Prudent and Practical

I know it’s getting down to the wire, but I thought I’d mention that Father’s Day is tomorrow.  I usually get D a little gift and a card.  I really don’t like how the industry pushes holidays on us consumers.  It’s makes us spend more money and feel stressed.  I read somewhere today that the average amount spent on a Father’s Day gift is $87 ! (And in case you’re wondering, the average Mother’s Day gift was over $130.)  For me $87 is too much.  Then you add in the card and then the cards for the other men in your life (think husband, son, father, spouse’s father, grandfathers on both sides) and you can see why people have so many money problems around the holidays.  So here I have some ideas for you!

Dollar stores are great for decent inexpensive greeting cards.  This is the second time that I’ve shopped at a dollar store for them.  They don’t look cheap either.  I went to Dollar Tree just to see what their selection was like.  I walked out with 5 cards and spent only $2.56!  Their cards are $0.50 to $1 each.

Think about what kind of hobbies your favorite guy is into.  Guys that like to cook might like a new grill utensil, an oven mitt or apron with their favorite sports team’s logo, a mortar and pestle for grinding herbs, or maybe some gourmet organic spices.  Other popular hobbies include fishing, hunting, and cars.  My dad likes Carhart stuff because it lasts a long time – he wears it to work, hunting, and for yard work.

The gardening man – It’s a little too late to order them now unless you do a belated Father’s Day gift but mushroom spawn are a very unique idea.  They can be purchased for about $10+shipping.  More desirable mushrooms (think morels and top of the line gourmet mushrooms) are more expensive at $30 and up.  He might also enjoy a trip to a pick-your-own produce farm.  Otherwise, since it’s summer, many home improvement and garden centers are running deals on plants and gardening tools.

The business man – I’m not too sure about this guy, because I don’t know any business-y type men.  The traditional gift would be a tie.  These are pretty reasonable at Kohl’s and JCPenney’s.  Designer pens would be another option.  And if the guy has a lot of  little gadgets, maybe he needs a charging valet.  These start at $15.  Pricier options may include a power strip.

The movie man – This would be my D.  Movie tickets are the obvious choice.  If you have movie nights-in, you could purchase “movie theater” candies at your grocer or a small popcorn popper ($15-$30).  If he has a theater room, find him some movie posters to hang up.  If you go to theaters ahead of time, they may be willing to give you their outdated cardboard movie stands or hanging ads (if you have a lot of room to spare!).  I knew a teacher who worked a second job at a theater – since the theater just throws the outdated move stuff away, she took some of the stands and decorated her classroom with them!

Maybe he likes personalized items.  Personalized bar items like mugs, shot glasses, and flasks are easily found online because they’re popular groomsmen gifts.

Make dinner for the guy or take him out to eat – save some money too!.  If you want to do something extra, take him for bowling or billiards, to a bar that hosts local bands, or to a movie.

Donate money to a charity he would support.  Visit Charity Navigator to search for charities by category.  Another thing that comes to mind is “adopting” (sponsoring) an animal at a wildlife refuge, nature center, or local animal shelter – the money helps to pay for that specific animal’s food and care for a given amount of time.

If you’re still not sure what to get him, the answer could be a gift card.  I do this with my dad, the man who has everything, when I run out of unique ideas or time.  And if you’re not sure what store to get the gift card from, go with cash, a visa gift card, or even an eBay gift card.  I go the eBay route because he loves bidding on items.

Maybe he’s the guy that doesn’t care about these types of holidays – let him sit on his butt with a drink and the remote.

So now take some time and let that special guy know how much you mean to him… without spending a lot!

If you need some more ideas, here are some more suggestions:

1. Top 10 Cheap Father’s Day Gifts
2. Top 8 Frugal Father’s Day Ideas
3. Cheap Father’s Day Gifts Under $30
4. 11+ Cool (Cheap!) Father’s Day Gift Ideas
5. Make Your Own Father’s Day Gifts
6. 10 Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts for Under $50

PS – If you’re wondering what I got D… I got him a hot air popcorn popper with some “movie theater” candies.