Father's Day is the perfect time to tell him how much you care. But if you're tight on cash, presents, lunches, dinners and get-togethers can be pretty expensive. So check out these tips on saving money while showing dad your appreciation. (And feel free to recycle these ideas every year!)
Shopping Online for Father's Day
If you think purchasing an item online will be cheaper for dad, guess again. Before you punch in your credit card number, consider the cost of shipping. In the end, driving or walking to the store could be a better value for you.
Compile His Favourite Songs
According to Jason Gallagher's article "How to Save Money on Father's Day Without Looking Cheap" on Associated Content, you and the kids can collect dad's songs. Now burn them onto a CD, create a CD cover on Microsoft Word or PhotoShop and you have a low-cost gift. Title it "Father's Day Hits Vol. 1" and he'll get a kick out of it.
Coupons for His Chores
Create at-home coupons just for dad's chores around the home, advises Sherri Osborn's "Printable Father's Day Coupons" on about.com. The coupons can have funny, personalized words such as "you are entitled to one free moment of relaxation" or "valid for two days of gardening." Here are some other suggestions for your coupons:
- Taking out the garbage;
- Mowing the lawn;
- Walking the dog;
- Cleaning the garage or attic.
Get the kids involved and ask them to create the coupons. Kids can get creative by gluing on shapes, sparkles. They can also draw pictures with magic markers or even make a coupon book out of construction paper.
Give Dad a Nap
Treat dad to some peace and quiet by letting him just rest. According to David Zinczenko, author of "6 Things He REALLY Wants for Father's Day" on Shine from Yahoo!, even letting dad rest for 20 or 30 minutes without a child's attention will be a huge treat.
Works of Art Just for Him
Take the kids' school paintings and drawings and frame them for him. He can hang them up on his office at work or at home. And if you want to get in the spirit of arts and crafts, pick up a paint-by-numbers kit for adults at your local art store. Fill in the numbers with the appropriate colours (give it some time as it might be harder than it looks!) and then frame it for him.
Overall, you don't need to spend loads of cash to show dad how much you care. Get creative with crafts, coupons and life's simple pleasures. In the end, dad will thank you.
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