Giving cash as a present. How to make it more exciting to open?

WantToBeSE

My older son (13) has asked for cash from everyone for Christmas this year, as he wants to build his own computer.

So i am giving him £100, my mum is giving him £50 and my sister is giving him £30.

I would like to make it a bit more exciting than just opening an envelope, especially since his younger brother will have presents under the tree (they both have a stocking, but my younger son will have 2 main presents as well, whereas my older son will have the cash).

How can i wrap/present the cash in a more 'fun' way? I was thinking about getting big box full of tissue paper and putting the money in there, so he's have to sort through the whole thing to get the cash.
It's that kind of idea i am looking for, but maybe more imaginative?

Any help is appreciated, and please none of this 'That's too much for Christmas, he'll end up spoilt/Is that all he's getting for Christmas, poor lad/What an awful parent you are...blah blah blah'.

Mojisola

When my uncle was 80, we gave him 80 £1 coins in a nice tin.

gallygirl

Do you know anyone who does origami? If so.....

We've given folded money as a gift at weddings, always goes down really well :T.

jungliemac

How about it being in £5 inside a see through helium balloon? I've seen it once and was very unusual. Could even put the balloon in a box so when it's opened it floats out! Just don't open it outside :-)

lindsaygalaxy

I was going to say inside a balloon or in crackers (you can often buy make your own kits from the £1 shop or make your own.

Becles

I used to get cash off my Grandparents but they used to be inventive. Like carefully slit cellophane on chocolates with the cash slipped inside or once I got a boxed bud vase with it rolled up and sticking out the top! That was nice as you still got a present to open and a giggle at what they'd done with the money!

You could do similar with sweets or a shower gel set or stationary items so he still has a gift under the tree to open.

whitewing

I would get it out in £1, wrap each of them individually, number the outside and then hide them around the room. Give clues on where the next one.

eg the first one is in a big box wrapped up under the xmas tree. It says 'look by the TV' etc etc

the_why_bird

I'm doing something similar with my husband - he's getting steam vouchers, which are basically bits of paper.

Some of these ideas are from awesome folks on these boards:

- seal a note inside one of those tiny ziplock bags/wrap it very well in cellophane. Cut a slit in a foam tennis ball, insert bag. PLace ball in a cupcake case, cover with frosting. If he likes the video game Portal, add a note saying 'this cake is a lie'
- Get a plain cardboard box, stencil 'wonka' on the outside and 'find the golden ticket'. Buy a bunch of chocolate bars. Cover each one with a printed 'wonka' wrapper. Hide the 'golden ticket' (a £20?) inside one of them so he has to open them all to find the golden ticket.
- Get a really boring looking VHS tape from the charity shop. Remove the tape from inside the cassette, place money inside so he has to flip back the plastic strip to find it. Since he's pretty young, he might not even be familiar with flipping back the top of the cassette, so bonus puzzlement.
- Hide it in a really random part of the house (the airing cupboard, inside a spare toilet roll, taped to the bottom of the dining table). Create a series of puzzles leading him around the house to the hiding place. You could gift-wrap the first clue.
- Make a wonderball. Put a note in the middle. Wrap pound coins between the layers (along with silly things like fake moustaches, temp tattoos etc)
- If he's a good sport, you could give him a waiter's apron or chef's hat and tell him he can earn a tip by being the official server/ assistant chef for Christmas dinner.
- Get a regular can of food (fruit or some kind of desert, so it doesn't smell funky.) Open the bottom. Clean it out, dry it, put money inside. Hot-glue the bottom back on. Gift wrap the can opener.

Hope something there is a useful idea for you.

kjmtidea

I have used one of these before for giving vouchers and it was really good fun.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spinning-Hat-Money-Maze/dp/B000NI0I1K/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_3

Dunroamin

Bloomin' 'eck - we've come to something when a 13 year old doesn't find £100 cash in an envelope exciting enough!

claireyrosey

I heard of some putting lots pound coins into concrete and providing the child with a hammer & goggles.