Dad may be too gracious to tell you he’s tired of getting ties and socks for Father’s Day. Since he won’t say it, we just did. Whether the man you’re honoring actually is your Dad or a father figure like Grandpa, a favorite uncle, or revered mentor, you can make his special day memorable with one of these creative and affordable gift ideas.

You don’t have to be a professional artist to make him something he’ll love. Write and frame a poem that spells out his first and last name. Draw or paint his portrait. Create a photo album featuring the major events of his life in chronological order. You could use hardcopy photos if you have them. An alternative is to digitize old photos on your scanner. Then you can have them appear along with the photos taken with a phone or digital camera. An online photo service like Snapfish or Shutterfly makes creating photo books easy.

Create new memories with Dad while engaging in one of his favorite pastimes. Cycling on his favorite trail, taking him bowling, or playing one-on-one hoops are some active pursuits to consider. If he is a more sedentary kind of guy, you may want to watch his favorite sporting event or play a board game. Also, you could go to a used bookstore together to browse and treat him to the book of his choosing.

Show off your DIY skills and make a unique gift based on what he loves. Does he love fishing? He’ll enjoy using his new bottle cap fishing lures during his next fishing trip. A grill master would appreciate a custom grill set holder. If you can’t think of a gift that relates to his hobby, decorate personalized coasters with a theme he likes. The theme ideas to consider include hunting, music, his favorite vacation spot, his hometown, his alma mater, or cars.

No matter where dad lives there’s likely a tourist attraction or major city within a 90-minute drive. Plan ahead to play tourist with him. By doing your research before you hit the road, you can find free or low-cost attractions to visit. Then the cost of gas will be your biggest expense if you pack a picnic lunch. Just remember to pack his favorite foods instead of your own.

Dad will be impressed when you display how well you know him with a custom gift basket. You could do an assortment of his favorite things like his favorite candy, gum, beverage, magazine, a book by his favorite author, a t-shirt related to his favorite hobby, gourmet sauce, a hat in his favorite color, or any other small item he really enjoys. Another way to do the gift basket is to create a theme based on his tastes. For instance, the chocolate lover may enjoy a basket with chocolate coffee, Belgian chocolates, brownies, double chocolate chip cookies, or fine hot chocolate. An assortment of gourmet sauces might be just right for the dad who loves to grill.

Make a dinner or lunch with his favorite foods. Your homemade meal costs far less than taking Dad to a restaurant and you won’t have to wait for a table. Dad may give you bonus points if you cook his meal on the grill in the backyard or at a local park. Another option is inviting other family members for a potluck picnic in his honor. 

For more money-saving tips, read 7 Ways to Upgrade Your Life on a Budget.

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