Father’s Day Gift Guide: How to Choose the Perfect Present

Father’s Day can be surprisingly difficult to shop for. My husband is practical and rarely asks for much—aside from the occasional oversized toy he admires at the equipment yard—so I avoid buying gifts just for the sake of it. A thoughtless present usually ends up unused or tucked away. Over the years I developed a simple approach to choosing meaningful, useful gifts that don’t break the bank. These tips can help you avoid predictable picks like tired ties and instead find something your dad or husband will truly appreciate.

How to Choose a Great Gift for Dads:

• Assess your budget. You don’t need to spend a fortune to give a gift that matters. Decide on a dollar range before you shop and stick to it. Creativity matters more than price.
• Consider how he spends free time. Does he watch TV, run, golf, boat, walk, read, grill, or travel? Choosing something that fits his favorite activities narrows the options and makes the gift more useful.
• Fill a need. Look for items that enhance his hobbies. For example: a DVD box set for a TV fan, running shoes or an armband for a runner, durable work gloves or reinforced pants for someone who gardens, or travel accessories like carry-on luggage, a travel pillow, or a phone charger for someone who’s often on the road.
• Make it about him, not the showy value. If you’re unsure, a gift card to his favorite store lets him pick something he truly wants. Stores with a wide selection can be especially helpful when tastes vary.

To make this approach concrete: my husband rarely buys quality items for himself. He spends a lot of time driving, traveling, and walking, and often uses cheap sunglasses that distort vision. I chose a practical pair of aviator-style sunglasses with polarized lenses and paired them with an iTunes gift card so he can download audiobooks for walks. Picking items that match his habits—especially when they’re on sale—turned out to be a thoughtful and economical solution he’ll actually use.

If you want a playful route, use a customizable tie creator to get Dad talking about what he wants. Create a deliberately silly tie and present it with a note like: “If you don’t want THIS for Father’s Day, tell me what you DO want!” It’s a lighthearted way to get a straightforward answer and can even come with a coupon to make buying the real gift easier.

Giveaway

One reader can win a $100 gift card to help buy a great Father’s Day gift for their dad or husband. To enter, tell us your favorite gift to give dad in the comments for a chance to win.

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments. You may receive up to two entries by selecting from the entry methods below:

• Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
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• If you don’t use Twitter or a blog, read the official rules for an alternate entry method.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected by random draw and notified by e-mail. The notification will come from the sweepstakes administrator; winners have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Official rules are available on the sponsor’s sweepstakes page. The promotion runs from 5/30–6/27/2014. Visit the sponsor’s brand page to read other posts and ideas.