What’s better than a birthday gift that makes someone laugh out loud? A birthday gift that costs next to nothing and still makes them laugh out loud!
Let’s be real: most of us don’t need more “stuff” on our birthdays. What we remember most are the moments. The laughs. The surprises. The cheeky little gestures that catch us off guard and leave a grin on our face. So if you’re looking to brighten someone’s special day without breaking the bank, here’s how to do it with charm, humour, and a little clever thinking.
1. Give Them a Cheeky or Outrageously Funny Card
Start strong with something simple but unexpectedly funny: a birthday card that actually makes them laugh. Skip the sweet or sentimental stuff and go for cheeky, sarcastic, or downright ridiculous. The kind of card they’ll read out loud to others just because it’s that good.
You can find some brilliant ones at Greetings From Hell. They do humour that’s sharp, bold, and totally unapologetic. Whether it’s wildly inappropriate, painfully relatable, or full of dry humour, a well-picked card sets the tone for the day. It’s small, affordable, and if you nail the humour, it’ll probably be the thing they remember most.
2. Put Up a Surprise Sign Somewhere Unexpected
Think bedroom door. Car window. Fridge. Bathroom mirror. Create a silly birthday message and stick it where they won’t expect to find it.
For example:
“Happy Birthday to the only person who still thinks 8 hours of sleep is realistic.”
Or
“Another year older, still can’t parallel park.”
If you can draw, sketch a funny version of their face. If not, even your terrible stick figures will get a laugh.
The more random the placement, the funnier it feels when they discover it.
3. Bake Something… Questionable
Nothing says “I love you” like a birthday cake that’s falling apart or decorated with absolute chaos.
Intentionally go overboard with sprinkles. Pipe their name wrong. Bake cupcakes that look like they were made by a toddler. You’re not trying to impress anyone on Bake Off, you’re aiming for pure comedy.
Bonus points if you dramatically present your “masterpiece” like it’s the greatest dessert of all time.
And if baking isn’t your thing, decorate store-bought biscuits with hilarious icing faces. Trust that it’s the effort (and absurdity) that counts.
4. Stage a Dramatic Birthday Entrance
This works whether you live with them or you’re dropping by. Show up wearing something ridiculous. Think: a blanket cape, a pot on your head as a crown, or a feather boa. Play a song on your phone and dramatically walk into the room holding a candle in a slice of toast like it’s a cake fit for royalty.
Announce their birthday like you’re in a Shakespeare play: “Hear ye, hear ye! The legend has aged!”
This is the kind of thing that people don’t forget. It’s simple, silly, and oddly heartwarming.
5. Create a Fake Award Ceremony Just for Them
Set up an “awards show” in their honour. You don’t need a stage or even an audience, just a sense of humour and a few made-up awards.
Think:
- Most Likely to Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast
- Fastest Texter in a Group Chat
- Best Dramatic Pause While Telling a Story
Print out little certificates or trophies made of toilet paper rolls wrapped in foil. Present each one with a totally over-the-top speech. Film it if you want to give them the footage later.
Low cost, high laughs!
6. Send Them a Voice Note Doing a “Birthday Roast”
If you can’t see them in person, send a cheeky voice note or video instead. Keep it light, keep it personal, and poke fun at them in a way only you can.
Gently roast their age. Mock their obsession with a certain snack. Tease them about their inability to ever be on time. Just make sure it’s playful, not mean-spirited. You want them laughing, not plotting revenge.
The more dramatic your tone, the funnier it’ll land. Think fake announcer voice or overdone sarcasm.
7. Turn Their Gifts Into a Guessing Game
If you are giving a present, no matter how small, wrap it in a way that makes absolutely no sense.
Use three boxes. Or hide it inside a cereal box. Add weights so it rattles suspiciously. Add false clues like “fragile,” “do not shake,” or “definitely not socks.” Or give them a fake gift first, like a rock in a bag, before revealing the real one.
The key is turning the process of opening the gift into a bit of a comedy event.
You don’t need a big budget to make a birthday memorable. You just need some creativity, a willingness to be a bit silly, and a sense of what makes that person laugh.
Make It Personal, Make It Fun
Funny moments don’t come from how much you spend, they come from knowing the person well enough to make them feel seen and a little bit roasted.
If you remember an old joke you two always laugh about? Bring it back. If they once tripped over a balloon and swore off birthday parties? Lean into it.
These low-cost gestures work because they’re thoughtful and unpredictable. The best kind of gift, really. The kind that people bring up for years to come.
