Father’s Day: Frugal Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is right around the corner and its time for the Fathers to be appreciated for their hard work. Here are a few frugal gift ideas for Fathers Day.

We put together a “fill in the blank” letter to dad. It included things like… my dad can lift______lbs. and is___________ft tall. He looks funny when he_________. etc. It has been lots of fun to go back and read some of the girls letters to dad over their young years… dad is a pretty special guy.. he is as handsome as a __________ and as strong as a________. — Kristi, 46, from MD

When my daughter was 4 we decided to do Messages in a bottle for dads and grandpas. We got small bottles with corks at Wal Mart in the craft department and then I had her write a note and we rolled it up and put it inside with some confetti and beads. Then we corked it up and put a ribbon around the neck. Her daddy loved it and so did the grandpas. Cute idea and not real expensive. — Lisa, 41, from NY

Two years ago for Father’s Day, I gathered my three kids together and made a collage picture frame for their dad. I took an inexpensive clear 5×7 frame, cut a piece of colored construction paper to fit and assembled various pictures on the paper. The pictures included the kids, his model of car and his various hobbies and interests. He loved it! — Pattie, 45, from PA

Last year we took left over glass spaghetti sauce jars and cleaned them up. I cut slots into the cover, and let the kids (pretty young then) paint away. Afterwards i glued on a print out I made on the computer saying, “I wouldn’t CHANGE my dad for anything!” It made a useful and thoughtful change jar gift. — Amber, 24, from WI

For Father’s Day last year my three children and I made home made pizza and a giant cookie for my husband. He loves pizza and chocolate chip cookies so we made home made pizza dough and put all the items he loves on top, then we took our second pizza pan and made a giant pizza cookie and decorated the top with frosting that said Happy Father’s Day. I packed all that up with some lemonade and some fruit and we went to a local park. It was a nice, relaxing Father’s Day and didn’t cost a whole lot of money. Plus the kids got to be involved, which made it special for them too. — Laenie, 48, from MI

My son and I made a calendar for Dad by buying tag board and kids paint. I printed off a calendar for each month from June to June. I painted the bottom of Bryan’s feet and had him step on the edge of the tag board. Then on the bottom of the tag board I added his hand prints. In the middle was the calendar and a picture of the two of them together. — Susan, 33, from NE

For Father’s Day this year, I am having the kids wash, dry, and vacuum his car out for him in the morning as a surprise to him! He loves his car to be shiny and clean. — Kelli, 35, from MN

Child’s hand dipped into paint; then, placed on a plate. Beautiful, inexpensive (plate can be an odd one already owned, one bought from a thrift shop, etc.) Child can (depending on age) write/print their name, age, or year. I’ve had our sons prints framed and displayed on the wall for over 20 years. — Donna, 60, from CA

For Father’s day when we didn’t have any money, I bought a heavy white t-shirt for $1 at a thrift store and dug out some paint from my craft supplies. I gave my two children paint brushes and let them paint on the t-shirt. When it was dry, I turned it over and pressed each of their hand prints on the back in the color of their choice and dipped some Jello Jigglers letter cutters (like regular cookie cutters)in the paint and spelled out “hand made by Alex and Michael”. My husband loved it and received many compliments. — Kristin, 29, from WA

I found a 4×6 frame on sale for $3 at Ross’s that had Dad/Daughter sentiments on it. Later, I used my mom’s digital camera and took a lovely picture of our baby’s father holding her before we went to church. I copied it on the computer and put it in the frame. — Christy from FL

Great Father’s Day fun and it doesn’t matter if the weather cooperates or not: It seems that there is usually a Baseball game on Fathers day on the TV. So we spread out a big blanket, in the living room in front of the TV, have hotdogs, with all the fixings, nacho’s and cheese dip {I bought some of the plastic trays that they have at the ballpark ~ you can get them at Sam’s really cheap, they also come in handy for kids parties and snacks}. We have popcorn, peanuts in the shell, frosty malts all for a small percent of what tickets, food and parking would cost at the ballpark.
When we are done with our “ballgame” of course everything is disposable and we just take the blanket outside and shake off the crumbs and we are all cleaned up. One year I even made baseball tickets on the computer and put them in his Fathers Day card. They looked so real, he thought we were going to the ball park, but liked staying at home where it was cool inside and the food was all you could eat without the cost. — Vinnie from MO

For Father’s Day, I took a picture of my kids holding a sign that read, “We love you to pieces” and had it developed. I bought a wooden picture frame and had the kids glue old puzzle pieces on the sides of the frame and inserted their picture inside. I think their dad will love it. It was a quick, easy and inexpensive Father’s Day gift. — Sue from CT

