Gifts for Dad That Don't Cost Money

Fatherhood deserves recognition, but acknowledgement doesn’t have to come with a spending requirement. According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend $117.14 on Father's Day this year, up ten percent from last year. But that doesn’t mean you have to be average. Give dad credit without using credit—or cash for that matter. These gift ideas for dad won’t cost any money at all.

King for a Day Let dad be king for a day. What does that mean? Well, it depends on the dad in question. If he’s a NASCAR fan that could mean letting him watch a race from start to finish guilt-free. If he’s into fishing then get the whole family together for a trip to the lake. Whatever the activity is, do it with enthusiasm and dad will appreciate being in the spotlight.

Make a Free Craft
Head to your local Michael’s craft store to take part in a free Father’s Day Make-It Take-It class. Make him a free Duck Tape wallet on Friday, June 15, just in time for Father’s Day. The class is suitable for ages three and up.

Write Him a Song
Kids don’t need an excuse to be creative, but Father’s Day is sure a great one. Encourage them to write dad a song, complete with lyrics that explain why they love him so much. Then put on an American Idol-style performance where dad gets a front row seat as the guest of honor.

Print a Free Card
Before you hand your cash over to the card store, check out some free printable cards available online. There’s a cute option for tie-wearing dads at Paisleywallpaper.blogspot.com. Or choose from four fun designs at pumpkinsandposies.com.

Complete Chores
Mowing the yard, taking out the trash or washing the dishes may not seem like much to you, but if you’re taking a boring chore off dad’s to-do list then it will likely be a well-received gift. The key to this gift is doing it without being asked or the need to be praised for it.

By Alison Storm

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