Action Tips: Wallet-friendly Father's Day

Scrambling for that brilliant Father's Day Gift idea, but scratching your head about how to keep your dough in your wallet? We're here to help! Check out our cheap and cheerful gift ideas!

1. Go collage crazy. Got a few pics lying around? Ask your Mom if you can copy and cut up some pics into a collage Dad will have forever. Get creative. You can do all pics of you and Dad, pictures of your whole family, pics of your Dad and you when you were both little kids.
2. Top ten list. Brainstorm the top ten things you love about your Dad. Don’t be lazy, get specific! Do you love that he takes you for donuts after hockey practice? Or that you have his smile? Write them down. If you have siblings you want to get in on the act, ask for a few ideas from each of them and pool them together for the Top 10 List (or, do like DS and make an 11 list – it shows that extra effort by being just one more than ten!). You can fancy up the list by using pretty writing or typing it up with cool graphics. If you have an extra frame lying around, or a few bucks to spend, frame it! Or, paste photos on cardboard or posterboard and create your own frame!
3. Coupons galore. If your Dad's like most parents, he’s probably collected a few chores around the house that are strictly Dad’s. Well, take some of them off his back over the next few weeks by gifting him with a gift of coupons, each redeemable for a chore. Dog-walking, dishwashing, coffee-making, lightbulb-changing, and dinner-making are all great ideas. Just make sure when he hands you the coupon, you’re ready to get movin!
4. Tune out. Make Dad a CD of his favorite songs or songs you think he would like and new artists you think he should listen to.
5. Tune in. Invite him to an in-house movie night featuring his favorite movies. Make popcorn or scrounge up some snacks you have around the house ,and make sure your whole family can come to spend some time together.
6. Chef for a week! Tell your Dad you’ll make him a meal-a-day this week. Does he rush out the door forgetting to make his lunch most days? Make his lunch this week! Does he come home and re-heat last night’s pizza? How about making him a healthy meal this week? If a week sounds like a little much, how about just for Father’s Day?
7. Are your parents so hassled they haven’t been on a date in, like, forever? Offer your babysitting services for a night this week so your Dad can enjoy a little 1-on-1 time with Mom.
8. Plan a day of Dad’s favorites. Does he like trail-hiking? You may have to suck it up and hit the trails for a day. Is he a big swimmer? Maybe you should hit your local pool or lake with him.
9. Free finding. There are probably tons of touristy things to do in your town that you’ve never checked out just because you live there. Find a free concert, speaking event, or run/walk that you and your Dad or your whole family can do together.
10. Do-good with Dad. Did you learn how to "do something" from your Dad? How about doing something with him for a change! If he has a favorite cause, volunteer for that cause for the day, and invite him to join you. If not, think of a cause that you love or something he would be into – maybe it’s spending a day teaching underprivileged kids how to play soccer or helping clean up a local pond – and suggest you do it together.
11. Play a game. Does Dad have a favorite sport? Play it with him or organize a field day with your Mom, siblings, friends and their Dads. Call it a First Annual Father’s Field Day!