Inexpensive gift idea dad will love: Two years ago we happened upon the perfect father’s day gift: bookmarks. My girls (then 2 mos. and 2 years old) colored a white strip of paper I had cut out. (it’s fun to give a baby a pen and see their little baby movements in pen). Then I pasted a face picture on the top of the bookmark and laminated it. Dad still has his bookmarks and the girls like to look back at “old” art projects. — Katie from TN

For Father’s Day this year, My friend and I decided to do something different. This is what we’d like for Mother’s Day next year! Our families are very close and since we’ve moved an hour away from each other, we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. So, for FD, we are treating the guys to a day to themselves! My friend is coming down to my place for the whole day and I’m sending my husband up to their house for the whole day. We’ve planned a tee time for them in the morning, but the rest of the day is theirs to do whatever they want whether it be play basketball, play video games, or even nap! I know they are going to LOVE it! Then, they will come back to my house for supper and and evening with our two families. What could be better?! — Becky from MN

We are expecting our 1st child in August so I wanted to get my husband something different for Father’s Day. All of the gift suggestions on the market are so typical. My husband collects antique books so I ordered him a 100 year old copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, his favorite from childhood. Now, I need a great idea for the birthday! — Mitzi from WA

The one thing my husband loves more than anything is homemade cards and certificates. Our 4 year old and I always make daddy cards for Father’s Day. We also get him a special gift, but he always lights up when he reads the cards we took time to make especially for him. — Jennifer from OR

I ask and receive the cigar boxes and big pickle jars from our neighborhood store free. I paint and add found items on these boxes, put items such as nail clippers, combs, note cards, fishing lures, what ever the men in our lives found useful, with these items we include coupons (handmade) for 1 free grass cutting, 1 pair of handmade boxers, or even 1 free shave coupons etc.. and these are gifts for the men in our lives. I also make handmade jewelry (tie tacks, decorated pens etc..) and use these big jars to paint and make cookie jars, candy jars etc for their desk, dressers or wherever they may want to put them. The men in our lives love getting and using these idea gifts that are personal and unusual. It’s just a thought!! — Lynette from NC

My husband is an avid gardener so for Father’s Day this year he is getting a garden notebook/diary. I will get him a 3 ring binder and add nice (thick) paper. The kids will decorate a cover for it. He has saved pictures or tags from all the plants he has purchased, so I will take those tags and put one on each page and then put them in the binder alphabetically. Then he can make notes on each page as the years go by. I think he’ll love it. — Lori from MN

Since my husband often kids with us that he is “the king” we crowned him “King Daddy” last year! He LOVED it! We made a crown out of construction paper and designed it, a cape out of a blanket and then made him a royal breakfast… It was a Father’s Day none of us will ever forget but now we have to try to top it this year! — Erika from RI

This will be my husband’s first father’s day. I plan to buy a nice container and fill it with little notes saying things that his son loves about him, so that he can read one each day. As our son grows, we will add to the container. — Linda from VA

This is my husband’s favorite gift: My husband works on the road so he is in his truck most of the day. But I think this could work for anyone. I make him a goodie bag for everyday of the week, the week of that special occasion. 5 bags. In the bags I put coffee and lunch money, snacks for the day and a nice note from us. You could put anything you know he likes in the bag, favorite gum, etc… Surprise him with a new theme everyday. My husband looks forward to his “bag” every morning. My husband usually has a wonderful week knowing he is all taken care of. And he doesn’t have to worry about money all week!!!! Also he loves getting a picture of all the kids. — Joy from MD

We started a tradition for Father’s Day. Each year we stamp our daughter’s hand print on a piece of canvas and get a simple 8×10 black frame to go with it. That way dad gets to see how she grows each year and by getting a simple black frame, they are all the same and can be displayed together over the years. And for Mother’s Day we do our daughter’s feet prints the same way. — Stephanie from TX

A great Father’s Day gift is a patio stone with your child(ren)’s hand or footprints in it. My husband loved his last year and incorporated it into the new gym set he made this year. It’s inexpensive and fairly easy to do. You can get them at craft stores like Michael’s. — Shelly from MI

When my husband wanted a fishing boat and we didn’t have the money, I got him a gift he loved. I took an old glass canning jar and some puffy paints (the same ones you use on material). I drew a fisherman and his boat and the words “Boat Fund”. My girls (ages 3 and 6) donated some of their piggy band money to the cause, and I put some money in that I’d been saving up. He loved it! — Stephenie from MN