In our family, we have oodles of nieces and nephews… and limited funding. Since we don’t have the finances to spend what we would like on each of them, we find hilarious ways to give our siblings’ children cash as gifts every year. We get bonus points for making our siblings laugh. (These points are self-appointed). In the past, we have put cash in rice, submerged it in slime, built it into a lego creation, and made it into a bar of soap.
This year we went with the pandemic theme and focused on safety… and lucky for you, we are willing to share. We have used this idea as “quarantine birthday gifts” this year as well.
Here is a hilarious way to give cash to those in your life in this unprecedented year that seems to never end. Since we happen to be in a pandemic, we thought it appropriate to put our cash through a rigorous sanitization process and document it for our family. This was the easiest cash gift thus far… and it will be even easier for you, since we are sharing our printable. You can download it for free at the end of the post.
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Laundering The Cash Gift
First, we laundered money. Please note that this is the kind of laundering implemented using a washing machine and not the kind that criminals do. We are law-abiding citizens, and I am a complete rule follower. Putting the bills into a lingerie bag helps keep them safe in the wash. This bag is also what we use for washing masks. I’m getting one for each of my boys this year to try to keep their socks together since somehow neither of them have a single pair left.
Hanging the Cash Gift Outside In the Fresh Air
Next, the cash was hung out to dry. Using a travel clothesline, we made sure that each bill maintained at least 6 ft. of social distance from all other bills. If they were unable to do so, we would have asked them to please wear a mask. Luckily, there was plenty of space and none of the bills gave us any trouble.
Cash Gift Submerged in Sanitizing Solution
Our next step in the process of sanitizing our cash gift was to submerge the cash in a sanitizing solution of at least 72.4% alcohol content by volume. We chose a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but there are many options on the market today. It might also be water in the jar with an alcohol bottle nearby. It’s hard to say. (Nope, it’s not hard to say… the liquid in the jar is actually water)
Temperature and Symptom Check of the Cash Gift
Before we placed each bill in quarantine, we did a symptom and temperature check. Thankfully, none of the bills had a temperature of above 100.3, sore throat, cough, body aches, or any other symptoms that may be concerning. Consequently, we felt very comfortable moving them on to the next stage. (So… the money wasn’t actually 98.3 degrees, but the human holding the thermometer was; in case you were concerned about that)
The Hilarious Cash Gift in Quarantine
Once the above steps have been completed, the cash gift enters quarantine. Currently (as of publishing date), the CDC recommends 10 days of quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19. Although we have no idea if the money was exposed, we want to be on the safe side. Therefore, we quarantined our cash just in case. The cash will be released and ready for use at the end of the 10 days.
We made sure to make this date after Christmas to make our loved ones wait a bit, knowing full well that some will find ways to get the cash as quickly as possible. They did this with the soap. No child washes their hands enough times in one day to get to the money… but somehow, most of them did. It was quite suspicious! However, they were more prepared for the handwashing they would encounter in 2020 and, hopefully, continue forever.
Get The Free Printable
This is a printable that we made and laminated so they can save them for years to come and always remember how hilarious their aunt and uncle are. I used the Scotch Thermal Laminator. My laminator comes in handy all the time to make things last. For everyday keepsakes like documents, I use 3 MIL laminating pouches. When creating items for my classroom that need to be a little more durable, I used 5 MIL laminating pouches. This laminator has settings for both sizes, but 3 MIL is plenty strong in most cases.
Putting The Gift Together
Once we laminated the description sheets, the money was quarantined in snack bags (they are a perfect size). Then, the bag and printout were stapled together. Make sure to staple the top of the bag so that you don’t puncture it and compromise the safety packaging’s integrity by letting contaminated air in… nobody wants to start the process all over. Then we placed them in a 6 X 9 clasp envelope. Since we used half sheets, they fit like a glove.
Originally, I planned to package them in a roll of toilet paper with a hand sanitizer bottle to get the full 2020 vibe, but then I remembered shipping costs. The envelope works nicely and ships much more easily. And… lucky for me, 2021 was just like 2020, but without a toilet paper shortage. The gift still works! Be careful if you are shipping cash, though; bad guys like to steal them this time of year.
Download printable by clicking here
If you are looking for more funny gifts, Facebook gave me some hilarious suggestions. You can read about them in this post. Funny gift ideas that Facebook nailed.
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67 Comments
Ahahhaha! The anticipation for the cash while it needs quarantine. Nice write up 😉 nothing is exempted these days with sanitizing.
I love the idea and brings laugher during this pandemic . Well Done!
Thank you 🙂
I was laughing the whole time I read this! Great ideas that will bring smiles to you whole family!
It looks like you had a lot of fun with this one.
We had a ton of fun with this one. We cracked up the whole time! lol
Ha! Love it. This is a great idea and should get plenty of laughs!
Love this!
