Looking for a creative way to give cash that will actually make someone laugh out loud? This Funny Money tissue box gift idea is pure genius – dollar bills taped together into a long chain, stuffed inside a tissue box with money-themed jokes attached to each one! It’s the most fun your recipient will ever have pulling cash out of a box!
Cash is the perfect gift — no returns, no awkward “Oh, I love it!” face, no gift receipt needed. The only problem? Handing over a plain envelope of bills feels like you forgot about them until 10 minutes before the party. Been there. Not proud.
That’s why I love finding creative ways to give money! I’ve made a pizza box money gift that had our teenage nieces losing their minds, and a flower money lei that was a huge hit at graduation time. But this one might be my very favorite yet – the Funny Money gift.
Here’s the concept: dollar bills taped together into one long chain, stuffed inside a tissue box, with a money-themed joke attached to every single bill. The recipient pulls out one dollar at a time, and each one comes with its own punchline. It’s cash and comedy – the gift that keeps on giving, literally.
What Is the Tissue Box Money Gift?
The tissue box money gift (also sometimes called a money pull gift or cash pull gift) is a fun DIY gift idea that has been making the rounds on social media – and for good reason! Here’s the basic concept:
You take a clean, empty tissue box and fill it with dollar bills that have been taped together end-to-end using wall-safe tape. The first bill peeks out of the top of the tissue box, just like a tissue would. When the recipient grabs it and starts pulling, the whole chain of bills comes out one at a time – it’s like a never-ending surprise!
My version adds one more layer of fun: money-themed jokes are taped in between the dollar bills. So instead of just pulling out cash, your recipient is getting cash and comedy.
And the decorating? Easy. I’ve created a “Funny Money” printable gift tag set that wraps around all four sides of the tissue box, making it look like a real gift while also giving away just enough of the punchline to build the suspense.
Who Is This Gift Perfect For?
The short answer: basically anyone who can appreciate a good (or gloriously bad) pun. The slightly longer answer:
- Teenagers and college students – They want money. You want them to actually remember the gift. This is your solution.
- The person who has everything – If they already own everything they could possibly want, give them cash wrapped in laughter. You can’t buy that at Target. Or try this fun birthday candy bar poster!
- Graduation gifts – They’re heading off into the real world! They need funny money to play with! This is deeply on-theme.
- Christmas or holiday gifts – This one is perfect for holiday family parties, White Elephant exchanges, or Secret Santa events where you want to give something truly memorable.
- The parent or grandparent who says “just give me socks” – Plot twist: give them funny money instead. They will love it even if they claim they won’t.
Supplies Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to pull this gift together (pun absolutely intended):
- An empty tissue box – This is the star of the show! The printables are sized for a standard square-shaped tissue box – the rectangular boxes won’t work here.
- Dollar bills – How many you use is totally up to you! The more bills, the longer and more dramatic the pull. A stack of 20 to 50 one-dollar bills makes for a really satisfying chain. You can mix in a few fives or tens if you want to make it extra exciting.
- Wall-safe Scotch tape – This is really important! You want to use the wall-safe variety because it’s easy to remove without damaging the bills. Regular tape can be tricky to peel off, and nobody wants to hand over ripped cash.
- Scissors or paper trimmer
- A printer, card stock, and regular printer paper – I recommend printing the money-themed jokes on regular paper, and the tissue box signs on card stock.
- The Funny Money gift tag printables – Available in my shop!
- Optional: ribbon or a bow – For a little extra flair on top!
How to Make the Funny Money Tissue Box Gift
Don’t let the idea intimidate you – this is one of those projects that looks incredibly impressive and takes almost no effort. Here’s exactly how to do it:
Step 1: Print and Cut the Jokes and Gift Tags
Print out your money-themed joke strips on regular paper, and the Funny Money gift tag panels on card stock. Then use scissors or a paper trimmer to cut everything out neatly.
*Pro tip: I prefer printing the jokes on regular printer paper, because it bends and folds nicely inside the tissue box, and it’s similar to the paper weight of the dollar bills.
Step 2: Tape the Cash and Jokes Together End-to-End
Now you’re building your chain! Lay your first dollar bill flat. Place the second bill or a joke paper just slightly overlapping the end of the first one, and use a small piece of wall-safe tape to connect them at the overlap. Repeat this all the way down the line until all of your bills are connected in one long strip.
*Wall-safe tape is key here — it holds the bills together securely but releases easily so your recipient can separate the bills without any trouble.
Step 3: Load the Money Chain Into the Tissue Box
Once your chain is assembled, roll it up and tuck it into the tissue box. Pull the very first bill up through the opening at the top of the box, just like a tissue poking out. Then tape on the “Pull Here” tag. This is what your recipient will grab to start the pull!
*Give the chain a little test pull before gifting to make sure everything flows smoothly out of the box without snagging.
Step 4: Decorate the Tissue Box with the Gift Tags
Now dress up your tissue box! Use the Funny Money gift tag printables to decorate all four sides and the top of the box. Tape or glue them in place. Add a bow to the top if you’re feeling fancy.
And that’s it! You’re done. You just made the most entertaining cash gift anyone has ever received.
Tips for Making the Money Gift Extra Special
- Use crisp bills. Hit up the bank ahead of time and ask for new bills. There’s something so satisfying about a chain of fresh, flat dollars. Old, wrinkled bills tend to snag a little more inside the box.
- Mix up the denominations. Put mostly ones in the chain, but sneak in a five or ten here and there for a fun surprise mid-pull. Just imagine the reaction when they hit an unexpected ten-dollar bill!
- Add a little note at the very end. Tape a final card at the end of the chain (the last bill) that says something sweet or funny, like: “You’ve reached the end! Congratulations — you’re officially rich in laughs and dollars. Enjoy every cent!” It’s a great way to put a bow on the whole experience.
Printable Tissue Box Money Gift Templates
The Funny Money tissue box gift is one of those ideas that is so simple, but yet so fun! The person who receives it will be smiling from the moment they reach in for that first dollar — and by the time they get to the last one, they’ll have a whole collection of terrible (wonderful) jokes to go along with their cash.
And honestly? That’s the goal. Cash is practical. Laughter is priceless. But when you combine the two? That’s a gift someone will actually talk about for years.
So go grab the funny money gift printables in my shop and get to taping. You’ve got 20 jokes to work with and one very lucky recipient waiting on the other end of that dollar chain.
GET IT IN MY SHOP!
Funny Money Tissue Box Printables
Grab your Printable Tissue Box Money Gift in my shop and make your next cash gift one they’ll never forget.
More Creative Cash Gift Ideas You’ll Love
If the Funny Money gift has got you excited about giving cash in creative ways, you’re in good company! Here are a couple more of my personal favorites:
- Pizza Box Money Gift — Dollar bills fanned out inside a pizza box to look like a money pizza, complete with paper toppings and the punniest box labels you’ve ever seen. This one is always a crowd-pleaser!
- Flower Money Lei — A beautiful and wearable lei made from folded dollar bills and printable Hawaiian flowers. Perfect for graduation parties and luau-themed events!
- Chocolate Box Money Gift – Folded up dollar bills and coins get added to an empty chocolate box that is a choco-lot of fun!
Have you made a funny money gift? I’d love to hear how it went! Drop a comment below and let me know!
