Impossible Father’s Day Shopping Made Easy

I love my dad. But I hate shopping for him. He’s a fabulous man, but has picky tastes and isn’t exactly interested in the typical manly activities. If your dad is like my dad, he doesn’t play sports, nor does he watch them. You won’t find him on the golf course. He doesn’t spend a whole lotta time fishing. And he isn’t going to be caught dead playing any sort of video games.

By Sues

Every time I look at a Father’s Day gift guide, I’m inundated with presents I know my dad wouldn’t be interested in. Sometimes I’m at a total loss for what to get this most important man in my life. If you’re in the same boat as me, take a look at my list of gifts every dad can enjoy, no matter what his hobbies might be:

1) Of-the-Month Clubs: These are my favorite go-to gifts for dad. Why? Because there is something for everyone. My dad’s a big foodie and when I got him the cheese of the month club, he went wild. He’s also a grill master so the year I got him the rub of the month club (yes, as in spice rubs for meats), he was more than happy. And beer of the month club? You just can’t go wrong with that (unless your dad doesn’t drink, and then, I do not recommend it).

Other of-the-month clubs that could make your dad love you forever (um, not that he wouldn’t anyway) include bacon of the month club, cookie of the month club, and ice cream of the month club. Of-the-month clubs are great for us gifters on a budget because they offer lots of options. You can usually get a membership to the club for anywhere from 3 months to the whole year.

2) College Apparel: Let’s face it, your dad is proud of you and all your accomplishments. And he wants to let everyone know how proud he is. Not to mention, if he’s paying for part of your education, he deserves a little something back from your school. I swear, every time I go to my parents’ house, my dad is sporting a different college sweatshirt or t-shirt; he’s that proud. And if your dad’s not into the college sweatshirts, you can always get him a hat, a beer glass with your school’s name on it, or even a coffee mug.

A related idea? Get your dad some apparel for his alma mater. My dad’s Penn State sweatshirt was falling apart and looked like it was from 1966 (oh wait, it was), so I majorly updated him with a new, more stylish, hole-free shirt. He’s proud of his alma mater and was thrilled to represent from the current decade.

3) Something You Can Do Together: Awww, I know. But this gift is something that can suit every dad. Is he a football fanatic? Score tickets to a game with his favorite team and make it a father/daughter bonding day. If he loves going out to eat, take him to a new, hot restaurant and treat him. If he’s a whiz in the kitchen, sign the two of you up for a cooking class and learn something new together. Does he love a good beer? Take him on a tour of your local brewery. The opportunities are endless. And the time you spend together is more special than any material gift.

4) A Watch: What man can’t use a watch? And the best thing about watches is you can find a nice-looking one to fit every budget. If he wears a suit to work and is in and out of meetings, get him a nice sleek, manly watch. And if he’s retired and working outside in the garden a lot, get him a sporty, digital watch. Bonus: every time he checks the time, he’ll think about you, his beautiful and thoughtful daughter.

5) GPS: We all know dads do not like to ask for directions, but that they love technology. So they really don’t mind taking directional advice from a machine. Which is why GPS is a perfect gift for your dad. My dad is obsessed with his and even has the voice-setting on a female voice (and claims it’s the only female he takes directions from…hardee har har). Honestly though, my dad gets such a kick out of his GPS, he even uses it around our hometown that he’s lived in for 28 years. I’ve never heard of a man not being psyched about a new GPS. So I think your’s will be too!