lousy gift.
3. Open op the box - and enjoy their surprise!

Pro tip!

Don't forget to sprinkle some pepperoni coins all over!

7: Special delivery!

Imagine popping all those balloons!

Here's a fabulous idea from the Hello Lolli blog: a box of balloons filled with money!

One of the best things about this way to give money as a gift is that you don't have to limit yourself to JUST money. Stuff that balloons with other pleasant stuff as well!

• Candies and chocolate bars
• Gift cards
• Pleasant messages from family & friends
• Printed photos of some special moments with your recipient

8: Money in a chocolate box

Ah, that sweet, sweet cash

Here's a creative idea from the bright Mommysavers blog: a box of chocolate with money instead of sweets!

In general, it follows the same concept as the money pizza idea and plays on your recipient shift from disappointment to amazement but in sweeter way. 🍫

Try it with your mom, girlfriend, daughter, niece, or anyone with a sweet tooth, really!

9: Money bouquet

Makes flowers even more pleasant to get

Flowers are great to get, and some extra cash is always a fantastic thing too.

Flowers + money = double pleasure for anyone!

This idea is really simple and not really creative, but it gets the job done and works like a charm. Btw, the picture is from the M&D Flowers page on Yelp.

10: Money in a lightbulb

Eureka!

This punny way of giving money is perfect for graduations, anniversaries, or any other kind of big occasions. Why? 

Because here's to that special person's bright future!

Just be careful not to harm yourself when opening that lightbulb. For some people, using a lightbulb-shaped jar would be a better approach.

Final Thoughts

Many people think that giving money as a gift is a terrible, boring, and lazy approach. That's SO not true.

For example, imagine this. My wife and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary recently, and the traditional symbol for that milestone is leather.

Leather gifts are easy to find and gift, right? Handbags, wallets, purses, belts, notebooks, and so on. Shouldn't be a problem.

But oh man it was.

A high-quality leather gift is something that the recipient will use or wear for YEARS. I can't say my sense of style is good enough to risk making that decision for my wife. 😅

The solution? I gave her an envelope made of faux leather full of money to buy a real leather handbag. Everyone's happy - and it still was a leather gift from my part. Well, kinda.

Long story short, don't ever be afraid of giving money as a gift - just do it in a creative, funny, or unexpected way!