Surprise Chocolate Box of Money Gift Box (Easy DIY Gift)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
You want to give a thoughtful gift, but you know they could really use some extra cash? How do you gift money in a fun and creative way? This Money Gift Box Idea is a winner! With an empty candy box, some dollar bills and coins, and a few candy or baking papers, you’re set for giving monetary gifts that are a fun way to give a gift of cash.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you time- and money-saving tips every week!
Want to give a money gift but don’t want to be boring with gift cards? This easy DIY Money Gift Box is perfect! It’s a little bit of a gag gift, but a whole lot of usefulness. Who couldn’t use a few more bucks in their wallet.
This chocolate box of money is all thanks to my Aunt Cass. She was always super creative and liked to make much of special events. But she was also very practical. She didn’t give gifts that we couldn’t use.
Back when we were paying off debt, she sent me a box of chocolate from her local sweets shop. Or at least, that’s what I thought it was. When I opened it, I found that she had transformed a simple chocolate box into a money gift box.
This is the perfect way for you to gift money this year instead of gift cards that inevitably are forgotten or wasted on junk just to spend them and be done. Just saying.
Why Make a Chocolate Money Box?
It’s fun! Your gift recipient will probably smile at the thought of chocolate, but once they open this gag gift, they’ll smile even wider seeing coins and bills in different currency. It’s so much better than writing a check or buying a gift card.
It’s a simple DIY. You only need a few supplies to pull this off. No crafty skills required.
The cost will always fit your budget. Since you can vary the denominations that you include in your chocolate money box gift, it can fit whatever budget you have for giving a gift. It makes one of the best frugal gifts.
It’s great a great bon voyage gift. Someone heading off on a trip overseas will love to receive some foreign currency, making this a great gift for missionaries, exchange students, parents going to adopt their international children, and other world travelers.
It’s great for kids. Kids can learn about denominations they’ve never seen before. My mom and Aunt Cass have given me two dollar bills every year for my entire life. And, yes, $2 bills are real US currency.
Supplies
Here’s what you’ll need to make a chocolate money box gift:
a candy box or cookie tin – You can use whatever empty candy box or cookie tin you have around. It’s best to choose a brand that your gift recipient really likes. Remember that the bigger the box, the more money it will take to fill, so choose wisely… ie small.
Also keep in mind if your gift recipient has any food allergies. You’ll want to make sure that the money doesn’t carry cross contamination of allergens. — I’m a mom of a kid with food allergies, so I appreciate the care others take in this way.
paper baking liners – The mini muffin or candy size papers are ideal. They are most similar to what candy stores use. You can use brown traditional chocolate paper cups or fun colored ones to make the package more colorful.
money – Vary the denominations and include some unique coins and bills if you can. Aunt Cass cornered the market on $2 bills (yes, they are real!) so she often gave them as gifts. Dollar coins are another fun touch.
But you can use anything: pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, dollar coins and dollar bills, two dollar bills and as high up as you can afford. Inquire at the bank to see what fun selection you can come up with.
Obviously, you’ll want to use currency that the person can spend or likes to collect casually. For college students going abroad, including currency from their host country is super fun!
adhesive – You’ll also need glue, double-sided tape, or foam stickies to adhere the paper cups into the box and the money into the paper liners.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make your Chocolate Money Gift Box:
- Glue or tape the liner papers to the bottom box.
- Roll, fold, or stack the currency to vary its appearance. money in coins or paper denominations
- Use stickies or tape to adhere the currency to the candy liner.
- Close the box and wrap as a gift.
I see so much potential for a Chocolate Money Box gift like this. It’s creative and practical all at the same time!
More Great Gifts to Make
What do you think?
We love hearing from you! Leave a starred comment below to let us know what you think of this project. Thanks for sharing Life as Mom with your friends and family.
Chocolate Money Gift Box Tutorial
Equipment
- scissors only to trim tape or stickies
Supplies
- 1 empty chocolate box
- adhesive such as glue, double-sided tape, or foam stickies
- small paper candy liners
- money in coins or paper denominations
Instructions
- Glue or tape the liner papers to the bottom box.1 empty chocolate box, small paper candy liners, adhesive such as glue, double-sided tape, or foam stickies
- Roll, fold, or stack the currency to vary its appearance.money in coins or paper denominations
- Adhere the currency to the candy liner.
- Close the box and wrap as a gift.
Notes
This post was originally published February 2, 2011. It has been updated for content and clarity. Read: this is the original that others on the internet have copied. 😉
You could also use money origami to fold some of the bills into heart shapes. The tooth fairy just left a heart shaped $5 bill for my daughter. It sounds like it would be tricky but I just googled the instructions and it was suprisingly simple. Love the smaller 4 piece box idea too!! My step-daughter who lives out of state will be so excited to see this since she has braces and can’t eat the boxed candy!
That is so cool! Great idea for older kids who have birthdays on Valentine’s Day too!
We used to live in Winona, MN!! Two of our 3 kids were born in Lacrosse! Small world! 🙂
I think this would be perfect to use the little 4 piece candy boxes-especially the heart shaped ones. I have a five year old daughter who would love to get a $1 bill, a couple of quarters, 50 cent piece and maybe even a $1 coin. It would cost less than $5 that way and come right in at our usual Valentine budget.
I can imagine using this idea for our office gift exchange. We have a $20 limit and it’s hard to buy a present for someone you don’t really know. But it always feels way too tacky to just give someone a $20. But dressing it up in a fun way like this would totally work!
@Kate, that is a great idea!
I hate giving money or gift cards because I don’t want people to think it was a last resort…but who can’t use some extra cash? This is the best of both worlds, because it actually takes some effort and thought, while being practical.
This is an awesome idea- and I can’t think of a single age who wouldn’t appreciate it! (On another note, my twin, I have family in La Crosse. It’s uncanny, really…)
@JessieLeigh, we certainly MUST be related. Too funny!
I think it would be a great multi-cultural lesson if you included money from different countries. My inlaws travel a lot and always bring my son back some currency from their trips. What a fun way to present it! Another idea is to turn it into a counting lesson. For example, put in a 1 dollar bill, and put in 2 fifty cent pieces, 4 quarters, etc. Then have your child match the amounts.
I have been looking for a different Valentine gift for my kiddos and this will work perfectly! Before my granddad passed away, he would periodically give my kids a $2 bill. DD is the only one that can remember him and his tradition and she has kept every bill. She pulls them out every so often and reminisces about Paw-Paw. 😉
I can totally see for college students putting in a roll of quarters for the washing machine!
When I went off to college, my mom filled a laundry basket with little baggies of laundry detergent (1 scoop measures) and tied them up with colorful ribbon and attached another little bag with 4 quarters ( the cost to wash and dry a load way back when) It was enough to last me for 3 months! What a great gift it was and I never had to worry that the cash machine worked.
I did the same thing at Easter with the plastic Easter eggs for my Grandsons. The boys loved the idea. They were so excited over the money, they didn’t even notice we had cut the candy down!
Wow! I know I’d love to receive that box of chocolates. And oh so much better for the hips 🙂
@Allyson @ a Heart for Home, SO much better for the hips!!! LOL