Try these ideas for Father’s Day gifts

Next Sunday is Father’s Day, and I’ve always found this to be an especially hard occasion to find a suitable gift .

You can purchase a modest floral arrangement for Mother’s Day and Mom will be happy, but what do you do for Dad? Anyone who has ever had to shop for a male, whether a little boy, a significant other or a brother, knows that gifts for men cost more. So I thought this week that I would share some cost-saving gift ideas so you can honor that special Father in your life without having to break into your special piggy bank.

Yes, it is still basketball season. The only reason I know that is because I made a mistake and called my father during one of the games; I’ve always been a football girl. Make your father a Playoff Pack. Find out what team he is pulling for, and get a gift bag in that team’s color. Then fill it with his favorite snacks that he likes to munch on when he is watching his sporting events. Add some balloons to the bag for a little more flair.

Does your father have a man cave? With my father being the only man in a house of three strong-minded women, he found that a man cave was a necessity. We’ve discovered that anytime we give him something for his man cave it is well received. You can get a bunch of his favorite magazines and update the reading material in the man cave for when he has guests over. Get him special drinking glasses that are only for his man cave use.

I don’t care what anyone says: You are never too old to receive a care package. What’s your father’s favorite shampoo, brand of T-shirts, lotion, or leisure activity? My father is always on the go and doesn’t always stop to get the stuff that he uses every day until he runs out. Make your father a care package with all of his must-have items. I would even throw in some golf balls and tees or tennis balls, if those are activities that he enjoys. This gift is practical and will save you money since you can use your fabulous coupons on a lot of it .

This next idea is by far the least expensive, but the most heart-felt. How old are you? Get card stock, note cards or blank cards, one for every year you’ve been living. On the front of the card, write the year, starting with the year when you were born. On the flip side, write a brief message to your father. For example: 1983 — We meet for the first time. 2012 — You were right about so many things, and you still are. This will take some thought, but it’s worth it . This is especially great for teenagers.

This is a great time of year to go to the movies, but who wants to pay for tickets? If you go online, you can get a good deal on movie tickets. For about $40 you can get your father four tickets that he can use at his leisure. If you want to throw in an extra $10, you can give him a gift card to purchase snacks at the theater.

Regardless of what you do, remember it’s not about the dollar amount that you spend. It’s about determining what your father enjoys and finding a way to give him those pleasures while staying within your budget.

I don’t think any father out there wants you to overspend on a gift. When you think about Father’s Day, think of these questions. What does he like? What does he need? How much can I afford? If you think of these three questions, you’ll get him a gift about which you can be proud.

Contact Renita Russell at RenitaFrugal@gmail.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at twitter.com/fabfrugalca .