Yikes! Father's Day is this Sunday!!! Have you figured out what you are doing for your Father and the other important men in your life? Why are men so hard to buy for??? Because everything they want... they buy for themselves? Or is it because the things they want are always so expensive? Well, here are a few ideas for nice, meaningful gifts that won't break the bank:
1. Special Meal: Whether it's breakfast in bed for your husband or a special brunch for all the men in your life, a special meal is a great way to say "I love you" to those wonderful men in your life. Try a new recipe or stick to something familiar and loved. If you want to include your whole family, make one favorite dish of each man (father, hubbie, etc) who is going to attend. Use place cards with their name and a thoughtful word about each man (Dad, The Protector).
2. Mini-Vacation: Most men I know would welcome a day of relaxation! This mini-vacation can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make it. Turn the family room into a man-haven for the day. Supply the chips and salsa, the remote and let him throw his feet up and enjoy. If you have it in your budget, rent a room at a hotel for the night and let your man have a relaxing night alone. Supply him with a laptop with a stack of new releases and old favorites along with some microwavable pop-corn and let him relax. Or join him and bring the kids and pretend to be tourists for the day.
3. Scrapbook Card: It's a little late to start on a scrapbook for Dad, though that would be a great gift. Instead, why not make a Scrapbook Card. Just select a few favorite pictures of Dad or Dad and the kids and write a heartfelt verse with it.
4. Photo Gifts: Photo Gifts are always a hit with everyone. Make a paper weight for his desk or frame a family photo. Get some special pictures taken (or take them yourself) with your kids holding up the letters "D A D" and put it in a special frame. Or, if you are digitally advanced, make a special CD with pics of the family and set it to music.
5. Make a Music Video: Take Dad's favorite song and make a music video to it. Mom and the kids and even the dog can star in the video. Don't forget to add photos of Dad into the video too. Or if you are feeling really creative, write your own song for dear ole Dad. After dinner, gather everyone into the TV room for a double feature: your video and Dad's all time favorite film.
6. Hand-Made T-shirt: Get creative on the computer and buy some iron on paper to create a one of a kind t-shirt just for dad. Or, let the kids go wild with fabric paint to create a masterpiece.
7. Support Dad's Hobbies: If Dad loves fishing, buy him a few fishing items and a coupon for a day of fishing. If Dad loves to travel, buy him a gift card towards a nights' stay at a hotel or towards transportation. You don't have to buy a whole trip, but you sure can contribute to it. And at Christmas and other holidays, you can purchase other gift cards that will stack-up and spell out a nice vacation for Dad and the whole family. If Dad has been wanting a new flat-screen TV, buy him a TV Guide and put $5 in an envelope saying that this is the start of "Dad's TV Fund". And if Dad loves to golf, take an empty jar and decorate it with golf themed stickers and write "Dad's New Golf Club Fund" and put in all your loose change and small bills. Dad will love the sentiment!
8. Special Book and Homemade Bookmark: A special book and a handmade bookmark is a special and meaningful gift to a Dad who loves to read. Be sure to write a personal note in the front cover and enclose a Coffee Shop gift card in the book too. Dad will appreciate some quiet time, a new book and wonderful coffee!
9. Gift Basket: Gift baskets are always a nice gift. Check your stock-pile of men's products. You probably have a supply of razors, shaving cream, men's shampoo, conditioner and lotion hanging around. If the man in your life is not in need of these products, try putting together a gift basket of another theme. For instance, a movie night basket could be filled with mircrowavable popcorn, other snacks, a new DVD or a gift card to the video store and a new universal remote. For a Dad who is King of the Grill, a gift basket full of marinades and rubs (bought at Albertson's Double Coupon Days for FREE!! of course) would make him smile.
10. Chore's Coupons: Dad's seem to always be stuck with a certain set of chores. Whether it's taking out the garbage or mowing the lawns, Dad's plate can get pretty full. Take on Dad's chores this week and let him have some time to watch take a bike ride, read or do whatever he wants to do. Or create a coupon book full of redeemable coupons for these mundane chores that Dad can redeem at any time. You might want to include a coupon for a back massage or a movie of HIS choice.
11. Tickets: Whether Dad is a baseball fan or loves the opera, you can surprise him with tickets to his favorite event. If these high-priced tickets are not in your budget, buy tickets to a minor league game or scope out a free concert at your local college and enclose an RSVP card inside Dad's Father's Day card.
12. Take Dad to his favorite Restaurant: Just don't do it on Father's Day where many restaurants will raise their prices or refuse to take coupons. Plan a special day for Dad on Saturday or Monday, or wait until mid-week and celebrate for less. Don't forget to sign-up for email clubs to get buy one, get one coupons, free starters or free desserts (depending on the establishment).
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