Editor’s Note: Tanya from Eat Laugh Purr is back to share some ideas for your Father’s Day gift this year. She has every budget covered from no-cost to spare-no-expense gifts that will make your Dad feel like the King of the World. If you’re interested in guesting posting at The Heavy Purse, please read our guidelines before submitting your request. Thank you!
Father’s Day is fast approaching and I’m ready. No last minute shopping or panic for Tanya this year. Of course, I actually only send cards to my Dad and Grandpa and call, but the cards are purchased and full of potty humor, just like they enjoy. Seriously! I know what they like. š
Celebrating all the wonderful things Dads do for their families is a monumental task. Fortunately, I found some great gift ideas to fit any budget because a meaningful gift doesn’t have to be expensive, although it is perfectly acceptable to splurge and spoil your Dad too, provided your budget permits.
These are great, creative gifts for Dads that don’t cost anything (or very, very little) beyond some ingenuity and elbow grease on your part.
This is a classic gift and so easy to customize to what Dad would appreciate the most. Some coupons might include doing some of his chores, like taking out the garbage, washing his car, mowing the lawn or completing a honey-do project from his to-do list. Just make sure that you (or the kids) can actually handle the tasks and do them well. š Also add some touchy feeling coupons for free hugs and kisses too.
Thanks to our smartphones, almost everyone has a video camera, so let out your inner Spielberg or Scorsese and create a special video just for Dad. You could make a highlight reel from some of the big family activities and gatherings from the past year or invite family and friends to share funny (and sentimental) stories about your Dad on camera.
In my home, food is one way we express our love and create memories. Cooking and/or baking your Dad’s favorite meal or treat is definitely one way to impress him. Simple pleasures are often the best, and there is nothing better than sitting down with loved ones to enjoy a delicious, homemade meal together.
Some affordable and fun gifts that your Dad will love and appreciate.
If your Dad is a beer aficionado, than this is a gift he will enjoy immensely. Brewing your own beer has become a very popular hobby, and one your father may be interested in starting. Because there are both ongoing costs and time associated with this gift, check first to make sure this is something he honestly doesn’t mind. Otherwise, enroll in him in a Beer of the Month Club or purchase some great artisanal or unique beers for him to savor on a hot summer day.
Is the only kind of cooking your Dad does over a grill? And more importantly — does he love it? If so, he would likely welcome some new tools from basic tongs and brushes to unique gadgets like branding irons or a BBQ skewer sword. If he doesn’t need any tools, consider buying some top-choice cuts of his favorite meats and make some homemade spice rubs, so he can show-off his superb grilling skills at his next BBQ.
My Dad is not a beer drinker or a grill master so this is the bucket where I normally buy gifts for him. He does like tools, however, and he kindly includes a picture of the tool he wants with his list. (It’s possible I may have bought the wrong tool in the past). Sure, the sales clerk might give me a strange look but at least he gets the tool he wants! Men seem to universally like power tools, games from Monopoly to poker or whatever they deem as manly. If you’re not exactly sure what a manly present is, let him figure it out for himself with a gift certificate to his favorite store. š
If your budget permits, go ahead and spoil your Dad. He likely deserves it after surviving your teenage years. Or at least my Dad does.
If your Dad loves sports but only watches games on TV, he will be thrilled when you take him to see his favorite ā¦ baseball, football or basketball ā¦ team in person. Maybe your Dad isn’t a fan of sports but loves music, monster track rallies, Nascar or riding roller coasters. All things he might enjoy doing but wouldn’t necessarily spend the money on tickets for himself. If you can afford it, do it for him.
Everyone needs a little R&R, including Dad. If it has been years since your Dad enjoyed a true vacation, tell him to pack his bags because he’s going on a holiday. Make sure it is a place that your parents want to visit and can easily get around. Be upfront about what you will pay for (i.e. airfare and hotel room) and make sure they can comfortably pay any remaining expenses themselves. This vacation is supposed to be treat, not a burden. Maybe even consider joining them for part of the trip, if that would make it fun, not stressful. Sometimes parents and kids have different ideas of what is a good time!
Of course, the best gift of all is one that your Dad truly wants, so ask him. He most likely will say “nothing” because that is what parents do. But apply a little pressure and he will eventually share some ideas with you, especially if you threaten him with some awful gifts first. š Because at the end of the day, this is Dad’s special day, so make sure it is a memorable and fun day for him.
What has been the best Father’s Day gift you’ve received or given? The worst?
Tanya is a freelance writer, web designer and blogger. You can find her at Eat Laugh Purr where she and her ginger tabby, Max, enjoy simple pleasures every day and at TV Fanatic reviewing Madam Secretary and more. Connect with Tanya on twitter and Pinterest. And please, no judgement on the number of cat pins I have.
SHANNON RYAN, CFPĀ®
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