Seeking Unique Idea to Give Teenager Money for Her Car!

Updated on December 17, 2008
P.L. asks from Salt Lake City, UT
23 answers

Hi mommas! I am writing on behalf of my friend whose teenage daughter is getting ready to buy her first car. My friend was wondering if any of you have a fun and unique way of presenting the teenager with some money to put towards her first car. We thought of borrowing a neighbors old junker and putting a bow on it and have the money in the drivers seat, but thought that was too mean...Any other ideas? Thanks for you input!

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D.F.

answers from Phoenix on

When we were younger my mom got a roll of toilet paper and unrolled it. Then rereolled it with the dollars inside. My brother kept unrolling and money kept coming out! You can use smaller dollars to keep them coming and not spend as much (I think he had $25 in ones.) Or use larger bills, depending on the total amount =)

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M.A.

answers from Denver on

A cousin of mine got $$ for graduation once. His mom got it all in $1 bills (around $100?) and wadded them up. She put them in a gift bag (tissue too, so it looked 'real') and gave that to him last so he could take time to smooth each one out.
15 years later I stll remember the look on his face when he realized it was a bag of cash! :)

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W.N.

answers from Denver on

My parents did this for me and I loved it! They bought a bunch of stuff they knew I'd hate and hid the money in it, like a pair of ugly pants and then they'd say, "makesure the pockets work" or a cd of a band I hated, then they'd say "hmm, the wrapping isn't on it, I wonder if the cd is even inside?" Although I caught on after about the second gift, it was still really fun and funny to see what crazy things they picked out and where they hid the money in it!

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H.M.

answers from Denver on

What great ideas - have fun!!!

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J.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I know of parents who tell their kids, "As soon as you learn how to change the oil and the air filter, you can buy your own car." You can actually hide some cash (put in baggy just in case) inside the air filter. I realize tht most people have their oil changed somewhere else, maybe they could teach her how to check the oil instead. I also like the idea of buying a toy car and stashing money inside.

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L.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You could also get her a keychain and stick in the money in the round part. So it is something she can use with her new car (instead of just a toy car), representative of it, and still gets the message across. Likewise, you could make her a car emergency kit (flairs, jumper cables, first aid kit, etc) and add the money to it. So she will have the chance to be safe in her car and it's more than just $$$. Have fun-- I like creative gift ideas like that!

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S.T.

answers from Boise on

What i have done at christmas time (since that is right before my two teenagers have their license) i make a car basket. Just get a cheap bucket from wally world and fill it with soap, armour all wipes, sponge, and then i put in a phone car charger and some gift certificates for gas....but you could always do up a car bucket and put money in it too!!! Im sure they wouldnt mind!!!

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S.S.

answers from Cheyenne on

I think it would be funny to wrap up a $1 in a small box with a little note that says $$$ for your car (open first). She will be dissapointed (it may be funny to see her reaction...I would have just thanked my parents and fumed inside) until she figures out that there is a check taped to the back for the real amount so it isn't obvious...or put a little cash in each of her other presents for the real amount.

You can also get fake money for the real amount and a little note that says $$$ for you car...and on the back of each in pen that you can't see through to the front, put "Redeem for the real thing"! It depends on her personality if she can handle the joke fine.

I like the old car idea too, but put the money in the trunk and maybe take a copy of their (or yours) car title and white out the correct name and put her information so it looks "legal" with a stamp "PAID IN FULL" on it and wrap that for her to open first! On the back can be "Just kidding" and a map to find the real money in a car kit.

Oh, sorry...another idea. We have a hard time getting our dad with gift, so we bought him a ping pong table and left it in the truck in the garage and then only wrapped the balls and paddles and made him play "20 question" to guess his gift. It was hilarious that he couldn't guess the gift off of the package. You could do something similar with the money or the old car or both...

Good luck and have fun!

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G.G.

answers from Denver on

When my brother and I got older and my mom had one big present for us instead of a little one she would make us go on a scavenger hunt for it instead of just giving it to us. We always thought it was a lot of fun. She would make up clever hints and we would have to search the house until we found our present. It was very memorable and fun. You could even make all of the hints relate to a car if you wanted. Or you would have some money at each of the places she goes to.

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C.Y.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You can buy a little remote control car and put the money taped to the bottom or rubberband.

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H.F.

answers from Pocatello on

How about buying a toy car and stuffing the money inside it?

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C.Y.

answers from Denver on

How about getting a toy car and hiding the money inside.

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S.H.

answers from Denver on

What about putting the money in a matchbox car?

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J.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

what about a scavenger hunt that sends her to your bank or a car lot where someone is waiting with a gift of $$? we did this for our 15 yr old this year and made the clues silly and in weird places (like he had to find the cat for one of them--hello-that took forever). We sent him to places that he was familiar with, but the clues were written in rhyme, so he had to think...He really had a good time and his friends joined in. We laughed for hours! Have some fun--then she'll remember how silly you all were and talk forever about how she figured out the clues. Good Luck!

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C.E.

answers from Denver on

How about a "Scavenger Hunt"? My grandparents did that for my youngest sister. She opened a little present that had some $ in a box and clue to where her next "gift" would be (in the tree, under a statue, attached to a picture, in a plant.. whatever) and she had to hunt down all the gifts. It was fun for everyone since the only ones who KNEW where they were all hidden were my grandparents. We all helped her find the gifts. some were in envelopes, some were in little santa stockings...

Just a thought!
Have fun - and Merry Christmas!!
C.

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S.E.

answers from Great Falls on

You have gotten some great suggestions!!! What about buying a steering wheel cover (in whatever theme she might be into) and putting the money inside the cover? Kind of the same idea as the lined gift bag.... Have fun with it!

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J.D.

answers from Denver on

How about money origami--making little cars or maybe little t-shirts and hanging them on a little laundry line. Or you could put the money in little containers and cool them in jello--so that she has to dig them out. Or make roses and put them in a rose box or buy a baby christmas tea and make ornaments. You could buy gloves (which she'll be sad about) and put money in the fingers. Have fun with this!

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K.K.

answers from Denver on

I was reading some things yesterday. Folding money in oragami shapes also one person taped money together and lined the inside of a gift bag. When the person opened it it was just tissue paper and they had to really look to find their gift. Maybe, your friend could put a toy car inside too. Have fun! K. K.

S.T.

answers from Casper on

put it in a remote control car and drive it to her.

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C.S.

answers from Denver on

Hi P.,

How about buying a small toy car and putting the money in it?

Good luck!

S.K.

answers from Denver on

I dont think that is too mean, I think its hilarious. I would stick to that plan. But if not you could buy a toy car that has the opening doors and roll the money in there but have a card that says I told you I would help buy you a car or something like that. Other than that I am out of ideas (never been to creative)

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

That's not too mean! It's too funny. Go for it. And be sure to make a video....

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L.B.

answers from Grand Junction on

To me it sounds like a time for a treasure hunt. Have you ever seen the Amazing Race. All over town you could put clues out that she can follow and at the end she can find the money. Maybe on her bed pillow with a hot pink convertable car toy or something. This sounds like it could be so much fun.

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