Father’s Day Gift Guide: How to get ideas & choose the right one

There’s something about Father’s Day that makes me stumped when it comes to what to give my husband. He’s not the easiest man to buy for, because he doesn’t want much more than he has. The only exception may be the little miniature backhoe he drools over every time we drive past the equipment dealer, but that’s not going to happen any time soon.

A gift just because ‘you’re supposed to’ is something that goes against every fiber of my being, as they seem of little value, items you will stuff into a closet or use once for appearance’s sake then throw away.

Our method has helped me over the years avoid breaking the bank or the dreaded Tacky Tie Syndrome when it comes to buying a gift for my husband and dad on Father’s Day.

How to get ideas and choose a great gift for dads

Assume your budget

My philosophy is that a great gift does not have to cost a lot of money. When you have a budget in mind, write it down so you don’t overspend.

Observe what he often does in his free time

Besides watching TV, does he run, golf, go boating, read books, grill, or travel a lot? Find out what he enjoys doing most in his free time.

Choose a gift based on your dad’s needs

Keep his favorite thing in mind and think of something that would help him with it. Does he like Breaking Bad? Buy him a DVD or complete series. Does he run marathons? Does he need a piece of carry-on luggage, a travel pillow, or an extra charger for his phone?

Buy him new running shoes or an iPod armband. Does he like yard work? If he travels a lot for work, you might want to get him some padded work gloves and pants reinforced at the knees.

Make the gift unique

When in doubt, give him a gift card to his favorite store. JCPenney carries its own gift cards and iTunes gift cards, among others. It’s the one-stop shop for dads.

Final thoughts

There are plenty of Father’s Day gift ideas that you can choose from. It depends on the interest of your dad, and how you personalized the gift that can give your father a big surprise.