Do you remember (or did you hear about) all the funny ways Aunt Gerry used to give cash to your dad? One time, he had to go on a treasure hunt around the house to find it. (On clue led to the next.) Another time, she had wrapped a HUGE box. Inside was another…and another…and another, until at the end, she had a bill wadded up in a tiny ring box. Still another time, she buried coins in a jar of peanut butter. The best (worst?) was when she put $5 worth of pennies in a mixture of white glue, chocolate syrup, molasses, peanut butter, Crisco, etc. in a large coffee can. He had to pour boiling water over the mess to release the coins. We all still remember it!
Haha! That is hilarious! I had no idea. I have done the treasure hunt and box in a box in a box with my own kids. It must be a family thing. lol
very funny, thanks for the laugh!
This is adorable and so funny! So creative!
Thank you.
Love how you found the humor in 2020 to implement into your Christmas gifts. This is awesome!!
Thank you! I’m trying SO hard to find the humor in 2020!
These are pretty funny ways to gift some cash. I had a friend send her sister a cash gift by putting it in a box, covered in styrofoam, covered I’m duck tape, then string, with another box around that. Made is super hard to get out. I think he spent more money on the boxes than the actually gift.
That can be a problem… sometimes my creativity costs more than the cash… like the year we built it into a lego house! lol
Temperature checking the cash! lol you are silly! Merry Christmas!
Some great ideas about giving cash. Who would have thought about quarantining and sanitizing it before giving it. Stay safe and Merry Christmas.
This is hilarious! Thank you for sharing the printable. I have two teenage nephews that always want gift cards or cash. One of them is going to get this! I’m going to laminate it too.
Yay! I’m so happy you are going to use it!
Liked this! This is very interesting and fun. Thank you for sharing 🙂
This is hilarious Carrie! I love your family’s sense of humor. What a great way to capture the craziness of 2020 in the form of a very useful gift. Love it!
Thank you, Lisa. That is a really nice thing to say.
Haha this is too funny. I’m sure they will get a kick out of it and always remember the gift!
Super fun ideas! And cash is always the best gift anyways. 🙂
As the kids get older… it’s all they want! Lol. Even my own children don’t want me to buy them stuff; they want the cash!
This really made my day. What hilarious ways to give someone money!
How funny and creative! Thanks for the laugh!
So cute & funny/fun. Who doesn’t love cash especially when there’s a little puzzle or joke to go with it ?
I love it! The printable is awesome 🙂
Thank you 🙂
What a fun way to spice up giving cash as a present. I hadnt thought to bring the funny into it. Thanks for the ideas. Hiding the money in legos and slime is perfect. And this year I am having visions of putting the money in “quarantine” in a glass shadow box like I have seen people use for their Elf on the Shelf.
Great idea! That’s much fancier than my ziplock bag. lol
Unique and very funny. Thanks for a good laugh!
That is so clever and funny. That is a neat tradition.
Such great idea! It’s a good way to end off a crummy year! Thanks for sharing these creative ideas,!
These were hilarious!!! Thanks for sharing!
This is hilarious! You’re so clever coming up with these fun ideas. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This must have been fun to do. Gave me a good laugh.
So cute! We should probably be laundering our cash anyway! ?
Hahah the cash laundering made me chuckle! Fab ideas, I would love one day to try them 🙂
Too funny! I think I would send the directions along with the gift and let them handle it 🙂
Oh my goodness! Why didn’t I do that? That is even better! lol
Oh my goodness, that’s hilarious! The temperature check cracked me up!!
Haha! Such a great post. Thanks for the laugh.
I just love everything about this. The idea is fantastic to make funny ways of giving cash. I love that you incorporated quarantine in the fun. You have some lucky family members!
This is fantastic! Love everything about this post.
This is perfect for this crazy year!
Lol! This is hilarious! I love the idea of making giving cash creative! So fun!
haha! This made my day what a brilliant idea!
Thank you. 🙂
Great laugh! Great fun!
OMG I was laughing hysterically at the temp check! This is a hilarious idea! Love it!
This post is hilarious! I really loved reading it! I am definitely going to try some of these the next time I get to see my family!
This was great! And I must say very creative, you did an excellent job and I’m sure those kiddos enjoyed everything that went into finding those dollar bills lol ? It really is a good idea and looks easy and super fun to do. Thank you for sharing this because you’re right we are all limited on funds and time to go anywhere. Let alone getting to stores to shop right?
Too funny! I love it! Stealig!
I love the idea of laundering the money, lol.
🙂
hahaha this cracked me up. Such a funny idea. Your content always perks me up. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you, Gemma!
This is hilarious and so creative! My family always frowns on getting cash but I’m sure if I got creative with it they would love it! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Yes! It’s all about the fun… and as my kids get older, cash is what they really want anyway.
What a fun way to give cash as a gift! I’ll bet you are considered the fun aunt and uncle in your family!
That is the title we are going for. To our siblings… we might be the annoying ones. lol
That was hilarious. So much more fun than just some cash in a money envelope.
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I love these! I hate just giving cash in a card!